The book of micah introduction to the book of micah in the bible micah 1. Micah is the sixth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the bible. In todays video im going to give you a brief but detailed overview of this book. Micah s writings address the themes of judgment and hope. Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book itself and from jer 26. Summary of the book of micah the story of the bible. In hebrew the book is titled hkym after the prophet to whom it was given. This would date his ministry generally to the time 7 bc, and the writing of the book just before the invasion and destruction. Micahs career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. This study is a challenge to that conventional wisdom.
Judgment and restoration inspire fear and hope, two ideas wrapped up in the final sequence of micahs prophecy, a courtroom scene. Micah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The book begins with the wretched estate of israel because of sin. Shaw 1993 this text was made available at the following website. I know micah isnt the most popular book, but if youre studying it seriously, or planning to preach on it, this book is one of the best tools you could use. Three times, the prophet announces impending doom followed by a word of hope for the future. The length of micah s public activity may have been about 20 to 25 years. He therefore was a contemporary of isaiah, hosea and amos. The paper must explain how this passage fits into the literary structure of the book of micah. Utilizing the methods of literary criticism, it demonstrates the coherence of micah and provides a precise description of the specific literary features by which that coherence is expressed.
Micah was from the town of moresheth, probably moresheth gath in southern judah. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. The book of micah is the sixth in order of the socalled minor prophets. Then he prophesied during the reign of ahaz but nobody listened. Through the prophetic voice, the lord announces the impending punishment of gods people by means of military defeat and exile. The narrative of micah s idol, recounted in the book of judges, concerns the tribe of dan, their conquest of laish, and the sanctuary that was subsequently created there. There is also the theme across the book of micah of the lord god razing cities and structures mic 1.
Some of the promises seem to presuppose the fall of jerusalem and. The book of micah follows a simple structure of judgment and salvation. Allen, the books of joel, obadiah, jonah and micah, pp. The literary coherence of the book of micah puts forth a framework to understand the nature of literary coherence. Historical background and summary of the book of micah in easy to. The purpose of the book of micah was to proclaim warning and judgment to both the northern and the southern kingdoms. And they listened to false prophets false holy men whose words were lies micah 2. The organization of the material is thematic, moving from judgment to salvation in both major sections. The book of micah describes gods coming judgment on israel because of its rebellion. The assyrian empire and then the babylon empire would destroy the nation and leave jerusalem in ruin. The superscription to this book states that the prophet exercised his office in the reigns of jotham, ahaz, and hezekiah. In this important book, shaw deploys a rigorous and systematic rhetorical analysis in the service of a reconstruction of the historical setting of each of the discourses in micah. Key personalities are all the people of samaria and jerusalem.
Each of these proposals ultimately fails to account for all the features found. Micah filled with power by jehovahs spirit 8 priests instruct for money 11 jerusalem to be heaps of ruins 12 4. Micah didnt give up, even though results were slow in coming. Following its superscription, the book has two major sections, each with two parts. Also against jerusalem and other cities, their precautions vain.
The studying, the summary, the graphics, the time and energy it takes to. Micah is the typical older brother firstborn, energetic, and ambitious. Micah for the contemporary church mcmaster divinity college. Pdf the speeches of micaha rhetoricalhistorical analysis. Summary the prophet micah was a contemporary of isaiah. Unlike muilenburgs rhetorical criticism, this approach focuses on the persuasiveness of the discourses, the means by which the author achieves his goal. Apparently micah died in peace in the days of good king hezekiah jer. Micah lived and worked under the kings jotham, ahaz and hezekiah around 750 700 bc. The result is a literary work that may be read in general terms because it downplays particular historical situations p. Welcome to a rich, challenging, and wonderful study of the book of micah one of the books of the lords word.
On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt leadership and idolatry. Introduction to the book of micah the story of the bible part one the old testament. The book of micah was likely written between 735 and 700 b. The book of micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible old testament. Micah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The book of micah synthesis and highlights of the book i. The cruelty of the princes, and the falsehood of the prophets. Micah also prophesied christ as king and christ reigning in righteousness. Scholars believe it was written by micah the prophet, about 700 years before jesus was born. Chapter 1 verse 5 says micah was from moresheth a town in southern judah. In chapter six of micah, micah makes a proclamation from god concerning his people israel. Micah 1 first division micah 12 judgment upon samaria micah 1. The mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.
