[The European Conservative] Profiles in Zionism

A new book traces the words and deeds of eight leaders who devoted their lives to their fellow Jews.

And None Shall Make Them Afraid: Eight Stories of the Modern State of Israel. By Rick Richman. Encounter Books; 368 pages; $29.99.

Following the Torah’s account of Jewish bondage before Moses led the Israelites into the Holy Land, the Hebrew Bible devotes no less than 19 books to as many prophets of Israel. After four “former” ones and three “latter” ones, the “Book of Twelve” covers as many “minor” prophets, as St. Augustine later categorized them. Midway through it sits Micah, an 8th century BCE prophet whose book alternates doom and hope in a pattern that matches Israel’s vicissitudes at the time of writing. After a peaceful period, the Assyrian empire reduced Israel and Judah to vassalage in the 730s BCE. Israel rebelled on the death of emperor Tiglath-Pileser III, triggering the vengeful destruction of its capital, Samaria. Micah 1:2–7 fictionalizes the city’s siege: God has punished its idolatry, oppression of the poor and misuse of power. Later the Assyrians attack Judah, the backstory to verses 1:8–16, in which Micah warns of the looming disaster. Verses 2:1–5 denounce greed in those towns. Upon more Godly judgement of Israel’s leaders in verses 3 and 4, Micah…