Part 2: Chapters 10-13 Summary and Analysis

Heschel states that the task has become now to look at the theory of ecstasy, but limits it to the literary prophets. He looks at the state of mind of the prophet at the time when they were to be receiving the words of God. Heschel explains that some think the prophets may have been under the influence of subconscious impulses and victims of hallucinations. This obscures much about the prophetic personality. Heschel takes information from parts of Israel's culture to understand the prophets, as well as facts from the cult of the Baalam. Heschel states that if ecstasy were a requirement for a prophet then Moses, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah would not have been classified as prophets. They are conscious when they receive their visions from the Lord and react to them, sometimes in shock...