De prophetarum vita et obitu (recensio scholiis Hesychii aliorumque patrum in prophetas adjecta)

1. Hosea is interpreted as "being saved." He was from Belemoth of the tribe of Issachar, and he gave a sign that the Lord would come upon the earth, associating with men, and that the oak at Shiloh would be divided into twelve parts, and there would be twelve oaks to hear and follow him, the god who appeared on earth, and through him the whole earth would be saved; and having thus died, he was buried in his own land.

2. Joel is interpreted as "beloved of the Lord" or "beginning." He was from the tribe of Reuben, of the field of Bethomoron; he died in peace and was buried there.

3. Amos is interpreted as "strengthening" or "strength." Amos was from Thecua; and Amaziah, after repeatedly beating him with a club, finally killed him with a sword; and while he was still breathing, he went up to his own land; and after two days he died and was buried there.

4. Abdias is interpreted as "servant of confession." He was from Sychem. He was the commander of a hundred; the third of Ochozias, and having prayed to Elias, and having been miraculously saved, he became his servant. Having suffered much also at the hands of Achaab on account of Elias, finally despising death, he left the king, followed Elias, and prophesied; and dying in peace, he was buried with his fathers.

5. Ionas is interpreted as "the highest one who labors" or "dove." Ionas was from the land of Kariathim near Azotus, a city of Greeks by the sea. And having been cast out from the whale, he went to Nineveh, preached, and returning, did not remain in his own land; but taking his mother, he settled in the land of Assour among the foreign nations. For he said, "Thus I will remove my reproach, because I falsely prophesied against Nineveh, the great city." There was a certain Elias who reproached Achaab and called a famine upon the land, and he fled. And coming to Saraphtha, he found the widow with her son, and stayed with them; for he could not remain with the uncircumcised. And he blessed her for her hospitality, for he knew her from the beginning. When her son died among the uncircumcised, God again raised the dead there through Elias; for he wished to show him that one cannot flee from God. And Ionas, having arisen after the famine, came to Judea. And his mother died on the way, and he buried her near the oak of Debbora. And he settled in the land of Saraer. He died there and was buried in the cave of Kenez, who was a judge in the days of anarchy. And he gave a great sign to Israel and to the whole land: when, they say, they see a stone crying out piteously, and a beetle from a tree speaking to God, then salvation approaches; then they will see Jerusalem razed to its foundations entirely, and in it all the nations worshiping the Lord.

and they will move the stones toward the setting of the sun, and there will be the worship of the anointed one because Jerusalem will be abhorred in a desolation of wild beasts and every impurity, and then the end of every living breath will come.

6. Micah is interpreted as "humiliation" or "humbled one." He was from Morasthi, of the tribe of Ephraim. He did many things for Ahab; he was killed by Joram, his son, by being thrown from a precipice, because he reproached him for the impieties of his fathers. And he was buried in his own land alone, near the polyandrion of Enakim.

7. Naoum is interpreted as "comforter." He was from Elkesei, beyond the Ienbarein, of the tribe of Symeon. After Jonas, he gave a sign that Nineveh would be destroyed by sweet waters and fire, which indeed happened. For the lake surrounding it flooded it in an earthquake, and fire from the desert burned its highest part. He died in peace and was buried in his own land.

8. Ambakoum or Abbakou, interpreted as "father of resurrection." Ambakoum the prophet was from the village of Bethouchar, of the tribe of Symeon. And he saw before the captivity concerning the capture of Jerusalem and grieved exceedingly. And when Nabouchodonosor came to Jerusalem, he fled to Ostrakine, and was a sojourner in the land of Israel. And when the Chaldaeans returned and the remnants who were in Jerusalem went down to Egypt, he was sojourning in his own land and serving the harvesters of his people. And when he took the meal to bring to the workers, he prophesied to the Jews, saying: I am going to a distant land, and I will return quickly. But if I am delayed, bring the harvesters their lunch. And having been in Babylon and given the lunch to Daniel, he stood by the harvesters as they ate and told no one what had happened. And from this he understood that the people would return from Babylon quickly. And two years before the return, having died, he was buried there in the field. And he gave a sign to those in Judaea, that they would see light in the temple, and thus see the glory of the temple. And concerning the end of the temple he foretold that it would be by a western nation. And then the curtain of the Dabeir will be torn into small pieces, and the capitals of the two pillars will be removed; and no one will know where they will be. And these things will be carried into the desert by an angel, to the place where the tent of the testimony was originally set up, and will be known to the Lord at the end.

