Prophecy and Priesthood

Prophets and priests are often seen as opponents, but this is far from true. Prophets might well criticize what they see as priestly corruption, while in a similar vein priests might denounce prophets whom they think are false. Yet although each category of office has certain unique characteristics, their activities and functions often overlap with one another. Both act as intermediaries between humans and the divine, and both provide various means for seeking and obtaining a message from the deity. Some prophets came from priestly families, and there seem to have been cultic prophets connected with the temple. A variety of prophets and models of prophets are found in the Hebrew Bible, including female prophets, “sons/bands of the prophets,” and shaman-like figures.