The book predicts the fall of samaria, which occurred in 722, but concerns more especially the sins and dangers of jerusalem in the days of hezekiah around 700. The prophecy attests to micahs deep sensitivity to the social ills of his day, especially as they affected the small towns and villages of. If so, micah came from a little town not far from jerusalem 25 miles sw of jerusalem near the philistine city of gath. We do not know when the book of micah was written or compiled in its current form. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt. Interesting facts about micah barnes bible charts meaning. While uncertain, mot of micahs prophecies ranged from about 735 b. The word of the lordcame to micah the lord indeed came to micah. Top 5 commentaries on the book of micah ligonier ministries.
The contribution of the book of micah is at least threefold. The question arises whether the whole of the book was written by micah. There was scarcely a godly person to be found micah 7. Trial of his faith in the offering of isaac genesis 22.
Therefore, he was likely a contemporary of the prophets amos, hosea, jonah, and isaiah. The hebrew book of micah is most noted for the famous prophecy of the birth of the. Book of micah simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Scholars believe it was written by micah the prophet, about 700 years before jesus was born. If micah himself wrote out his messages, the date for the earliest written form of his work would be c. Strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strongs concordance numbers. This prophet wrote to both houses, israel and judah. The book of micah chapter 1 was written near the time of the demise of the northern kingdom in 722 b. The book of micah is the sixth in order of the socalled minor prophets. Customarily, micah is considered a prophet of judgment. The future punishment for these negative actions, including the doom that the assyrian armies will bring about. Watch our overview video on the book of micah, which breaks down the. It is highly unlikely that the entire book of micah was written by the prophet micah. Sometimes, in fact, this book is called isaiah in miniature because it is a much briefer presentation of essentially the same message as the prophecy of isaiah.
Book of micah, the sixth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, grouped together as the twelve in the jewish canon. Micah speaks a message from god to all the nations. Key personalities are all the people of samaria and jerusalem. Micah speaks of this event in the future tense at micah 3. He begins with announcing the divine judgment upon samaria and judah ch. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt leadership and idolatry. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of micah. Summary the prophet micah was a contemporary of isaiah. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. He lived in a small village named moresheth, not far from the city of gath, which was destroyed by the assyrians when they invaded judah. Micah 1, new international version niv the bible app. According to the superscription, this judaean prophet was active during the last half of the 8th century bc.
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. The author, micah, was of the town called moresheth which may be the same town mentioned in 1. This question is the note on which the prophecy of micah ends, and it is also a rough translation of the very name micah. The first was a small commentary that appeared in the tyndale series together with small commentaries on obadiah and jonah. It seems that the name micah has been shortened from the longer whykm. The author of the book of micah was the prophet micah micah 1. This would date his ministry generally to the time 7 bc, and the writing of the book just before the invasion and destruction. Micah was a contemporary of the great prophet, isaiah, and his book is of a similar style. He lived during the reigns of yehotam, ahaz and hezekiah, roughly 750700 bc.
Bible survey micah hebrew name mikah who is like yahweh greek name micha greek form of the hebrew author micah according to tradition date 750 bc approximately theme the word micah saw concerning samaria and jerusalem types and shadows in micah jesus is the king from bethlehem. The book of micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible old testament. The book contains a number of literary forms12 and features. Micah also declared that when the glory of zion and jacob is restored that the lord will force the gentiles to abandon idolatry. It is also included in the minor prophets section of the old testament. In hebrew the book is titled hkym after the prophet to whom it was given. 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. Through the prophetic voice, the lord announces the impending punishment of gods people by means of military defeat and exile.
Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu, meaning who is like yahweh. The original text was written in the hebrew language. The message of the book of micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope. Book of micah of the old testament your bible quotes. The theme that resounds throughout this book is the mercy of which gods people are assured despite their faithlessness, especially the faithlessness of their leaders. The prophecies of micah are divided into three parts. Most of the hopeful oracles in the book are thought to be written at a later time than micah himself, who had more interest in warning of disaster than assuring of hopeful days to come. 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 fromjer 26. This book ostensibly contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet micah, and is a part of the book of the twelve minor prophets. Micah was from moresheth gath, located some 25 miles southwest of jerusalem on the border of judah and philistia, near gath.