Micah returned to a theme first mentioned in micah 2. Although there are seven chapters in the book of micah, only the first three can be. Micah prophesied during the reigns of the judean kings jotham 750735 b. Composed of seven chapters, the book is similar in many ways to the book of amos. This enables an analysis of the sources and dimensions of the coherence found in the book of micah by the primary scholarly proposals for understanding the structure and connectedness of the whole book. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Conventionally the book of micah has been seen as a collection of otherwise unconnected pericopes. The message of the book of micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope.
The prophecy attests to micahs deep sensitivity to the social ills of his day, especially as they affected the small towns and villages of. The micah who speaks in this prophetic book knows the tradition that zion is the lords chosen place, but he is critical of the popular view that this election ensures the citys security 2. Through micah, god announced that he would bring the false prophets into complete confusion and disrepute. The length of micahs public activity may have been about 20 to 25 years. These messages came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Beforetime in israel, when a man went to inquire of god, thus he spake, come, and let us go to the seer. This book consists of a collection of speeches, proclamations of punishment and of salvation, attributed to the prophet micah.
Historical background of the book of micah along with a great influx of wealth into the israelite society during micah s time, came an increasing number of social evils. Micah returns to a previous theme first mentioned in micah 2. Much of micahs book revolves around two significant predictions. The book of micah introduction to the book of micah in the bible. Then follows the announcement of gods judgment over samaria capital of the northern kingdom and over jerusalem capital of judah. The book of micah consists of three serious prophetical speeches each beginning with hear. The author of the book of micah was the prophet micah micah 1. There are many striking similarities between the two. Constables notes on micah 3 sennacheribs blockade of jerusalem in 701 b. Analysis although there are seven chapters in the book of micah, only the first three can be attributed to the prophet micah with certainty. The book of the prophet micah micah is the sixth of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew scripture. In hebrew, the song starts with the words who is like god. In greek the book is titled micaias again after the prophet to whom it was given. God will show mercy, though, and will one day gather and restore his people and all nations to the land.
Restoration of zion chapters 45, probably exilic and postexilic, together with the next section. This was about the same time as hosea and isaiah, though micah may have served somewhat later. The purpose of micahs prophecy is to face the people with their sins and to seek the word of gods judgment that must fall because of their persistent sinning. Outline summary of micah 17 providing short paragraph summary of each significant section of the book of micah. It is possible that he was a friend of isaiah, and his prophecy has been called that of a miniature book of isaiah. He lived during the reigns of yehotam, ahaz and hezekiah, roughly 750700 bc.
A ruler to be great in all the earth 16 the ruler to come from bethlehem 2. Micah announces that gods justice is coming in order to create a new future of love and faithfulness on the other side of israels sin and exile. Gods lawsuit against israel and expression of hope chapters 67. A wonderful promise of divine redemption is to be wrought by him whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. The book is a compilation of materials some of which come from a period considerably later than micahs time. Much of micahs prophecy is very severe in tone, though it does contain much poetic beauty similar to that of isaiah. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. The passage will be analyzed for its genre, outline, and its contribution to the message of the book of micah. For example, micah taught that the sins of the leaders of israel would result in the destruction of jerusalem see micah 3. Each of these proposals ultimately fails to account for all the.
Much of micah s prophecy is very severe in tone, though it does contain much poetic beauty similar to that of isaiah. According to this information and we realize that the chronological data at our disposal are a bit uncertain, micah appeared on the scene at the very latest in the year 734 b. Micah came from moresheth gath, around 20 miles southwest of jerusalem near to the border to the philistines. Micah preached for anywhere between 16 and 25 years before there was any response. The author, micah, was of the town called moresheth which.
Micah warned the people in israel and judah micah 1. The book of micah does not set any of its literary units in a narrowly marked historical period. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt. Book of micah overview insight for living ministries. In many ways the book of micah is a sisterbook to isaiah. The book of micah prophesies and connects gods judgment. The prophet micahs name is probably an abbreviation of micaiah who is like jehovah. He was a contemporary of isaiah and addressed at a time when conditions in judah equaled those in the northern kingdom during the ministry of amos. Micah, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. Micah says that in the past gods people have walked in the wrong way now they are called to walk in a new way.
