Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, prophets served as God's messengers, conveying His will and guidance to the people of Israel and surrounding nations. It was customary in ancient Near Eastern culture to present gifts to prophets or seers when seeking their counsel. This practice is documented in several instances throughout the Scriptures, reflecting the respect and honor attributed to these divinely appointed individuals.1. Samuel and Saul: One of the earliest examples of this practice is found in the account of Saul's search for his father's lost donkeys. Saul and his servant decided to consult the prophet Samuel, who was also known as a seer. Concerned about what they could offer him, the servant suggested giving Samuel a quarter of a shekel of silver as a gift for his guidance. This narrative highlights the cultural expectation of presenting a gift to a prophet when seeking divine insight. As recorded in 1 Samuel 9:7-8 , Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we give the man? The bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" The servant answered, "Look, I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way." 2. Ahijah and Jeroboam's Wife: Another instance is found in the account of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. When Jeroboam's son fell ill, he sent his wife to the prophet Ahijah with a gift to inquire about the child's fate. She brought ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey. This act of bringing gifts to a prophet underscores the recognition of the prophet's role as a mediator of divine knowledge. In 1 Kings 14:3 , Jeroboam instructed his wife, "Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the boy." 3. Elisha and Naaman: The account of Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army, provides another example. Naaman, afflicted with leprosy, sought healing from the prophet Elisha. He brought with him gifts, including ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing, as a gesture of gratitude and respect. Although Elisha refused to accept the gifts, the narrative illustrates the expectation of offering gifts to prophets. In 2 Kings 5:5 , the king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing. 4. Balaam and Balak: In the account of Balaam, the Moabite king Balak sent messengers with rewards to entice the prophet to curse Israel. Although Balaam initially refused, the narrative demonstrates the practice of offering gifts to secure a prophet's services. Numbers 22:7 states, "The elders of Moab and Midian left with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed Balak’s message to him." These examples reflect a broader cultural and religious context in which prophets were esteemed as conduits of divine wisdom. The presentation of gifts was not merely a transactional gesture but an acknowledgment of the prophet's sacred office and the divine authority they represented. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Samuel 9:7,8Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Kings 14:3 Library Light for them that Sit in Darkness; The Ordination of Paul and Barnabas; their Missionary Tour in Asia ... Letter cxxxviii. (AD 412. ) a Canticle of Love Our Miseries, Messengers of Mercy A Case of Conscience Resolved The Land and the People. Knox's Writings from Abroad: Beginning of the Scottish Revolution ... Lives of Faith and Trust Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes Resources What does it mean that Saul is also among the prophets? | GotQuestions.orgHow many prophets are in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Are there prophets in the church today? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics False Prophets: Called Foolish Prophets False Prophets: Compared to Foxes in the Desert False Prophets: Compared to Wind False Prophets: Immoral and Profane False Prophets: Influenced by Evil Spirits False Prophets: Involved the People in Their own Ruin False Prophets: Judgments Denounced Against False Prophets: Light and Treacherous False Prophets: Made Use of by God to Prove Israel False Prophets: Mode of Trying and Detecting False Prophets: Not Sent or Commissioned by God False Prophets: Often Deceived by God As a Judgment False Prophets: Often Practised Divination and Witchcraft False Prophets: Often Pretended to Dreams False Prophets: Predicted to Arise in the Latter Times False Prophets: Predicted to Arise: Before Destruction of Jerusalem False Prophets: Pretended to be Sent by God False Prophets: Prophesied in the Name of False Gods False Prophets: Prophesied: Falsely False Prophets: Prophesied: Lies