According to theTalmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses ofJudaism (Hebrew:נְבִיאִיםNəvīʾīm,Tiberian:Năḇīʾīm, "Prophets", literally "spokesmen").[1][2][3] The last Jewish prophet is believed to have beenMalachi. In Jewish tradition it is believed that the period of prophecy, calledNevuah, ended withHaggai,Zechariah andMalachi (mid-5th century BCE) at which time the "Shechinah departed from Israel".[4][5]
According to theTalmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses who prophesied to Israel.[2][3]
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Although theTalmud states that only “48 prophets and 7 prophetesses prophesied to Israel”,[6] it does not mean that there were only 55 prophets. The Talmud challenges this with other examples, and concludes by citing aBaraita tradition that the number of prophets in the era of prophecy was double the number of Israelites who left Egypt (600,000 males). The 55 prophets are recorded, because they made prophecies that have eternal relevance for future generations and not just for their own generation, or own ecstatic encounter with God.[7][8] Hebrew scripture makes references to groups of such ecstatic prophets, for example in1 Samuel:
And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met [Saul]; and the spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another: ‘What is this that is come unto the son ofKish? Is Saul also among the prophets?’ And one of the same place answered and said: ‘And who is their father?’ Therefore it became a proverb: ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’ And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.[9]
On one occasion duringthe Exodus journey, "the spirit which was upon Moses" was passed to seventy elders, who were also able to prophecy for one time only, but mostly they could not prophecy again.[10] WhenEldad and Medad continued to prophecy, Moses expressed the hope that "all the LORD's people" could be prophets.[11]
The Talmud lists 7 prophets to the nations of the world (Gentiles,goyim):[12]