The book of micah, the sixth book of the twelve minor prophets, was written by the prophet micah in the 8th century bce. Intro to micah biblica the international bible society. However, micah also eloquently stated that heavenly father hears the prayers of his children and that jesus christ is an advocate for and a light unto all see micah 7. He reminds them of his faithfulness to them, protecting them from harm from such people as balak and balaam. Micah began his ministry in the reign of jotham but nobody listened.
This book makes clear from its opening verse to its closing verse that everything that is shared in this prophecy is from the lord alone. The prophet micah identified himself by his hometown, called moresheth gath, which sat near the border of philistia and judah about. Micah 1 the word of the lord comes to micah in the reigns of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah of judah. Jotham and hezekiah were good kings, but ahaz was very wicked. Micah was a prophet during the fall of northern israel at the hands of assyria, around 722 bc, and continued through hezekiahs reign in the southern kingdom, until about 700 bc. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon. Judgment and restoration inspire fear and hope, two ideas wrapped up in the final sequence of micah s prophecy, a courtroom scene. Time setting of micah micah prophesied during the days of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah micah 1. This chapter is composed of three brief sections exposing the sins of the rulers of the people, the princes and judges micah 3. If this description isnt bad enough, micah goes on to illustrate how terribly the leaders of israel and judah use the people as if. Have you ever wondered what the book of micah is all about. Im not sure id recommend it for a casual bible reader, but if you really want to study micah, i highly recommend this book. Best commentaries and books on micah logos bible software.
The prophecy attests to micahs deep sensitivity to the social ills of his day, especially as they affected the small towns and villages of his homeland. Although there are seven chapters in the book of micah, only the first three can be attributed to the prophet micah with certainty. Micah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of micah for bible study or sunday school lessons. Jehovahs mountain elevated 15 swords into plowshares 3 we will walk in jehovahs name 5 restored zion to be made strong 6 5. The narrative, as it stands in judges 17, states that a man named micah, who lived in the region of the tribe.
Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu hebrew. He asks them what he has done unto them and calls for them to respond. This summary of the book of micah provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of micah. Welcome to a rich, challenging, and wonderful study of the book of micahone of the books of the lords word. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book itself and fromjer 26. This divine deliverer would come out of bethlehemephratah. When god had a message for the people, he gave his message through the prophets. The following diagram shows how many times and where in micah words of comfort and hope are used compared to words of warning and judgment. Students in biblical studies will choose a passage of interest from the book of micah. For many people, micah is the favorite of the minor prophets. At the broadest level, micah can be divided into three roughly equal parts. Watch our overview video on the book of micah, which breaks down. Israel confesses its sin and is assured of deliverance through gods mighty acts. It seems that the name micah has been shortened from the longer whykm.
He was raised up to preach gods judgment for a second time to. Through micah, god announces that he will bring the false prophets into complete confusion and disrepute. Micah is usually classified with the minor prophets, but his work was evidently held in high esteem by later prophets and teachers. The book of micah is in the old testament part of the bible. In verses six and seven, micah gives the response of the. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one parchment roll because of the brevity of the text, and together formed one book of the 24 books of hebrew scripture. The book of micah is the sixth book of the 12 minor prophets.
A quasipeace pervaded over the smaller regional nations, which in some respects is much like postwar america. In many ways the book of micah is a sister book to isaiah. Immediately download the micah summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching micah. Micah cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.
The best lord of the flies audiobook wchapter summaries and analysis playlist. Micah prophesied during the days of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah micah 1. Micah has many prophecies of jesus christ concerning christs birthplace he was a prophet of hope looking forward to the messiah, when he will reign and peace will cover the earth. Micah 3 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Finally he prophesied during the reign of hezekiah and the leaders and the people repented.
The book ends with a prophecy comprising elements of a lament. The word of the lordcame to micah the lord indeed came to micah. The first mention of a seer is found in the book of first samuel chapter nine, in verse nine. Much of micah s book revolves around two significant predictions. Remember the chapter divisions are artificial but even still the diagram enables us to get a good overview of the book and gods purpose. This summary of the book of micah will help with many different forms of bible study.
1220 730 926 475 1128 626 875 71 1184 385 552 1304 356 890 838 1046 1405 1331 101 414 938 359 1336 724 573 593 1226 581 1009 1368 1433 519