SESSION 4 — The Prophetic Books

Poetry, Vision, and Symbolic Action

Lecture 4.1 — Why Prophecy Is Poetic

• Metaphor, intensity, imagination
• Why prose fails to contain prophecy

Lecture 4.2 — Major Prophets

• Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• Trauma, exile, and hope

Lecture 4.3 — Minor Prophets

• The Twelve as a chorus
• Justice, economics, and ritual critique

Lecture 4.4 — Symbolic Action

• Embodied prophecy
• Shock, performance, and memory

Biblical Texts: Isaiah 1; Amos 5; Ezekiel 1

Zoom Discussion Focus:

Why does prophetic speech so often disturb rather than persuade?