Freed from Babylonian captivity, some exiled Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah detail their story.

With her Jewish ethnic group facing annihilation in the days of the Persian Empire, Queen Esther risks her life to forestall the plan.

The book of Lamentations, though not often cited, serves as a microcosm of the human story.

Hoping to strengthen his people’s sense of identity, an anonymous chronicler documents their backstory.

Six remaining books round out the section of the Bible known as “the Prophets.” Their messages are diverse; yet, like the other prophetic writings, they share some common themes.

Who were the so-called minor prophets, and what was the purpose of their writings?

In the eighth century BCE, the prophet Hosea proclaimed blessings, curses, captivity and ultimate restoration for the ancient kingdom of Israel. But those prophecies actually date from much earlier.

In this installment on the Prophets, we look at the lives and messages of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

A number of themes found in the writings of various prophets were first proclaimed by Moses, as this table shows.

A table bringing together dates, prophecies, events and key scriptures relating to the period preceding the conquests of Israel and Judah by Assyria and Babylon.