호세아 1:2의 미드라쉬

(Fol. 14b) Our Rabbis were taught: The order of the prophets is as follows: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and the twelve Prophets. Let us see: Hosea (of the twelve Prophets), was indeed before Isaiah, for it is written (Hosea 1, 2) The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. Is it a fact that the words of the Lord were first by Hosea? Behold! There were many prophets from the days of Moses until Hosea? And R. Jochanan explained that it meant he was the first of the four prophets who prophesied at that period; viz.: Hosea, Isaiah, Amos, and Micah. If so, then why is he not placed before [in the order]? Because his book is arranged among Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, who [on account of being [the last of the prophets [were arranged the last]; therefore, this book is placed together with theirs. But why was the book of Hosea not separated, and placed first? Because it is small, and if it were placed first it might become lost. However, was not Isaiah before Jeremiah and Ezekiel? Why is he then not placed first? Because Kings ends with the destruction of the Temple, and the whole book of Jeremiah speaks of the destruction, and that of Ezekiel at the beginning speaks of the destruction and at the end of the consolation, while Isaiah's entire book speaks of consolation. We place [the records of] destruction [next] to that of destruction, and that of consolation next to consolation.