Biblical Bibliographies
Charles Conroy [www.cjconroy.net]



Prophetic Social Critique




The bibliography is divided into four sections as follows:

1.    Prophetic social critique in general

Altmann, P., Economics in Persian-Period Biblical Texts: Their Interactions with Economic Developments in the Persian Period and Earlier Biblical Traditions (FAT 109; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2016). [his third chapter "Economics, Cult, and Society in Preexilic Biblical Texts" (48-78) deals with pre-exilic social and economic conditions and prophetic reactions]

Carroll R., M. D., The Lord Roars: Recovering the Prophetic Voice for Today (Theological Explorations for the Church Catholic; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022), esp. 25-52. [=Chap. Two; on prophetic social critique]

Chaney, M. L., "Bitter Bounty. The Dynamics of Political Economy Critiqued by the Eighth-Century Prophets", in R. L. Stivers (ed.), Reformed Faith and Economics (Lanham: University Press of America, 1989) 15-30. Reprinted [same title] in N. K. Gottwald – R. A. Horsley (eds.), The Bible and Liberation. Political and Social Hermeneutics (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1993) 250-263. Reprinted again in M. L. Chaney, Peasants, Prophets, & Political Economy: The Hebrew Bible and Social Analysis (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017) 147-159.

Chaney, M. L., "The Political Economy of Peasant Poverty: What the Eighth-Century Prophets Presumed but Did Not State", Journal of Religion and Society, Supplement 10 (2014) 34-60. Reprinted in M. L. Chaney, Peasants, Prophets, & Political Economy: The Hebrew Bible and Social Analysis (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017) 121-146. The original can be downloaded here.

Coomber, M. J. M. (ed.), Bible and Justice: Ancient Texts, Modern Challenges (Bible World; London and Oakville, CT: Equinox, 2011).

Coomber, M. J. M., "Caught in the Crossfire? Economic Injustice and Prophetic Motivation in Eighth-Century Judah", BibInt 19 (2011) 396-432.

Coomber, M. J. M., Re-Reading the Prophets Through Corporate Globalization: A Cultural-Evolutionary Approach to Economic Injustice in the Hebrew Bible (Biblical Intersections, 4; Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias, 2011). Second edition [same title]: (Eugene, OR: Cascade / Wipf & Stock, 2022).

Dearman, J. A., Property Rights in the Eighth-Century Prophets:The Conflict and Its Background (SBLDS 106; Atlanta, GA: Scholars, 1988).

Donner, H., "Die soziale Botschaft der Propheten im Lichte der Gesellschaftsordnung in Israel", OrAnt 2 (1963) 229-245. Reprinted in P. H. A. Neumann (ed.), Das Prophetenverständnis in der deutschsprachigen Forschung seit Heinrich Ewald (Wege der Forschung, 307; Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1979) 493-514.

Ferry, J., "Y a-t-il une justice économique chez les prophètes?", in F. Mies (ed.), Bible et économie. Servir Dieu ou l'argent (Le livre et le rouleau, 17; Namur: Presses Universitaires de Namur, 2003) 41-75.

Geus, C. H. J. de, "Die Gesellschaftskritik der Propheten und die Archäologie", ZDPV 98 (1982) 50-57.

Gonçalves, F. J., "Fondements du message social des prophètes", in A. Lemaire (ed.), Congress Volume Ljubljana 2007 (VTSup 133; Leiden: Brill, 2010) 597-620.

Guillaume, P., Land, Credit and Crisis: Agrarian Finance in the Hebrew Bible (BibleWorld; Sheffield: Equinox, 2012).

Hankins, D., "The Economy and Israelite Prophecy from the Eighth to the Sixth Centuries b.c.e.", in M. J. M. Coomber (ed.), Economics and Empire in the Ancient Near East: Guide to the Bible and Economics, Volume 1 (Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice; Eugene, OR: Cascade / Wipf & Stock, 2023) 224-262.

