The Twelve Prophets of Judaism, Part 1
What does it actually take to be a prophet? Spoiler: it’s not just hearing voices and shouting in the marketplace (though there’s some of that).
In this kickoff to our new series on the Trei Asar, the Twelve Prophets of the Tanakh, we set the stage before diving into the individual books. Think of this as Prophecy 101 with a side of cult talk, because honestly, the line between “biblical prophet” and “guy with millions of YouTube followers” is thinner than we’d like to admit.
Quote of the Episode:
These designations of Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform are only social constructs. We’re all one. If you don’t trust me, ask your local antisemite. He’ll tell you the truth. - Rabbi Perelmuter
In this episode, we get into:
📜 What prophecy actually is in Judaism, according to Maimonides, and why Moses was working on a totally different frequency from everyone else
👑 The three pillars of Jewish leadership (king, high priest, Sanhedrin), and where the prophet fit
🎤 Who got tapped to be a prophet, why some were reluctant
🚫 Why prophecy ended after Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, and what replaced it
🤔 What we’d actually do if a prophet rolled up today (hint: probably an institution)
😬 False prophets and cults like, Sabbatai Zvi, Jim Jones, the Moonies
Get ready to learn everything you ever wanted to know about prophecy but were afraid to ask.