The Nature of Prophecy in the Light of Recent Study

‘The central place in the field of Old Testament religion’ says Hertzberg ‘is undoubtedly occupied by the prophets. It is therefore little wonder that research and investigation has concentrated ever more directly on this point: What are the prophets, and what is their significance for the spiritual development of men?’ For a generation now the most keenly discussed question in this connection has been that of ‘ecstasy,’ and the extent to which the prophets were subject to abnormal experiences. It has been held that ‘ecstasy’ is of the esse of prophecy, and that it provided a criterion without which neither the prophet nor his audience would be satisfied. Yet at best the ‘ecstatic theory’ could tell us only the How? rather than the What? of prophecy.