Hernando García, E., "Los pobres y la palabra de Dios en el Antiguo Testamento", Burgense 21 (1980) 329-358.

Holm-Nielsen, S., "Die Sozialkritik der Propheten", in O. Kaiser (ed.), Denkender Glaube. Festschrift Carl Heinz Ratschow (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1976) 7-23.

Houston, W. J., "Was There a Social Crisis in the Eighth Century?", in J. Day (ed.), In Search of Pre-Exilic Israel. Proceedings of the Oxford Old Testament Seminar (JSOTSup 406; London: T & T Clark International, 2004) 130-149. Reprinted in W. J. Houston, Justice for the Poor? Social Justice in the Old Testament in Concept and Practice (Eugene, OR: Cascade / Wipf & Stock, 2020) 85-104.

Houston, W. J., Contending for Justice: Ideologies and Theologies of Social Justice in the Old Testament. Second revised edition (LHB/OTS 428; London: T & T Clark International, 2008). [first ed. 2006]

Houston, W. J., "Exit the Oppressed Peasant? Rethinking the Background of Social Criticism in the Prophets", in J. Day (ed.), Prophecy and the Prophets in Ancient Israel: Proceedings of the Oxford Old Testament Seminar (LHB/OTS 531; London & New York: T & T Clark, 2010) 101-116. Reprinted in W. J. Houston, Justice for the Poor? Social Justice in the Old Testament in Concept and Practice (Eugene, OR: Cascade / Wipf & Stock, 2020) 105-119.

Houston, W. J., Justice for the Poor? Social Justice in the Old Testament in Concept and Practice (Eugene, OR: Cascade / Wipf & Stock, 2020).

Jaramillo Rivas, P., La injusticia y la opresión en el lenguaje figurado de los profetas (Institución San Jerónimo, 26; Estella [Navarra]: Editorial Verbo Divino, 1992).

Jiang, S., "How Prophecy Critiquing Socio-Economic Injustice Transformed into Law: The Cases of the Covenant Code and Early Prophetic Texts", ZAW 134 (2022) 441-457.

Keel, O., "Rechttun oder Annahme des drohenden Gerichts (Erwägungen zu Amos, dem frühen Jesaja und Micha)", BZ N.F. 21 (1977) 200-218.

Kessler, R., Staat und Gesellschaft im vorexilischen Juda vom 8. Jahrhundert bis zum Exil (VTSup 47; Leiden: Brill, 1992).

Kessler, R., "Frühkapitalismus, Rentenkapitalismus, Tributarismus, antike Klassengesellschaft. Theorien zur Gesellschaft des alten Israel", EvT 54 (1994) 413-427.

Kessler, R., "Differenz und Integration: Reaktionen auf die soziale Krise des 8. Jahrhunderts", in A. Wagner (ed.), Primäre und sekundäre Religion als Kategorie der Religionsgeschichte des Alten Testaments (BZAW 364; Berlin: De Gruyter, 2006) 57-67.

Kipper, J. B., "A evolução econômico-social em Israel e a pregação dos profetas", Revista de Cultura Bíblica 20 (1977) 309-351.

Koch, K., "Die Entstehung der sozialen Kritik bei den Profeten", in H. W. Wolff (ed.), Probleme biblischer Theologie: Gerhard von Rad zum 70. Geburstag (München: Kaiser, 1971) 236-257. Reprinted in K. Koch, Spuren des hebräischen Denkens. Beiträge zur alttestamentlichen Theologie. Gesammelte Aufsätze, Band 1. Herausgegeben von B. Janowski und M. Krause (Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1991) 146-166.

Koch, K., "Origin and Effect of the Social Critique of the Pre-Exilic Prophets", Bangalore Theological Forum 11 (1979) 91-108.

Kornfeld, W., "Die Gesellschafts- und Kultkritik alttestamentlicher Propheten", in R. Schulte (ed.), Leiturgia – Koinonia – Diakonia. Festschrift für Kardinal Franz König zum 75. Geburtstag (Wien: Herder, 1980) 181-200.

