Commentary on the 12 prophets. Preface

“Commentary on the 12 Minor Prophets” was written by Bl. Theodoret of Cyrus in the 30-40s. V century at the request of friends. In his comments, he uses a typological method of interpretation and pays sufficient attention to clarifying the chronology of the lives of the prophets. He notes that the 12 prophets have one book not because they are contemporaries and lived together, but because “they set out their prophecies in a few words, and the brevity of each prophecy was not enough to compile a separate book.” Interpretations of the blessed Theodoret represent a sequential presentation of all the chapters of the Books of the prophets Hosea, Jolias, Amos, Obadiah. Jonah, Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Nahum, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Others may think that we are undertaking an unnecessary and vain task, attempting to interpret prophecies, while this work has already been completed by others. But there are people who have a high reverence for the divine, and are carefully trained in the sacred scriptures; and not only will they not be indignant at us, and will not reproach us like these critics, but they will probably approve and praise us, even if they do not find anything excellent and good in this work; because diligence alone is enough to gain praise from truthful judges. So our Savior and Lord in the sacred Gospel and for two mites exalted this widow with praise, uttering praise according to the quality of will, and not according to the quantity of the gift. In the law, having commanded those sufficient for the construction of the tabernacle to bring gold, silver and precious stones, and did not deprive those living in poverty of the blessing thus acquired, he gave the command that they should also bring some skin, some hair, and those who did not have this should instead bring as a gift their strength and their art, preparing yarn and fabric from hair. Moreover, we know that not only the great Moses was called a Prophet, but also Joshua, and Samuel, and David, and Nathan, and Gad, and Ahijah, and Elijah Elisha, and besides these very many others. And the gospel preaching was taught to all people not only by Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, and the entire rank of the Apostles, also by Paul and Barnabas, after them numbered among the ranks of the Apostles, but also by Silas, and Titus, and Apollos, the disciples of these great men. And the grace of teaching did not stop on them, but enlightened their successors, and those who followed these successors; even to this day the source of the All-Holy Spirit flows in the churches of God and shares God-given gifts with people. Therefore, to those who judge directly and truthfully, it will not seem to them that we are doing anything inappropriate if, like certain hairs, we bring the creations of our minds to the construction of a new tabernacle, which the Lord, and not man, set up (Heb. 8:2). If someone says that we are transmitting other people’s thoughts; then in this case he will find that we bring our fair share; because like the women who prepared yarn and fabric from the hair brought by others and made coverings for the tabernacle, we, having collected what was said here and there good, from all this (let’s say with God) we want to weave one whole, bringing to the readers the clarity of the thoughts of the twelve Prophets. It is likely that we, using God’s word as a kind of lamp, will find an interpretation consistent with the truth; because the grace of God’s generosity has not faded away, but exudes and gives great gifts not only to those who are worthy, but also to those who have not achieved perfection. We see that the sensual sun shone not only for ancient people, but also for those living after them, and for us, their later descendants, pouring out its rays, and equally illuminates the whole earth and sea. Moreover, the Creator of the sun, who created it out of one goodness, enlightens the minds of those who intend, no matter how much, to raise their gaze to Him. Strengthened by this hope and not paying attention to those who criticize, let us dare to begin the interpretation of the prophecies, calling on you to help us with your prayers, who demanded this work and prompted it. But first, having briefly spoken about the time at which each Prophet prophesied, we will then touch upon a detailed interpretation. About the time at which each of the twelve Prophets prophesied. The Twelve Prophets have one book not because they were contemporaries and lived together; for at different times they wrote their prophecies. Hosea wrote during the reigns of Uzziah, Lotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, who reigned in Judah; Amos also in the days of Uzziah, and Joples is contemporary with them. Micaiah began prophecy shortly after the death of Uzziah, in the days of Lotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Jonah also belongs to this division in time. For, although the time is silent in his prophecy, the book of Chronicles clearly shows it. Nahum received the gift of prophecy after Jonah: and this is clearly evident from the contents of the prophecy. For Jonah, having preached the final destruction to the Ninevites, brought them to the point that they used the medicine of repentance; and therefore they did not experience these formidable predictions. But when, turning to their former vicious life, they ventured into deeds worthy of extreme punishment; Nahum prophesies that after this they will be destroyed. Obadiah, as is clear from the disasters he predicted in Idumea, began his prophecy after them. And Zephaniah clearly shows that he was honored with Divine revelation under King Josiah; At the same time, the wonderful Jeremiah prophesied. Not long after them, Habakkuk also prophesied. Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi began to prophesy after a great number of years; not only after Josiah, Joachim, Jexonia and Zedekiah, but also after the end of the captivity of Babylon, after Cyrus, the first king of Persia, who allowed the Israeli people to return to their fatherland, even after his son Cambyses, under Darius Istasp, when Zerubbabel built the divine church. After them we do not find any more prophet among the Jews. Therefore, not because they lived together, they have one book of prophecies, but since they set out their prophecies in a few words, and the brevity of each prophecy was not enough to compile a separate book; Then, from ancient times, those who cared about the preservation of divine words, not without reason, collected the predictions of the twelve Prophets into one, and compiled them into one book. However, it is time for us to touch on a detailed interpretation of the prophecies, showing first briefly the content of Hosihin’s prophecy.