Like Christianity, which must confront the difference between modern times and the miraculous, charismatic events of the first century, Judaism has had to ponder the end of the prophetic era.
"After the death of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, the last of the prophets, the Holy Spirit ceased from Israel."
Tosifta Sot. xiii, 2
quoted by
Abraham Cohen
Everyman's Talmud
"By the rabbinic period, prophecy - direct communication from God - had given way to textual interpretation: exactly what we are doing. The sages preferred to interpret the Torah actively rather than passively awaiting new revelations. Further, I suspect that they were suspicious of new revelations, which potentially undercut their authority. They preferred an established system of commentary to charismatic religion. For the rabbis, active prophecy ended with the biblical books of the Minor Prophets, Haggai, Malachi and Zechariah. From that point onward, the rabbis engaged in midrash, the searching out God's will through interpretation of the scriptural canon."
Rabbi Burton L. Visotsky
Sage Tales
"The men of prehistoric times, being able to use the Holy Spirit, gave names to their children which indicated events that were going to happen to them later in their lives; we, on the other hand, who cannot employ the Holy Spirit, name our children after our ancestors."
Genesis R. xxxvii, 7
quoted by
Abraham Cohen
Everyman's Talmud
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