Kraus, H.-J., "Die prophetische Botschaft gegen das soziale Unrecht Israels", EvT 15 (1955) 295-307.

Kwakkel, G., "The Prophets on Trade: Did They Consider It a Canaanite Affair?", in M. Zehnder – H. Hagelia (eds.), The Bible and Money: Economy and Socioeconomic Ethics in the Bible (Bible and the Modern World, 76; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2020) 95-114.

Loretz, O., "Die prophetische Kritik des Rentenkapitalismus. Grundlagen-Probleme der Prophetenforschung", UF 7 (1975) 271-278.

Loretz, O., "Altsyrisch-kanaanäischer Ursprung prophetischer Sozialkritik im Alten Testament nach Texten aus Ugarit und Mari. Rechtsprechung und Rechtsempfinden in der Agrargesellschaft Altsyriens-Palästinas," in G. J. Selz (ed.), Festschrift für Burkhart Kienast zu seinem 70. Geburtstage dargebracht von Freunden, Schülern und Kollegen (AOAT 274; Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, 2003) 285-327.

Marlow, H., "Justice for Whom? Social and Environmental Ethics and the Hebrew Prophets", in K. J. Dell (ed.), Ethical and Unethical in the Old Testament: God and Humans in Dialogue (LHB/OTS 528; London: T & T Clark, 2010) 103-121.

Moore, M. S., WealthWarn: A Study of Socioeconomic Conflict in Hebrew Prophecy (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock – Pickwick Publications, 2019).

Nardoni, E., Los que buscan la justicia: Un estudio de la justicia en el mundo bíblico (Estudios Bíblicos, 14; Estella [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 1997); = Rise Up, O Judge. A Study of Justice in the Biblical World (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004).

Nurmi, J. J., Die Ethik unter dem Druck des Alltags. Die Impulse der gesellschaftlichen Änderungen und Situation zu der sozialkritischen Prophetie in Juda im 8. Jh. v. Chr (Åbo: Åbo Åkademis Förlag, 2004).

Pleins, J. D., The Social Visions of the Hebrew Bible: A Theological Introduction (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001).

Pons, J., L'oppression dans l'Ancien Testament (Paris: Letouzey et Ané, 1981).

Premnath, D. N., Eighth Century Prophets: A Social Analysis (St Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2003).

Schwantes, M., Das Recht der Armen (Beiträge zur biblischen Exegese und Theologie, 4; Frankfurt a. Main: Peter Lang, 1977).

Sicre, J. L., Los dioses olvidados. Poder y riqueza en los profetas preexilicos (Estudios de Antiguo Testamento, 1; Madrid: Ediciones Cristiandad, 1979).

Sicre, J. L., «Con los pobres de la tierra.» La justicia social en los profetas de Israel (Madrid: Ediciones Cristiandad, 1984).

Sicre, J. L., Profetismo en Israel. El Profeta. Los Profetas. El Mensaje (Estella [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 1992): cap. 18 "La lucha por la justicia". [Italian and Portuguese translations here]

Smith-Christopher, D. L., "The Problem of 'Justice' as Social Criticism in the Twelve Prophets", in J. M. O'Brien (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets (Oxford Handbooks; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021) 159-172.

Sneed, M., "Israelite Concern for the Alien, Orphan, and Widow: Altruism or Ideology?", ZAW 111 (1999) 498-507.

Thottumkl, S. J., 'Do Not Oppress!' (Zechariah 7:10): The Widow, the Orphan, the Sojourner and the Poor in Post-Exilic Israel: (Bengalaru [Bangalore]: Kristu Jyoti, 2016).

Wanke, G., "Zu Grundlagen und Absicht prophetischer Sozialkritik", KD 18 (1972) 2-17.

Weinfeld, M., Social Justice in Ancient Israel and in the Ancient Near East (Jerusalem: The Magnes Press, Hebrew University, 1995).

