The schools of prophets were an initiatic brotherhood, democratically based, a prophesizing minority. In the first book of Samuel is written: “It was at this time that the roeh took the title of nabhì, that is, clairvoyant, the diviner and the inspired man no longer acted alone, nor in seclusion near a sanctuary. They formed associations of prophets, non-tribal, accepting candidates from all the tribes of Israel”.

The prophets who were part of the “schools”, practiced prolonged fasting, retreats in the desert, and, in the life of the community, carried out celebrations and processions, with music. They did not sacrifice animals, and stayed independent of the Judges and the Kings. The sacrificers were a separate aristocratic caste. If the Torah was considered an immutable book, containing all the faith of Israel, its words considered a literal truth, it is obvious that prophecies could not be accepted as a substitute for the Law. On the other hand, the prophets did not admit to stray from the Torah, so, they felt compelled to penetrate its words in an allegorical sense. The prophets were the mysticism of Israel and an initiatic mysticism and spoke through allegories.

 

For them the watch words were found in the mysteries of the Name of God, and the rites were those of orthodox Israel but with a special knowledge of their esoteric meanings; their statute was the Sefirotic Tree, with the 50 doors of Light and the 32 ways of Wisdom; certainty in the written Law. Their initiation followed the oral and esoteric Law; their goal was the communion of their souls, as Archeosophy and its school of High Initiation has
classified it, with the soul of the Secret Doctrine in the glory of the Shekinah or divine presence of God.

 

 

Tommaso Palamidessi

excerpt from "INSPIRATION OF THE PROPHETS"

of  7th Booklet