How Did They Read the Prophets?: Early Jewish and Christian Interpretations

Learn how ancient readers interpreted the Bible’s prophetic literature—and why their views have enduring value

How Did They Read the Prophets? explores the world of ancient exegesis, focusing on how early Jewish and Christian readers understood the Hebrew Bible’s prophetic literature. In this illuminating study, Old Testament scholar Michael B. Shepherd takes modern readers on a guided tour through the earliest readings of key passages from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve. He also surveys shifts in ancient conceptions of prophecy—shifts that reflect the dynamic and complex relationship between speaking, writing, and interpreting.

Shepherd’s well-researched study is distinctive in several respects. One is its focus on ancient readings of prophetic literature in particular, rather than biblical literature in general. Another distinguishing feature is its attention both to inner-biblical interpretation and to early post-biblical exegesis. Finally, the book stands out for its insights into the enduring value of ancient interpretation in the modern period. Rigorous yet accessible, How Did They Read the Prophets? is a remarkable resource for students and general readers interested in biblical studies and the history of interpretation.