The Sunday News
Divinity Digest, Witness Dingani
“Prophets in Ancient Israel and Zimbabwean prophets belongs to same class.” Discuss.(25)
SUGGESTED ANSWERS
ANCIENT Israel prophets and Zimbabwe prophets belong to a class of their own. There are similarities between Israel and Zimbabwean prophets. Similarities in the sense that they all received calls, championed holy wars, fought for justice to mention but a few only. However, it can be argued that they belong to different classes due to minor differences for instance anointing of kings. On the going essay seeks the writer to discuss the validity of the claim that prophets in Ancient Israel and Zimbabwe belongs to the same class.
During the exodus event, Moses as a prophet who was divinely inspired, played a number of prophetic duties. This includes performing miracles. He went to the extent of fighting holy wars with Amalekites. This is evidenced in Exodus 17:9 “And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow . . .”
It has been submitted that while Israel was fighting Moses was standing on top of the mountain with Aaron with a rod, hence, he was praying for a victory. As a result Israel defeated the Amalekites (Amalek grandson of Esau). Scholar Thomas Constable in his Exodus notes, page 104 paragraph 4, citing Josephus the early church father who submitted that No Hebrew died in this war but innumerable Amalekites perished. Samuel the prophet championed holy wars. This is evidenced when he prayed and offered sacrifices in Mizpah, so that Yahweh woud give Israel strength in order to fight against the Philistines. This is recorded in 1 Samuel 7: 5-10. As a result the Israelites won the battle. Samuel had schools of prophets. The internal evidence reveal that Samuel was always standing as the head, this is indicated in 1 Samuel 19: 20. Scholar B W Anderson submitted that the other role of sons of prophets with their head was to champion holy wars; giving soldiers a patriotic feeling. This is also the reason why the guild was always stationed in garrisons. In the Zimbabwean context many prophets have championed the holy wars, citing the “white church garment” who fought against the police in Budiriro 1, this was recorded by Newsday and ZBC on 14 May 2014. (The members of the sect could be heard shouting ordering others to kill claiming they were fighting a “holy war”). This story was recorded on Herald (<http://www.herald.co.zw/latest-vapostori-beat-up-police/).
Hence, this indicates that prophets in Ancient Israel and Zimbabwe belong on the same class as there are similarities.
Israel prophets received calls for instance, Moses as a prophet received a call when he experienced a vision of burning bush, this is recorded in Exodus 3: 1. Samuel also received a call when he heard a voice, Isaiah of Jerusalem also experienced a vision of seraphims. In Zimbabwean context, many prophets claim to have experienced calls, these include, Uebert Angel who claimed to have been visited by 50 Angels, Zimbabwean scholars like Kudzai Biri and Ibid wrote that Makandiwa claimed he received a call when he experienced a vision of burning bush in Muzarabani Village at a tender age, Isabel Mukonyora in her work entitled “The Dramatisation of Johane Masowe” submitted that Masowe experienced a vision of burning bush in Mt Marimba, this has been further supported by Dillon in his work entitled “Korstekn Basketmakers”. Therefore, this will lead one to suggest that Israel and Zimbabwean prophets belong in the same class.
Israel prophets had an ability to perfom miracles, for instance, Moses perfomed miracles throughout the exodus event, this includes the miracle of manna from Heaven which is recorded in Exodus 16: 1. Prophet Elijah also performed miracles, for instance raising the widow’s son and multiplying the food, all this is recorded in 1st Kings 17: 14-21. In Zimbabwean context, performing miracles cannot be separated from Zimbabwean prophets, Bulawayo24.com and Newsday on 17 March 2016 recorded a story of Paul Sanyangore who claimed to have walked on water in a Harare “swimming pool”. Uebert Angel claimed to have raised more than 24 dead people. W Magaya performs healing miracles on daily basis, his miracles have been broadcasted on YadahTV. Spectacle prophet “Freddy” is well-known of performing miracles using spectacles and the same applies to the Apple “Fordrick” prophet who has been recorded by local media performing several miracles using an apple.
Therefore, this indicates that Zimbabwean and Israel prophets belong to the same class as it is evidenced by similarities.
