Inspired Speech: Prophecy in the Ancient Near East, Essays in Honor of Herbert B. Huffmon

Currents in Theology and Mission, June, 2005

Inspired Speech: Prophecy in the Ancient Near East. Essays in Honor of Herbert B. Huffmon. Edited by John Kaltner and Louis Stulman (T & T Clark International, $125; available from Eisenbrauns for $87.38). Huffmon, who studied with the likes of Albright, Cross, Mendenhall, and Wright, has written important studies on the Amorite language, prophecy at Mari, and other Old Testament-related topics.

Most of the 31 essays in this Festschrift deal with prophecy in Israel and in the Ancient Near East. Among noteworthy contributions is a discussion by Robert R. Wilson of the importance of the relationship between oral and written literature in study of the biblical prophets. David A. Leiter also treats visions of peace in Isaiah (2:1-4; 9:1-7; 11:1-9; 32:1-20; 35:1-10; 55:1-13; 60:17-22; and 65:17-25). Because of the many judgment oracles in the prophets, contemporary readers often miss the fact that peace has the last word. RWK