Final answer:
The most intense period of prophetic ministry/activity in Israel spanned from roughly 750 BCE to 550 BCE, during the Prophetic Movement that called for strict monotheism and social justice, and criticized the establishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prophetic ministry/activity was most intense in Israel during the period from roughly 750 BCE to 550 BCE. This timeframe includes the era before the Assyrian invasion through to the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews. During this period, prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah emerged among the Israelites, advocating for a return to a more communal and egalitarian society that worshipped Yahweh exclusively. This movement came as a reaction to the polytheism practiced by neighboring groups and the perceived corruption within the Yahwist priesthood centered in Jerusalem.
The Prophetic Movement criticized the existing political and religious establishments, advocating for social justice and the exclusive worship of Yahweh, especially in the face of external threats from empires like Assyria. This movement saw a number of religious reforms, such as those under King Josiah in the 7th century BCE, who reinforced strict monotheism and oversaw the compilation of significant portions of the Hebrew Bible.
The Prophetic Movement's significance was underscored in Judah, where later historical accounts would draw from this heritage to define the religious identity of the Jews. This period of intense prophetic activity highlighted the long and complex journey of the Israelites towards monotheism and the centralized worship of Yahweh as recorded in biblical narratives.