Seer as an alternative title for a prophet
1 Samuel 9:9 Literally, a “seer” is “one who sees”, especially one who claims to see into the future or to have insight into the will of God. See also 2 Samuel 24:11 parallel 1 Chronicles 21:9
(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
Seers used by people to enquire of God
The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.” (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
David had seers to enquire of God for him
1 Chronicles 25:1–5 See also 2 Samuel 24:11 parallel 1 Chronicles 21:9; 2 Samuel 15:27; 2 Chronicles 29:25, 2 Chronicles 35:15
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service: From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah , Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah — six in all — under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD. From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these sons of Heman the king’s seer were given him through the promises of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
Seers were used by God to bring his word to the people
Seers were used by God to bring his word to the king
2 Chronicles 16:7–10, 2 Chronicles 33:18
The words of a seer were sometimes unwelcome
2 Chronicles 16:7–10; Isaiah 30:10; Amos 7:12–13
Samuel was called a seer
1 Samuel 9:11–14, 1 Samuel 9:18–19; 1 Chronicles 9:22, 1 Chronicles 26:28, 1 Chronicles 29:29
Asaph, the psalmist, called a seer
Seers wrote Israel's history
2 Chronicles 33:18–19 See also 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29, 2 Chronicles 12:15
As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. His prayer and how God received his plea, as well as all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself, they are indeed written in the Records of the Seers.
God judges Israel by blinding the seers
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.