The Prophetic Movement in Israel

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 Excerpt: ...appear in the world as its moral Judge. Each of these points is important and calls for elaboration. It is one of the most striking characteristics of the literary prophets before the Exile that they never wearied of denouncing the popular trust in rites and ceremonies. Some of their most memorable utterances deal with the subject. In Amos 5. 21-24 we have a famous passage beginning with the words: I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. In Hosea 6. 6 is found the familiar saying, I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings. In Isa. 1. 11-17 the subject receives its fullest and perhaps most striking exposition. What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts. Thus this notable utterance begins; and it ends with the oft-quoted words Cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. In Jer. 6. 20 we read: To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me. But the greatest of all these passages is the one found in Mic. 6. 6-8, which, after indicating the worthlessness of all external sacrifices, even the sacrifice of one's own child, closes with the never-to-be-forgotten words What doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God? It would, however, be a mistake to conclude from such utterances as these that the prophets rejected altogether the use of rites and ceremonies ...