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How many prophets were there and who were they?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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There were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses whose prophecies were recorded for posterity in the Bible.

48 Prophets:

1) Abraham

2) Isaac

3) Jacob

4) Moses

5) Aaron

6) Joshua

7) Pinchas the High Priest

8) Elkanah (father of Samuel)

9) Eli the High Priest

10) Samuel

11) Gad

12) Nathan

13) King David

14) King Solomon

15) Eido

16) Michiyahu ben Yimlah

17) Obadiah

18) Achiyah of Shiloh

19) Yahu ben Chanani

20) Azariah ben Oded

21) Chaziel son of Metaniah

22) Eliezer of Morisha

23) Hosea

24) Amos

25) Micah

26) Amotz

27) Elijah

28) Elisha

29) Jonah

30) Isaiah

31) Joel

32) Nahum

33) Habakkuk

34) Zephaniah

35) Uriah from Kiryat Yearim

36) Jeremiah

37) Ezekiel

38) Shmaya

39) Baruch

40) Neriah

41) Seriah

42) Mechasiah

43) Haggai

44) Zechariah

45) Malachi

46) Mordechai

47) Chanani

48) Oded

7 Prophetesses:

1) Sarah (wife of Abraham, mother of all Jews)

2) Miriam (sister to Moses)

3) Deborah (the only female among the Judges)

4) Chanah (mother of Samuel)

5) Abigail

6) Chuldah

7) Esther (of Purim fame)

Other prophets, who may or may not have been in prophecy full-time, are mentioned in various places throughout Tanach, but their prophecies were not recorded, because their prophecies were only intended for themselves or for the generation who lived at that time. For example: King Saul dabbled in prophecy for a time, but what he was told, like the thousands of other unrecorded prophecies, is unknown.

Outside of these, there were many, many thousands of prophets who aren't even mentioned in the Bible.


Source: Talmud Megillah 14a


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COMMENTS

Gentile prophet

Posted by: Jane on Jun 28, 2006

G-d also raised prophets among the gentiles, I think gentile prophets should also be accepted by Jews.

Editor's Comment

Judaism does accept the fact that there were non-Jewish prophets (See Were there any non-Jewish Prophets?) but they are not part of Judaism.

omission of Daniel

Posted by: Anonymous, London on Apr 09, 2009

Please what of Prophet Daniel and his prophecies?

Editor's Comment

Please see http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/188,1735080/Are-the-Psalms-or-the-Book-of-Daniel-considered-prophetic.html from the AskMoses Knowledgebase Library about this. Thus he is not listed as a "Prophet".

RELATED CATEGORIES

Torah » The Bible » The Prophets
Philosophy » Prophecy
Talmud
Usually referring to the Babylonian edition, it is a compilation of Rabbinic law, commentary and analysis compiled over a 600 year period (200 BCE - 427 CE). Talmudic verse serves as the bedrock of all classic and modern-day Torah-Jewish literature.
Purim
A one-day holiday celebrated in late winter commemorating the miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from a decree of annihilation issued by Persian King Ahasuerus in the year 356 BCE.
Megillah
A scroll. Usually a reference to the Book of Esther, one of the books of the "Written Torah", which is read--from a scroll--on the holiday of Purim.
Joshua
1. Assumed the leadership of the Jewish people after Moses died in 1267 BCE. He split the Jordan River and led the Jewish people in their conquest of the Promised Land. 2. One of the 24 books of the Bible, which chronicles Joshua's leadership.
Esther
1. Jewish wife of Persian King Ahasuerus in the 4th century BCE. Foiled the plot of Haman, the prime minister, to exterminate all the Jews. The holiday of Purim commemorates this miraculous salvation. 2. One of the 24 Books of the Bible, which chronicles the abovementioned story.
Mordechai
Cousin of Queen Esther, and Jewish leader in the 4th century BCE. Played a large role in saving the Jews after Haman, the Persian prime minister, plotted to exterminate them all. The holiday of Purim was established to commemorate this miracle.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.
Abraham
First Jew, and first of our three Patriarchs. Born into a pagan society in Mesepotamia in 1812 BCE, he discovered monethieism on his own. He was told by G-d to journey to the Land of Canaan where he and his wife Sarah would give birth to the Jewish People.
Sarah
First Jewess, first of the four Jewish Matriarchs, wife of Abraham--the first Jew. Lived in Mesopotamia, and then Canaan, in the 19th century BCE.
Jacob
Third of the three Patriarchs and father of the Twelve Tribes. Lived most his life in Canaan and died in Egypt in 1505 BCE. Also known by the name of "Israel."
Isaac
Second of the three Jewish Patriarchs, son of Abraham and Sarah. Lived in Canaan (Israel); b. 1712 BCE, d. 1532 BCE.
Aaron
Brother of Moses. First High Priest of Israel and progenitor of all Kohanim (priests) until this very day. Died in the year 1272 b.c.e.
Tanach
Acronym for Torah, Nevi'm (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Holy Writings). Tanach refers to the 24 books of the Bible: the 5 books of Moses, the 8 books of the Prophets, and the 11 books of Holy Writings.
Miriam
Older sister of Moses and Aaron, and a prophetess in her own right.
Samuel
1. A prophet and judge who appointed Saul as the first king of Israel in the 9th century BCE. 2. One of the 24 books of the Bible, named after the abovementioned Samuel, one of the main characters of the book.
Saul
First king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel in 878 BCE. Was dethroned because he failed to carry out G-d's command, and the royal crown was transferred to King David and his descendents.
David
King of Israel who succeeded Saul, becoming king of Israel in 876 BCE. Originally a shepherd, he became popular after he killed the Philistine strongman, Goliath. He is the progenitor of the Davidic royal dynasty -- which will return to the throne with the arrival of King Messiah.
Solomon
Son of King David, and succeeded him on the throne of Israel in the year 836 BCE. he was the wisest man to ever live. He built the first Holy Temple and authored several books of the Bible.
Elijah
A legendary prophet who lived in the 8th century BCE, and saved the Jewish religion from being corrupted by the pagan worship of Baal. He never died, he was taken to heaven alive. According to Jewish tradition, he visits every circumcision and every Passover Seder table.
Isaiah
1. One of the greatest prophets, lived in the 7th century BCE. 2. One of the 24 books of the Bible, containing the prophecies of Isaiah. The book is filled with prophecies concerning the Messianic redemption.
Jeremiah
1. Jewish prophet who lived in the 5th century BCE. 2. One of the 24 books of the Bible, containing the prophecies of Jeremiah. The book is replete with prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple.
Ezekiel
1. Major Jewish prophet who lived in the 5th century BCE. 2. One of the 24 books of the Bible, containing the prophecies which Ezekiel transmitted.
Jonah
1. A prophet who lived in the 8th century BCE. He is famous for being swallowed by a large fish after refusing to carry out a mission which G-d gave him. 2. One of the 24 books of the Bible, which recounts the abovementioned story.