Prophets - Neviim

The first book of the Prophets, Joshua, continues from the death of Moses, with the appointment of Joshua as the new leader of the nation.
The conquest and subsequent division of the Land of Israel, accounts of the entry into Israel, the wars with the Canaanites and the battle of Jericho.
Apart from being a great military commander, Joshua was a renowned spiritual leader who composed the prayer "Aleynu Leshabeach," and the 2nd blessing of "Grace after meals."

The Book of Judges details Jewish history following Joshua, up until the era of the first kings.
The judges ruled the people in civil and criminal law, in matters of Jewish practice, and in military and political affairs.
Among the numerous judges in the book, we find Gideon, Samson, in his struggle with the Philistines, and Deborah.

Samuel was born in answer to the prayers of his mother, Chana, and served from his youth in the Tabernacle under the High-Priest, Eli, who was the last of the Judges.
As a prophet, he anointed Saul to be the first King of Israel, and chose David as Saul's replacement when Saul failed to destroy the Amalekites.
Main themes of the book include: David's slaying of Goliath the Phillistine, David's flight from King Saul, and the rebellion of Absalom against his father, King David.

King David's son, Solomon, ruled over Israel at a time of peace and prosperity and built the First Temple.
After King Solomon's death, Israel was split into two seperate Kingdoms: Judea and Israel. The Kingdom of Judea consisted of the territory of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin and was always ruled by the House of King David. The Kingdom of Israel (the Ten Tribes) consisted of the territory of the rest of Israel. The Kingdom of Israel was ruled by many different dynasties coming from different Tribes. Rechovam, Solomon's son, was the first king of the Kingdom of Judea. Jeroboam, Nevat's son, was the first king and the founder of the Kingdom of Israel.
They were succeeded by other Kings until the destruction of the Temple and the exile to Babylon 410 years later.
Other main topics include: the prophecies of Elijah and Elishah, and Elijah's challenge to the worshipers of the idol "baal" on Mt. Carmel.

Isaiah predicted the destruction of the First Temple in vivid detail.
He is best known for his prophecies of consolation and redemption, which are read as Haftorot on the Sabbaths following the Ninth of Av.
Isaiah's prophecy includes the well-known verse "They will beat their swords into plowshares... nation shall not raise sword against nation, and they will no longer study war."

Jeremiah warned of the Temple's destruction and witnessed it. Besides comforting the Jewish people in their exile he also counselled them about behavior in exile and preparation for their imminent return to Israel.
Jeremiah's prophecy that "the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voices of a bride and groom" will again be heard in the "cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem" is part of the Jewish wedding ceremony.

Ezekiel lived at the time of the destruction of the First Temple and was exiled together with the Jewish people to Babylon.
He rebuked the Jewish people for their failings and warned them of the destruction of the Temple - he also gave them hope with his prophecies of the return to Zion and the Messianic age.
Ezekiel's vision of the "Divine Chariot" serves as a major source text for many Jewish mystical writings.

The "short books" comprising the 12 Prophets are grouped together.
One of the most famous is Jonah, in which the prophet warns the city of Nineveh of its impending destruction. Eventually the people of Nineveh repented thereby rescinding the decree.
Malachi closes the books of the Prophets with an exhortation to follow the Torah and with a prophecy about Messianic times when "the hearts of parents will return to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents."