Religion: The Ancient Preachers

In a period of four centuries, ancient Israel produced a unique succession of spokesmen for God—the Hebrew prophets. These inspired preachers profoundly influenced the shape of Judaism and foreshadowed the coming of Christ. Few modern Christians know much about them. Published last week was a book designed to bring them alive for laymen—The Goodly Fellowship of the Prophets (Scribner; $3). Its author, Scottish-born Dr. John Paterson of New Jersey's Drew Theological Seminary, writes about the prophets with human understanding to warm his scholarship.

Nomad. Amos (8th Century B.C.) had the shortest of recorded...