Abstract:
The prophets of ancient Israel took up the cause of the widow, orphan, weak, poor and handicapped against the strong, rich, healthy, privileged and powerful. They proclaimed the need for ethical behaviour as an essential aspect of being the people of God. When they saw abuses of power they announced that the exploiters would receive imminent judgement, but they also envisioned a future when justice and righteousness would prevail. Some of their apocalyptic visions of their future were so real that they were certain they had to be fulfilled. However, whenever they unconditionally predicted the future they were often wrong.