Nature of cryptic prophecies

Question

I understand that prophecies in the Tanach seem to be very cryptic until the prophecy actually happens: then do the verses become clear and be correlated to the happened events. What are good examples of such a cryptic prophecy in Tanach?

Answer 1

Jonah's prophecy, "Nineveh will be overturned (נהפכת)," was originally ambiguous, even to Jonah himself; but once it came to pass, it became clear that it meant that their evil deeds were reversed to good deeds (see Sanhedrin 89b with Rashi).

Answer 2

Aish haTorah in their Discovery seminars uses the case of large and small letters written in the list of the sons of Haman, Megilas Esther 9:7-9

There are 3 small letters: letter ת in  פַּרְשַׁנְדָּ֛תָא, letter ש in פַּרְמַ֙שְׁתָּא֙, and letter ז in וַיְזָֽתָא. There is also a large letter ו in וַיְזָֽתָא. The meaning of the message in these letters was not known. However, if one takes these to be year 707 = ת+ש+ז of the 6th Millenium, i.e. year 5707 which corresponds to 1946 when on Hoshanah Rabbah 10 Nazi war criminals were executed by hanging (just like the sons of Haman). One of the executed, Julius Streicher, an editor of Der Sturmer, screamed "Purimfest 1946!". Further details are in the article by Daniel Pinner. Obviously, after the fact it became clear.

The rule in the Megila is that any mention of the word king with quantifier Ahashveirosh refer to Ahashveirosh, but any mention of the word king without quantifier Ahashveirosh refer to G-d. The reason why the message is prophetic, can be seen by comparing words Esther 9:6-12, which note that Jews killed 500 men and 10 sons of Haman. These words are aknowledged by king (i.e. G-d) in Esther:9:12. After that in verses 13-14, Esther pleads with the king (i.e. G-d) again to execute another 10 sons of Haman (in the future), and He agrees! So why the need if the enemy was neutralized. Thus, it is a prophesy for the future.