| Book | Traditional Authorship | Common Scholarly View | Date Written | Key Verse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosea | Hosea | Unknown Author (possibly Hosea’s student) | End of the 8th century B.C.E. | Hosea 6:6 "For I desire steadfast love..." |
| Joel | Joel | Joel or an Unknown (later) Author | C. 8th to 4th Century B.C.E. | Joel 2:32 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." |
| Amos | Amos | Unknown Author | C. 8th to 5th Century B.C.E. | Amos 5:24 "Let justice roll on like a river..." |
| Obadiah | Obadiah | Obadiah | 6th Century B.C.E. | Obad 1:15 "The day of the Lord is near for all nations." |
| Jonah | Jonah | Unknown Author | C. 5th to 4th Century B.C.E. | Jonah 2:9 "Salvation comes from the Lord." |
| Micah | Micah | Unknown Author | 5th Century B.C.E. | Micah 6:8 "Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly..." |
| Nahum | Nahum | Nahum | 7th Century B.C.E. | Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble." |
| Habakkuk | Habakkuk | Possibly Habakkuk | End of 7th or the Beginning of the 6th Century B.C.E. | Hab 2:4 "The righteous will live by his faith." |
| Zephaniah | Zephaniah | Zephaniah/Multiple Unknown Authors | 7th or 6th Century B.C.E. | Zeph 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you..." |
| Haggai | Haggai | Haggair/ Unknown Author | 6th or the Beginning of the 5th Century B.C.E. | Hag 2:9 "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house." |
| Zechariah | Zechariah | Multiple Unknown Authors | 6th to 5th Century B.C.E. | Zech 9:9 "See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation." |
| Malachi | Ezra | Unknown Author | 5th Century B.C.E. | Mal 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..." |
- Book 28: Hosea
- Set in the turbulent final days of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the book of Hosea combines prophecies of doom due to the people's unfaithfulness to God with promises of restoration. The book is distinguished by its symbolic use of Hosea's troubled marriage as a metaphor for the relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. (Read Hosea now)
- Book 29: Joel
- Joel, set against the backdrop of a devastating locust plague, uses this natural disaster as a metaphor for an impending day of divine judgment. The book calls for repentance and portrays a future of divine restoration and blessings, including the outpouring of God's spirit on all people. (Read Joel now)
- Book 30: Amos
- In this book, prophet Amos delivers a stern message of judgment to the Northern Kingdom for its societal injustices and idolatry. Amidst the warning, there's a glimmer of hope for restoration. (Read Amos now)
- Book 31: Obadiah
- Traditionally attributed to Obadiah, this is the shortest book in the collection. However, many scholars disagree with that attribution. Regardless of its authorship, the text portrays Edom’s impending downfall and Israel’s eventual triumph in the “Day of the Lord”. (Read Obadiah now)
- Book 32: Jonah
- Unique among the prophetic books Jonah is a narrative about a reluctant prophet sent to warn the city of Nineveh of impending divine judgment. It explores themes of obedience, mercy, and God's compassion for all people, highlighted by Jonah's resistance to God's command and the eventual repentance of the Ninevites. (Read Jonah now)
- Book 33: Micah
- The book of Micah delivers a message of judgment and hope, addressing the social injustices and corrupt leadership of his time. The book combines dire warnings to both Israel and Judah with promises of restoration and future leadership from Bethlehem, emphasizing the themes of justice, mercy, and humility before God. (Read Micah now)
- Book 34: Nahum
- Focusing on the impending downfall of Nineveh, the book of Nahum proclaims God's judgment on this oppressive Assyrian city, contrasting God's wrath and His goodness. (Read Nahum now)
- Book 35: Habakkuk
- In a dialogue with God, Habakkuk grapples with the problem of evil and why the wicked prosper. The answer, according to Habakkuk, lies in living by faith and trusting in God's sovereign plan. (Read Habakkuk now)
- Book 36: Zephaniah
- Warning of the impending "Day of the Lord," the book of Zephaniah calls for repentance. Amid the judgment pronouncements, there's the promise of joy and restoration for the faithful remnant. (Read Zephaniah now)
- Book 37: Haggai
- As post-exile Israel delays rebuilding the temple, the book of Haggai reminds them of their priorities and assures them of God's presence in their midst. (Read Haggai now)
- Book 38: Zechariah
- Composed post-exile, the book of Zechariah combines visions, prophecies, and oracles to encourage the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple and to offer hope for the restoration of Israel. The book blends apocalyptic elements with expectations of the coming of the future king who will restore peace and justice. (Read Zechariah now)
- Book 39: Malachi
- The final book of the Old Testament prophets, Malachi addresses issues of social justice, religious sincerity, and moral conduct in post-exilic Judah. It calls for faithfulness to God's covenant, warning of judgment while promising a future day of purification and renewal, symbolized by the coming of 'Elijah the prophet'. (Read Malachi now)
