Manifestation of YAHWEH's Ruach HaKodesh in the Old Covenant Prophets

The primary manifestation of the moving of the Ruach in the Old Covenant is prophecy. The dreams of  Yoseph  (Joseph) were recognized by Pharaoh as inspired revelations; Yoseph was a man "in whom is the Ruach of YAHWEH."  Bereshith (Genesis) 41:38 "And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Ruach of YAHWEH is?

Though David, as one who delivers inspired oracles, "the Ruach of YAHWEH speaks:" II Samuel 23:2 "The Ruach of YAHWEH spoke by me, and HIS Word was in my tongue." the false prophet Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah claims that the Ruach of YAHWEH is within him, so that if his adversary Micaiah is really a prophet, this must imply that the Ruach has left him and gone to Micaiah. I Melechim  (Kings) 22:24  "But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Ruach of YAHWEH from me to speak unto thee?"

The True prophet may declare boldly:  Micah 3:8 "I am filled with power, with the Ruach of YAHWEH, and with justice and might, to declare to Yaacob (Jacob) his transgression and to Yisrael his sin." 

The parallel between Ruach and power

In the prophet's inspiration is said to come from "YAHWEH...and His Ruach;" YeshaYahu  48:16 "Come you near unto me, hear you this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Sovereign YAHWEH, and His Ruach, hath sent me."  in this passage the Ruach is conceived more personally, as virtually synonymous with the presence of YAHWEH Himself. The mission of the prophet of YeshaYahu. 61:1 is carried out under the inspiration and authentication of the Ruach with which he has been Anointed by YAHWEH; and when the Ruach of YAHWEH "falls upon" Yehezqel, he is enabled to hear the message of doom which he is commissioned to declare to Yisrael. Yehezqel  11:5  "And the Ruach of YAHWEH fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus said YAHWEH; Thus have you said, O house of Yisrael: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them."

By His Ruach YAHWEH sent "the Law and the words" through the prophets, Zechariah 7:12  "Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the Law, and the words which YAHWEH of hosts has sent in His Ruach by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from YAHWEH of hosts." and it was by the Ruach that YAHWEH sent His warnings to Yisrael through the prophets. NechemYah  (Nehemiah) 9:30  "Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by Your Ruach in Your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore You gave them into the hand of the people of the lands."

It is particularly as the Ruach of prophecy that Yoel (Joel) pictures the expected future outpouring of the Ruach on all flesh, so that prophesying, dreams, and visions will no longer be restricted to a few specially chosen individuals. Yoel  2:28-29  "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Ruach upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Ruach."

Thus the prayer attributed to Mosheh  Bimidbar11:29  "And Mosheh said unto him, Envy you for my sake? would YAHWEH that all His people were prophets, and that YAHWEH would put His Ruach upon them!"  would be fulfilled, and all YAHWEH'S people would become prophets through the action of YAHWEH in putting His Ruach upon them.

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