Micah also writes several times about the person and work of messiah in both the first and second advents e. This summary of the book of micah will help with many different forms of bible study. Micahs descriptions of gods wrath are some of the most potent in all of scripture, and without fail, they are written next to some of the most tender promises of gods mercy and grace. Living in this village, micah came into daily contact with the people who suffered most from the system of land tenure against which isaiah protested. This commentary has been through advanced checking. With this additional short summary of the book of micah you can discover the people, places and stories detailed in this holy scripture. The nelsons illustrated bible dictionary gives the following outline of the book. The hope for a restoration of israel after their repentance. Judah was also left alone when many of the city states of palestine and. Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in hebrew are of the masoretic text tradition, which. According to the hebrew bible, micah was a prophet in judaism and is the author of the book. Micah wrote to both the northern kingdom of israel and. The book of micah, like most prophetic books, consists primarily of poetry, not prose.
After outlining the contents of the book, this article will consider the questions of its date and authorship and its message. Micah or the book of micah is a well known prophetic text belonging to the minor prophets section of the jewish tanakh. The construction of the book is simple and well balanced. The author, micah, was of the town called moresheth which. Book of micah, the sixth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. 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. Chapter 1 verse 5 says micah was from moresheth a town in southern judah. The book of micah was likely written between 735 and 700 b. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. Summary of the book of micah the story of the bible. Book of micah overview insight for living ministries. It is generally accepted that the first three chapters, apart from ii. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book itself and from jer 26. He is considered one of the twelve minor prophets of the hebrew bible and was a contemporary of the prophets isaiah, amos and hosea.
The book of micah is the sixth book of the 12 minor prophets. 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. As an outline will show, the message varies between condemnation for the present sins and gods purpose of ultimate. Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. See more ideas about bible verses, word of god and bible. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of. As a contemporary of isaiah and hosea, micah prophesied during the momentous years surrounding the tragic fall of israel to the assyrian empire 722 bc, an event he also predicted micah 1. He is not to be confused with any other micah of scripture. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Commentary on the book of micah by matthew henry old.
If one of his disciples arranged his messages in their present form, the date would be the early seventh century b. The book of micah, the sixth book of the twelve minor prophets, was written by the prophet micah in the 8th century the book is a compilation of materials some of which come from a period considerably later than micahs time. Micah 5 is the fifth chapter of the book of micah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. The prophecy was not fulfilled in micahs time, but a hundred years later when judah was facing a. Aaron enters upon the priestly office leviticus 9 abdon son of micah 2 chronicles 34. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. He warned that this judgment was going to be enough to. Micah prophesied during the days of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah micah 1. Bruce waltke has written three commentaries on the book of micah. Intro to micah biblica the international bible society. The book has three major divisions, chapters 12, 35 and 67, each introduced by the word hear, with a pattern of alternating announcements of doom and expressions of hope within each division. The book of micah, the sixth book of the twelve minor prophets, was written. Go, enquire of the lord for me, and for them that are left in israel and in judah, concerning the words of the book that is found. Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu hebrew.
The second was a larger and more technical commentary that appeared in the set on the minor prophets edited by thomas mccomiskey. Micahs career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. First, it provides a point of comparison with the major prophetic book of isaiah. Judgment and restoration inspire fear and hope, two ideas wrapped up in the final sequence of micahs prophecy, a courtroom scene. Micah was from the town of moresheth, probably moresheth gath in southern judah. When secular scholars read micah they often conclude that it is written by at least two distinct authors.
Micah, a prophet, wrote the book in order to warn the sinful nations that judgment was coming from god. In greek the book is titled micaias again after the prophet to whom it was given. Israel scattered and make up the christian nations today and as you see that if you love christ as a nation you are blessed. The fifth of the minor prophets, dating from the late 700s b.
Welcome to a rich, challenging, and wonderful study of the book of micahone of the books of the lords word. Masoretic texts have 14 verses in chapter 5, as they regard micah 5. The condemnation against samaria and judah because of various sins the people committed. Jotham and hezekiah were good kings, but ahaz was very wicked. Much of micahs book revolves around two significant predictions.