Il «Giorno del Signore», culmine e paradigma del castigo biblico

Il caso emblematico dei Profeti Minori

Abstract

This contribution examines the theme of “The day of the Lord” in the pro-phetic pages of the Twelve, with the aim of revealing its theological and lit-erary richness, and to offer some reading criteria so as to appreciate the salvific perspective. In utilizing an often stark and somewhat more removed vision from ours, the prophets intend to express, in first place, the invinci-ble desire to bring the sinner back to the way of salvation. These pericopes translate the prophets’ ardent longing for an historic turn-around, proximate and definitive, in which justice may be restored. As much as history may ap-pear inexorably prey to hostile forces, the hope of belief is not quenched but rather continues to proclaim the coming of a time in which the God of Israel will renew the face of the earth.