In Second Kings, chapter seventeen, verse thirteen, Israel rejected God’s prophets, those who spoke against sin and called for repentance and obedience to the Lord’s Word and statutes, as the examples in Judges six, verses eight through ten, First Kings thirteen, verses one to three, chapter fourteen, verses six through sixteen, and Acts seven, verses fifty-one to fifty-three, respectively. They rejected the ministries of Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hoshea, and other prophets. The refusal to hear and obey God’s Word, along with the spurning of the prophetic message against sin and evil, are unmistakable signs of apostasy.
And the Lord was not satisfied with the forbiddance of the Law. However, Hw bore witness against the idolatry and image-worship of Israel and Judah through all His prophets who urged them to turn from their evil way and obey His commandments. But it was all in vain: they were domineering like their fathers.
God raised a succession of prophets and seers who repeated and enforced the warnings of the Law and breathed into the old words a new life. Among this succession were, in Israel, Ahijah the Shilonite in First Kings fourteen, verse two, Jehu the son of Hanani in First Kings sixteen, verse one, Elijah, Micaiah the son of Imlah in First Kings twenty-two, verse eight, Elisha, Jonah the son of Amittai Second Kings fourteen, verse twenty-five, Oded of Second Chronicles twenty-eight, verse nine, Amos, and Hosea. In Judah, up to this time, Shemaiah is in Second Chronicles eleven, verse two, and Second Chronicles twelve, verse five. Iddo in Second Chronicles twelve, verse fifteen, and Second Chronicles thirteen, verse twenty-two. Azariah, the son of Oded, in Second Chronicles fifteen, verse one. Hanani, in Second Chronicles sixteen, verse seven, Jehu, his son of Second Chronicles nineteen, verse two, and several others. Joel, Micah, and Isaiah, besides several whose names are unknown. Some are called “prophets,” others “seers.” Occasionally, the same person has both titles (Iddo and Jehu, the son of Hanani), which seems to show no insignificant distinction between them.