Williamson, H. G. M., He Has Shown You What is Good: Old Testament Justice Then and Now. The Trinity Lectures, Singapore, 2011 (Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press, 2012). [see esp. ch. 4 "Prophetic Justice" 64-89]

Zwickel, W., "Die Wirtschaftsreform des Hiskia und die Sozialkritik der Propheten des 8. Jahrhunderts", EvT 59 (1999) 356-377.

2.    Social critique in the book of Isaiah in particular

Asurmendi, J., "Droit et justice chez Isaïe," in E. Bons (ed.), Le jugement dans l'un et l'autre Testament, I: Mélanges offerts à Raymond Kuntzmann (LD 197; Paris: Cerf, 2004) 149-163.

Bäckersten, O., Isaiah's Political Message: An Appraisal of His Alleged Social Critique (FAT II/29; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008).

Bardtke, H., "Die Latifundien in Juda während der zweiten Hälfte des achten Jahrhunderts v.Chr. Zum Verständnis von Jes 5,8-10", in A. Caquot – M. Philonenko (eds.), Hommages à André Dupont-Sommer (Paris: Maisonneuve, 1971) 235-254.

Barton, J., "Ethics in Isaiah of Jerusalem", JTS N.S. 32 (1981) 1-18.

Becker, U., "Sozialkritik in Jes 1-39 und im Amos-Buch", in R. J. Bautch – J. Eck – B. M. Zapff (eds.), Isaiah and the Twelve: Parallels, Similarities and Differences (BZAW 527; Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020) 33-53.

Davies, E. W., Prophecy and Ethics. Isaiah and the Ethical Traditions of Israel (JSOTSup 16; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1981).

Gray, M., Rhetoric and Social Justice in Isaiah (LHB/OTS 432; New York: T & T Clark International, 2006).

Grey, J. N., "Isaiah 5: A Prophetic Critique of Economic Proportion", Verbum et Ecclesia [Pretoria, South Africa] 39/1 (2018) 1-7. [online here]

Groenewald, A., "'But Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters, and Righteousness Like an Ever-Flowing Stream' (Am 5:24). Social Justice Versus Cult Criticism in Amos (5:21-24) and Isaiah (1:10-20): A Trauma Perspective", HTS 75/3 (2019) 1-10. [open access here]

Niehr, H., "Bedeutung und Funktion kanaanäischer Traditionselemente in der Sozialkritik Jesajas", BZ N.F. 28 (1984) 69-81.

Porath, R., Die Sozialkritik im Jesajabuch. Redaktionsgeschichtliche Analyse (EHS 23/503; Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 1994).

Premnath, D. N., "Latifundialization and Isaiah 5:8-10", JSOT 40 (1988) 49-60.

Thomas, H. A., "Building House to House (Isaiah 5:8): Theological Reflection on Land Development and Creation Care", BBR 21 (2011) 189-212.

3.    Social critique in the book of Amos in particular

Amissah, P. K., The Prophetic Voice of Amos on Contemporary Social Justice (Biblical Interpretation Series, 215; Leiden: Brill, 2024).

Becker, U., "Sozialkritik in Jes 1-39 und im Amos-Buch", in R. J. Bautch – J. Eck – B. M. Zapff (eds.), Isaiah and the Twelve: Parallels, Similarities and Differences (BZAW 527; Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020) 33-53.

Bohlen, R., "Zur Sozialkritik des Propheten Amos", TTZ 95 (1986) 282-301.

Botterweck, G. J., "Die soziale Kritik des Propheten Amos", in F. Groner (ed.), Die Kirche im Wandel der Zeit. Festgabe seiner Eminenz dem hochwürdigsten Herrn Josef Kardinal Höffner Erzbischof von Köln zur Vollendung des 65. Lebenjahres am 24. Dezember 1971 (Köln: Bachem, 1971) 39-58.