Israel prophets fought for social justice, for instance Moses fought for justice when he confronted King Pharaoh so as to free the Israelites who were being oppressed by Pharaoh, this is evidenced in Exodus 5: 1. Elijah fought for justice when he confronted King Ahab over Naboth’s vineyard, this is recorded in 1 Kings 21: 17. Amos condemned the women of Samaria who were oppressing the poor, this is recorded in Amos 4: 1. Amos advocated for fairness as well in Amos 5: 24. In Zimbabwean context, it is recorded that Zimbabwean prophets have fought social justice, Samuel Mutendi is believed to have criticised the oppression of blacks by the whites during the colonisation of Southern Rhodesia. Basing on the above text it is clear that there are similarities between Israel and Zimbabwean prophets when fighting for social justice is concerned, hence it can be said that Zimbabwe and Israel prophets belong on the same class.
Israel prophets fought for worshipping of one God. Moses for worshiping of one God when he destroyed the golden calf which had been made by the Israelites, this is recorded in Exodus 32: 20. Elijah butchered the baal prophets during the Mt Carmel contest, this is recorded in 1 Kings 18: 36-42. In Zimbabwean context, it is documented by a number of authors that Zimbabwean prophets fights for worshipping of one God, Isabel Mukonyora citing Dillon, says Masowe during his days had tendency of destroying “mishonga” and burning the fetishes. Makandiwa recorded by Christ Tv undated, discouraged his church to partake in evil practices. Magaya recorded by Newsday newspaper and Bulawayo24.com in 14 February 2015 , he condemned the use of water as a way of exorcism by the white church garment which is led by Johannes Ndanga as evilness and encouraging them to change, this is further supported by his book entitled “The marine spirit”(the point in this case is that Magaya fights for worshipping of one God).Similarities can be noticed, hence, one will be making violence on a plain text if one totally ignore the view that Israel and Zimbabwean prophets belong to the same class.
Israel prophets predicted the future events. Samuel predicted the dangers of having a king, this is recorded in 1 Samuel 8: 6-17. Elijah predicted the death of King Ahab “The dogs will lick your blood”. This is recorded in 1 Kings 21:17-22. Ahijah of Shiloh predicted the death of the son of Jeroboam, this is recorded in 1 Kings 14: 12. In Zimbabwean context, it is documented that Zimbabwean prophets predicted the future events. For instance, Bulawayo well-known prophet Chiza predicted the status of Zimbabwe in his 2016 prophecies (prophecy number 2 of Chiza says the Zimbabwean dollar will be re-introduced). Makandiwa in his article Volume 11 undated prophesied about the next coming big prophet, he says (“. . . I see another man of God coming in Zimbabwe . . . but by the time he comes I will be an old man . . .” He went on to say “I see another city coming”). Daily News newspaper on 28 April 2016 published that Makandiwa had predicted the Zambia xenophobia attacks. All this indicates that Zimbabwean prophets predict the future just like Israel prophets, hence,similarities can be noticed.
HOWEVER PART
As much as it can be said that Israel and Zimbabwean prophets belong on the class of their on one will be short cited if the writer ignores the other side of the coin which proves to us that they do not necessarily belong on the same class because of differences For instance. Israel prophets anointed kings, Samuel anointed Saul and David. This is recorded in 1 Samuel 10: 1 and 1 Samuel 16: 13-23.Elijah was suppose to anoint Jehu and Hazel, This is recorded in 1 Kings 19: 15-16. In Zimbabwean context, it is not documented that Zimbabwean prophets anoint Kings and the reason being that Zimbabwe is a Republican Government but not monarchy. As such this indicate that the Zimbabwe and Israel prophets belong to different classes.
CONCLUSION
Basing on the above discussion it is clear that Zimbabwe and Israel prophets belong on the samw class ,as it can be evidenced by more similarities. Similarities in the sense they all perform miracles, fight for monotheism, predict the future and fighting for justice.
However, there are minor differences as the writer fully highlighted above.
REFERENCES
(1) ZBC TV on 14 May 2014 (2) Herald newspaper (<http://www.herald.co.zw/latest-vapostori-beat-up-police/>). (3) Isabel Mukonyora “The dramatization of Johanne Masowe” (4) Revised Standard Version Bible (RSV) (5) Newsday newspaper and Bulawayo24.com on 14 February 2015 (6) Daily News newspaper on 28 April 2016.
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