Prophets in Judaism explained

According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses of Judaism (Hebrew: נְבִיאִים Nəvīʾīm, Tiberian: Năḇīʾīm, "Prophets", literally "spokespersons")^{[1] [2] [3]} The last Jewish prophet is believed to have been Malachi. In Jewish tradition it is believed that the period of prophecy, called Nevuah, ended with Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi (mid-5th century BCE) at which time the "Shechinah departed from Israel".^{[4] [5]}

Rabbinic tradition

According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses who prophesied to Israel.^{[2] [3]}

The 46 prophets to Israel (46 according to Rashi, commentary on Tractate Megillah 14a)

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. -- One of the seven prophets who prophecied in the 2nd year of Darius (Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 15a)

Additional prophets

Although the Talmud 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 a Baraita 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 concerning King Saul:

Prophets to other nations

The Talmud lists 7 prophets to the nations of the world (gentiles):^[9]

1. 1. , father of Balaam

Notes and References

1. Book: Khan, Geoffrey . The Tiberian Pronunciation Tradition of Biblical Hebrew, Volume 1. . Open Book Publishers . 2020 . 978-1783746767.
2. Web site: Megillah 14a, the William Davidson Talmud (Koren - Steinsaltz). Sefaria. 2023. 26 October 2023.
3. Book: Scherman. Nosson. The Stone Edition Tanach. Mesorah Publications, Limited. 2038.
4. https://books.google.com/books?id=GsDNhImlaXgC&pg=PA167 A Dictionary of the Jewish-Christian Dialogue
5. Light of Prophecy Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America/National Conference of Synagogue Youth (1990), p6.
6. [Megillah (Talmud)|Talmud, Tractate Megillah]
7. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1735365/jewish/Why-Isnt-the-Book-of-Daniel-Part-of-the-Prophets.htm#footnote2a1735365 Why Isn't the Book of Daniel Part of the Prophets? from Chabad.org, footnote 2
8. https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.14a?lang=bi Talmud Megilla 14a
9. [Bava Batra]