Author

Micah is the author of the book named for him (1:1). Little is known of him. He was from the village of Moresheth, "a small town on the border between Judah and Philistia, twenty-two to twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem" (Homer Hailey, The Minor Prophets. 186).

Date

Micah prophesied "in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah" (1:1). His ministry began before the destruction of Samaria in 722 BC (1:5) and continued into the reign of Hezekiah (cf. Jeremiah 26:18-19). Thus, he labored around 735 to 700 BC. This makes him a younger contemporary of Isaiah.

Historical Background

All the days of Micah, mighty Assyria was the mortal threat to Israel and Judah. Assyria destroyed Samaria in 722 and invaded Judah in 702/701, during the reign of Hezekiah, capturing forty-six cities and laying siege to Jerusalem. Only divine intervention saved Jerusalem.

The rulers of Israel and Judah were extremely covetous. They perverted justice, accepted bribes, and oppressed the poor (2:1-2,8-9; 3:1-3,9-11; 7:3).

Religiously, Hezekiah destroyed public idolatry and restored the worship of the Lord in Judah. But the people had a perverted concept of God (3:11) and still practiced idolatry (5:12-14; 6:16). They followed false prophets (2:11).

Purpose

Micah’s purpose was to "declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin" (3:5-8). He cried out against the injustice of the rulers against the poor. "Micah was the prophet of the poor and downtrodden" (Hailey, Ibid).

Message

Amos prophesied of divine justice, Hosea of God's lovingkindness, and Isaiah of humility before God. Micah combines the three into one of the most comprehensive statements of man's relationship to God found in the Old Testament:

And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (6:8)

Messianic

Having warned of destruction, Micah promised renewal in the kingdom of Christ. He prophesied the peaceable Messianic kingdom (4:1-3; cf. Isaiah 2:1-4) and even the birthplace of Christ, foretelling both his divine and human natures (5:2).

Outline

I. Introduction - 1:1
II. Judgments on Samaria & Judah - chapters 1 - 2
III. Sins of Rulers - chapter 3
IV. Hope of Messiah Contrasted with Present Devastation - chapters 4-5
V. The Lord Sues Israel at Law - chapters 6-7