Scholars debate nearly all of the particulars associated with the phenomenon known as prophecy.
Most argue that the present works that are attributed to individual prophetic figures, like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, etc., contain the actual historical words of these historical prophetic figures. Many, however, argue that these works are literary creations constructed in a short period of time by professional sages and scribes, and that they are not linked, except by tradition, to any particular, let alone ancient, personage. Most scholars agree that the present prophetic books have undergone a series of editorial revisions, presumably by some group of people who associated themselves with the traditions represented by the work. The degree of editing, and the exact nature of the process, continue to be matters of debate, but it is clear that the prophetic books must be understood as the result of various forms of editorial work. Two examples might be instructive.