9. Sophonias is interpreted as "watchtower of the Lord." He was from the tribe of Symeon, of the field of Saroth, and he prophesied concerning the city of Jerusalem and concerning the end of Israel and the introduction and salvation of nations, and the shame of the impious, and the glory of the righteous, and the judge of every living thing; and having died, he was buried in his field.

10. Haggaios is interpreted as "festive." He was born in Babylon; he was from the tribe of Levi, and while still young he came from Babylon to Jerusalem and openly prophesied concerning the return of the people. He saw in part the building of the temple. And having died in Jerusalem, he was buried near the tomb of the priests with honor, as they were, since he himself was of priestly lineage.

11. Zacharias is interpreted as "memory of the highest lion." He was from the tribe of Levi, born in Galaad, and came from the Chaldeans already advanced in age, and after prophesying many things concerning the temple, he gave proof. He said to Iosedek that he would beget a son, and that he would serve as priest in Jerusalem, as a type of the true high priest. He also blessed Salathiel concerning his son, and gave him the name Zorobabel, and gave a sign to Cyrus for victory; and he prophesied concerning the liturgy that he would perform in Jerusalem, and blessed him greatly. He saw the vision of the offering of Jerusalem; and he set forth concerning the end of Israel, and the beginning of the nations, and the end of the temple, as the destruction of the foundations, and the cessation of prophets and priests and sabbaths, and the double judgment. And he died in extreme old age, and after his death was buried near Haggaios.

12. Malachias is interpreted as "angel." He was born after the return in Sophira, from the tribe of Levi, and while still very young he led a good life. And since all the people honored him as blameless and gentle, they called him Malachias, which means angel. For he was also comely in appearance; and moreover, whatever he himself spoke in prophecy, on that same day an angel of God, appearing, confirmed his words. No unworthy person saw the angel, but only heard his voice; the worthy, however, also saw his form, as happened in the days of the anarchy, as is written in Schopheteim, that is, in the book of Judges. And while still young, he was added to his fathers in a good life, and was buried with his fathers.

13. Isaiah the prophet was from Jerusalem, of the tribe of Judah, and died under Manasseh, king of Judah, sawn in two with a wooden saw, and was buried under the oak of Rogel, near the crossing of the waters which Hezekiah the king had blocked up. Jeremiah the prophet was from Anathoth and died in Taphnae in Egypt, stoned by the people. Ezekiel the prophet was from the land of Sareira, a Levite of the high priestly line; he died in the land of the Chaldeans during the captivity. 1. Hosea is interpreted as "being saved." He was from Belemoth of the tribe of Issachar, and gave a sign that the Lord would come upon the earth, associating with men, and that the oak at Shiloh would be divided into twelve parts, and there would be twelve oaks to hear and follow him, a god manifest on earth, and through him the whole earth would be saved; and so, having died, he was buried in his own land. 2. Joel is interpreted as "beloved of the Lord" or "beginning." He was from the tribe of Reuben, of the field of Bethomoron; he died in peace and was buried there. 3. Amos is interpreted as "strengthening" or "strength." Amos was from Tekoa; and Amaziah, after repeatedly beating him with a drum, finally killed him with a sword; and while he was still breathing, he went up into his own land; and after two days he died and was buried there. 4. Obadiah is interpreted as "confessed servant." He was from Shechem. He was the commander of a hundred, the third of Ahaziah, and having prayed to Elijah and been miraculously saved, he became his servant.

Having suffered much also at the hands of Ahab on account of Elijah, finally despising death, he left the king, followed Elijah, prophesied, and dying in peace was buried with his fathers. 5. Jonah is interpreted as "of the Most High suffering" or "dove." Jonah was from the land of Kariathim near Azotus, a city of Greeks by the sea; and after being cast out of the whale, he went to Nineveh, preached, and upon returning did not remain in his own land, but taking his mother he settled in the land of Asshur among foreign nations; for he said, "Thus I will remove my reproach, because I falsely prophesied against Nineveh, the great city." There was a certain Elijah who reproved Ahab and, having called a famine upon the land, fled; and coming to Sarepta he found the widow with her son, and stayed with them; for he could not remain among the uncircumcised; and he blessed her for her hospitality, for he knew her beforehand from the first. When her son died among the uncircumcised, God again raised that dead one through Elijah; for he wished to show him that no one can flee from God. And Jonah, after the famine, arose and came to Judea; and his mother died on the way, and he buried her near the oak of Deborah. And he dwelt in the land of Saraer. He died there and was buried in the cave of Kenaz, who was a judge in the days of the anarchy. And he gave a great sign to Israel and to the whole land: when, he says, they see a stone crying out piteously, and a beetle from a tree speaking to God, then salvation draws near.

