The early prophets were totally committed to the one God of Israel, but with the first of the canonical prophets, Amos, an explicit preaching that God is not only Lord of Israel but Lord of the other nations, is found. In the opening part of his book, God's judgement on Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab is set out, as well as judgement on Judah and Israel. In the traditions of Elijah and Elisha this is foreshadowed with their involvement in the affairs of Syria. The Lordship of God over the nations is implied in the dealings of Yahweh with the Egyptians, when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt. It continues to be implied in the events of Israel's history 'which reveal the power of God over all other forces which oppose Israel.

In the first of the canonical prophets it is made explicit that God has the right to judge other nations as well as Israel and Judah, for he alone is God over all nations, whether or not they recognize this. Isaiah understands that God controls Assyria for his own purposes even if the Assyrians do not know him but worship false gods. Jeremiah under-stands that Babylonia is the instrument of God's purposes. The climax of the explicit monotheism of the canonical prophets is found in the passages of Isaiah such as 44: 5-8: 'One by one, people will say, "I am the Lord's." They will come to join the people of Israel. Each one will mark the name of the Lord on his arm and call himself one of God's people. The Lord, who rules and protects Israel, the Lord Almighty, has this to say, "I am the first, the last, the only God; there is no other God but me." , Isaiah 45: 22-23 has this: 'Turn to me now and be saved, people all over the world I I am the only God there is. My promise is true, and it will not be changed. I solemnly promise by all that I am: everyone will come and kneel before me and vow to be loyal to me.'

The moral claims of the one God were laid upon all nations. There are many prophetic utterances in the canonical prophetic books which are directed at nations other than Israel. It was the task of the prophet to direct the attention of his listeners, whoever they were, to the claims of the Lord of all nations, to arouse them to a sense of sin so that they might turn in repentance to God. If they remained deaf and blind to what the prophet had communicated to them, then it was the task of the prophet to pronounce God's judgement upon them. It was the task of Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel to pronounce God's judgement in the form of destruction of the land on Israel and Judah, as well as on other nations, when there was no repentance in them.