Faith & Reason Nexus

MEANING: “Who is like Yahweh.”

AUTHOR: Micah

TIME WRITTEN: Most of Micah’s prophecies ranged from about 735 B.C. to 710 B.C.

POSITION IN THE BIBLE:

• 33rd Book in the Bible
• 33rd Book in the Old Testament
• 11th of 17 books of Prophecy (Isaiah – Malachi)
• 6th of 12 minor prophets (Hosea – Malachi)

CHAPTERS: 7

VERSES: 105

WORDS: 3,153

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MICAH:

• Themes:
• Sin and Punishment: Micah’s book reveals the sins of his countrymen and predicts the punishment that God will send.
• Restoration: Despite the impending judgment, Micah also offers hope for restoration after the punishment.
• Geographical and Historical Context:
• Micah was from Moresheth Gath, near the border of Judah and Philistia, about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem.
• He prophesied during the reigns of three kings of Judah: Jotham (739-731 B.C.), Ahaz (731-715 B.C.), and Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.).
• Micah’s ministry primarily focused on the Southern Kingdom (Judah) but also addressed the Northern Kingdom (Israel), including the fall of Samaria (Micah 6:1).
• Contemporaries:
• Micah was a contemporary of:
  • Hosea in the Northern Kingdom.
  • Isaiah in Jerusalem.
• Historical Context:
• During Micah’s time, Babylon was under Assyrian domination. Babylon would later rebel against Assyria in 626 B.C., and in 612 B.C., Babylon would overthrow Nineveh, the Assyrian capital.
• Judah’s Specific Sins:
• Oppression
• Bribery among judges, prophets, and priests
• Exploitation of the powerless
• Covetousness
• Deceptive weights used by merchants
• Pride
• Key Verse:
• “To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)