Vom prophetischen Wort zur prophetischen Tradition

Armin Lange examines the innerprophetic conflicts as documented by Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah as well as Lamentations. These texts attest to a development from prophetic word to prophetic tradition. While in preexilic times actual prophecy and prophetic tradition coexisted, in postexilic times prophetic tradition became dominant and actual prophecy marginal. The reason for this development lies in the experiences of late preexilic and early postexilic times. When in 520-515 BCE, during the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple, the Zionistic shalom prophecy was perpetuated - a prophetic message which in the eyes of Deuteronomism was at least partly responsible for the catastrophe of 587 BCE - actual prophecy as such was in dubious repute. In its stead prophetic interpretation and rewriting of older prophecy became the means of prophetic revelation.