then they will see Jerusalem razed to its foundations entirely, and in it all the nations will worship the Lord; and they will transfer the stones toward the west, and there will be the worship of the anointed one because Jerusalem has been abhorred in the desolation of wild beasts and all uncleanness, and then the end of every living thing will come. 6. Micah is interpreted as "humility" or "humbled." He was from Morasthi, of the tribe of Ephraim. He did many things for Ahab; he was killed by Jehoram, his son, by being thrown from a cliff, because he reproached him for the impieties of his fathers; and he was buried in his own land alone, near the common burial ground of the Enakim. 7. Nahum is interpreted as "comforter." He was from Elkosh, beyond the river Ienbarein, of the tribe of Simeon. He after Jonah gave a sign that Nineveh would be destroyed by sweet waters and fire, which indeed came to pass. For the lake around it flooded it in an earthquake, and fire from the desert burned its higher part; he died in peace and was buried in his own land. 8. Ambakoum or Abbakou is interpreted as "father of resurrection." The prophet Ambakoum was from the village of Bethuchar, of the tribe of Simeon. And he saw before the captivity concerning the capture of Jerusalem and grieved greatly. And when Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, he fled to Ostrakine, and he was a sojourner in the land of Israel. And when the Chaldeans returned and the remnants who were in Jerusalem went down to Egypt, he was sojourning in his own land and serving the harvesters of his people. And when he took the food to bring to the workers, he prophesied to the Jews, saying:

I go to a distant land, and I will return quickly. But if I am delayed, bring their midday meal to the reapers. And having arrived in Babylon and given the meal to Daniel, I stood by the reapers as they ate and told no one what had happened. From this he understood that the people would return from Babylon sooner. And two years before the return, having died, he was buried there in a field. He gave a sign to those in Judea, that they would see a light in the temple, and thus they would behold the glory of the temple. And concerning the destruction of the temple he foretold that it would be by a western nation. And then the curtain of the Holy of Holies will be torn into small pieces, and the capitals of the two pillars will be removed; and no one will know where they will be. These things will be carried away into the desert by an angel, to the place where the tent of the tabernacle was originally erected, and in the end the Lord will be known to them. 9. Zephaniah is interpreted as "watch of the Lord." He was from the tribe of Simeon, of the field of Saroth, and he prophesied concerning the city of Jerusalem and concerning the end of Israel and the introduction and salvation of the nations, and the shame of the impious, and the glory of the righteous, and the judge of every living thing; and having died, he was buried in his own field. 10. Haggai is interpreted as "feasting." He was born in Babylon; he was from the tribe of Levi, and while still young he came from Babylon to Jerusalem and openly prophesied concerning the return of the people; and he saw in part the building of the temple; and having died in Jerusalem, he was buried near the tomb of the priests honorably, like them, since he himself was of priestly lineage. 11. Zechariah is interpreted as "memory of the Most High lion.

He was of the tribe of Levi, born in Galaad, and came from the Chaldeans already advanced in years, and having prophesied many things concerning the temple, he gave proof. He said to Iosedek that he would beget a son, and that he would serve as priest in Jerusalem, as a type of the true high priest. He also blessed Salathiel concerning his son, and gave him the name Zorobabel, and gave a sign to Cyrus for victory; and he prophesied concerning his own liturgy, which he would perform in Jerusalem, and blessed him greatly. He saw the setting forth of Jerusalem; and he set forth concerning the end of Israel, and the beginning of the nations, and the end of the temple, as of the destruction of its foundations, and the idleness of prophets and priests and sabbaths, and a double judgment. And he died in extreme old age, and having departed, was buried near Haggai. 12. Malachias is interpreted as angel. He was born after the return in Sophira of the tribe of Levi, and while still very young he led a good life. And since all the people honored him as blameless and gentle, they called him Malachias, which means angel. For he was also comely in appearance; but also whatever he himself said in prophecy, on that same day an angel of God appearing confirmed his words; and no unworthy person beheld the angel, but only heard his voice; the worthy, however, also beheld his form, as happened in the days of the anarchy, as is written in Schopheteim, that is, in the book of Judges. And while still young he was added to his fathers in a good life, and was buried with his fathers. 13.

Isaiah the prophet was born in Jerusalem, of the tribe of Judah, and died under Manasseh, king of Judah, being sawn in two with a wooden saw, and was buried under the oak of Rogel, near the crossing of the waters which Hezekiah the king had blocked up. Jeremiah the prophet was from Anathoth and died in Taphnae of Egypt, stoned by the people. Ezekiel the prophet was from the land of Sarera, of the sons of the high priests, a Levite; he died in the land of the Chaldeans during the captivity.