It was the task of the prophets to restore what had been lost by the teachers who had distorted the truth of the law and failed to teach its inner spiritual meaning. They were authorized exponents of the law. The prophets were also a political power in the state. Strong in the safeguard of their religious character, they were able to offset even the authority of a wicked king such as Ahab. Yet, the prophets were something more than poets and analysts, preachers of patriotism, moral teachers, exponents