Carroll Rodas, M. D., "Seek Yahweh, Establish Justice: Probing Prophetic Ethics. An Orientation from Amos 5:1-17", in C. L. Westfall – B. R. Dyer (eds.), The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church's Urgent Call (McMaster New Testament Studies; Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2015) 64-83.

Chaney, M. L., "Producing Peasant Poverty: Debt Instruments in Amos 2:6b-8, 13-16", in M. L. Chaney – U. Y. Kim – A. Schellenberg (eds.), Reading a Tendentious Bible: Essays in Honor of Robert B. Coote (Hebrew Bible Monographs, 66; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2014) 191-204. Reprinted in M. L. Chaney, Peasants, Prophets, & Political Economy: The Hebrew Bible and Social Analysis (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017) 191-204.

Fendler, M., "Zur Sozialkritik des Amos. Versuch einer wirtschafts- und sozialgeschichtlichen Interpretation alttestamentlicher Texte", EvT 33 (1973) 32-53.

Fleischer, G., Von Menschenkäufern, Baschankühen und Rechtsverkehrern. Die Sozialkritik des Amosbuches in historisch-kritischer, sozialgeschichtlicher und archäologischer Perspektive (BBB 74; Frankfurt am Main: Athenäum, 1989).

Groenewald, A., "'But Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters, and Righteousness Like an Ever-Flowing Stream' (Am 5:24). Social Justice Versus Cult Criticism in Amos (5:21-24) and Isaiah (1:10-20): A Trauma Perspective", HTS 75/3 (2019) 1-10. [open access here]

Keel, O., "Rechttun oder Annahme des drohenden Gerichts (Erwägungen zu Amos, dem frühen Jesaja und Micha)", BZ N.F. 21 (1977) 200-218.

Lang, B., "The Social Organization of Peasant Poverty in Biblical Israel", JSOT 24 (1982) 47-63. Revised version: "Peasant Poverty: Rent Capitalism in the Days of Amos", in B. Lang, Hebrew Life and Literature (SOTSMS; Farnham: Ashgate, 2008) 47-60. The 2008 version was reprinted in E. Pfoh (ed.), Patronage in Ancient Palestine and in the Hebrew Bible: A Reader (The Social World of Biblical Antiquity, 2nd series, 12; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2022) 186-199.

Müller, R., "Das umgestürtzte Recht (Amos 5,7). Ein Zeugnis althebräischer Gerichtsprophetie und seine politischen und religionsgeschichtlichen Hintergründe", in A. Höfele – C. Levin – R. Müller – B. Quiring (eds.), Chaos from the Ancient World to Early Modernity: Formation of the Formless (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2021) 59-80.

Price, R., "Amos: Theological and Ethical Dimensions", ExpTim 134.3 (Dec. 2022) 115-122.

Rathbone, M., "Capitalism, the Book of Amos, and Adam Smith: An Analysis of Corruption", HTS 76/4 (2020) 1-9. [open access here]

Reimer, H., Richtet auf das Recht! Studien zur Botschaft des Amos (SBS 149; Stuttgart: Katholisches Bibelwerk, 1992).

Smith-Christopher, D. L., "The Problem of 'Justice' as Social Criticism in the Twelve Prophets", in J. M. O'Brien (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets (Oxford Handbooks; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021) 159-172.

Tremblay, H., "'Vox clamantis in deserto?': L'enseignement d'Amos sur la justice sociale dans le contexte de la théorie de l'unité des douze", in E. Di Pede – D. Scaiola (eds.), The Book of the Twelve: One Book or Many? Metz Conference Proceedings, 5-7 November 2015 (FAT II/91; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2016) 107-133.

Vesco, J.-L., "Amos de Tequoa, défenseur de l'homme", RB 87 (1980) 481-513.

4.    Online resources

Kessler, R., "Sozialkritik (AT)", in WiBiLex [erstellt: Mai 2008]. See the Useful Links page for information about the WiBiLex.