in the Name of the Lord False Prophets: Prophesied: out of Their own Heart False Prophets: Prophesied: Peace, when There Was No Peace False Prophets: The People: Deprived of God's Word By False Prophets: The People: Encouraged and Praised False Prophets: The People: Led Into Error False Prophets: The People: Made to Forget God's Name By False Prophets: The People: Oppressed and Defrauded By False Prophets: The People: Taught Profaneness and Sin By False Prophets: The People: Warned not to Listen To False Prophets: Women Sometimes Acted As Prophets were Called: Holy Men of God Prophets were Called: Holy Prophets Prophets were Called: Men of God Prophets were Called: Prophets of God Prophets were Consulted in all Difficulties Prophets were Esteemed As Holy Men Prophets were Mighty Through Faith Prophets were Required: Not to Speak Anything But What They Received from God Prophets were Required: To be Bold and Undaunted Prophets were Required: To be Vigilant and Faithful Prophets were Required: To Declare Everything That the Lord Commanded Prophets were Required: To Receive With Attention all God's Communications Prophets were Sent to Denounce the Wickedness of Kings Prophets were Sent to Exhort to Faithfulness and Constancy in God's Service Prophets were Sent to Predict the Coming of Christ Prophets were Sent to Predict the Downfall of Nations Prophets were Sent to Reprove the Wicked and Exhort to Repentance Prophets were Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit While Prophesying Prophets: Assisted the Jews in Their Great National Undertakings Prophets: Azariah the Son of Oded Prophets: Benefits of Presents Prophets: Benefits of Presents Refused By Prophets: Christ Exercised the office of Prophets: Christ Predicted to Exercise the office of Prophets: Extraordinary: Often Endued With Miraculous Power Prophets: Extraordinary: Specially Raised up on Occasions of Emergency Prophets: False: 400 in Samaria Prophets: False: Denunciations Against Prophets: False: Punishment of Prophets: Felt Deeply on Account of the Calamities Which They Predicted Prophets: Frequently in Their Actions Were Made Signs to the People Prophets: Frequently Left Without Divine Communication on Account of Prophets: Frequently Married Men Prophets: Frequently Spoke in Parables and Riddles Prophets: God Avenged all Injuries Done To Prophets: God Communicated to At Various Time and in Different Ways Prophets: God Communicated To by an Audible Voice Prophets: God Communicated To by Angels Prophets: God Communicated To by Dreams and Visions Prophets: God Communicated to His Secret Things Prophets: Great Patience of, Under Suffering Prophets: Jehu the Son of Hanani Prophets: Micaiah the Son of Imlah Prophets: Not Honored in Their own Country Prophets: Often Accompanied by Music While Predicting Prophets: Often Committed Their Predictions to Writing Prophets: Often Led a Wandering and Unsettled Life Prophets: One Generally Attached to the King's Household Prophets: Ordinary: Numerous in Israel Prophets: Ordinary: The Sacred Bards of the Jews Prophets: Ordinary: Trained up and Instructed in Schools Prophets: Predictions of Frequently Proclaimed at the Gate of the Lord's House Prophets: Predictions of Proclaimed in the Cities and Streets Prophets: Predictions of Were all Fulfilled Prophets: Predictions of Written on Rolls and Read to the People Prophets: Predictions of Written on Tables and Fixed up in some Public Place Prophets: Presented With Gifts by Those Who Consulted Them Prophets: Prophet Set to Israel Prophets: Simple in Their Manner of Life Prophets: Sometimes Received Divine Communications and Uttered Prophets: Sometimes Thought It Right to Reject Presents Prophets: Sometimes Uttered Their Predictions in Verse Prophets: Spoke in the Name of the Lord Prophets: The Historiographers of the Jewish Nation Prophets: The Interpreters of Dreams Prophets: The Jews: Often Imprisoned Them Prophets: The Jews: Often Left Without, on Account of Sin Prophets: The Jews: Often Put Them to Death Prophets: The Jews: Often Tried to Make Them Speak Smooth Things Prophets: The Jews: Persecuted Them Prophets: The Jews: Require to Hear and Believe Prophets: The Messengers of God Prophets: The Watchmen of Israel Prophets: Women Sometimes Endowed As Prophets: Wore a Coarse Dress of Hair-Cloth Prophets: Writings of, Read in the Synagogues Every Sabbath Prophets: Zacharias the Father of John Prophets: Zechariah Son of Iddo Related Terms Brother-servant (2 Occurrences) Almondiblathaim (2 Occurrences) Almon-diblathaim (2 Occurrences) Sycamore-trees (6 Occurrences) |
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