Study on the Book of the Prophet Micah

He is considered one of the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Bible and was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Hosea. Micah was from Moresheth-Gath in southwestern Judah. He prophesied during the reigns of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah. Micah's messages were directed primarily to Jerusalem. (ca. 740-705). However, he is not mentioned in either the book of Kings or Isaiah, but Jer 26:18 quotes Micah's word against the temple, 3:12. No other biographical details of Micah are known.

The book can be read as a triple rhythm of announcing judgment and salvation (other scholars see only a double scheme, but cf. the new insertions in 3:1 and 6:1). This scheme is certainly not original, just as the authenticity of whole portions of the entire book is disputed. Thus the larger portions of chs. 4-7 are certainly considered later, and the revisions of Deuteronomy are also seen in chs. 1-3.

The content of the Book of Micah is determined by a categorical denunciation of social grievances (like Amos for the Northern Kingdom). Above all, it probably deals with land rights issues (cf. e.g. 2:4f.). The upper class expropriates small farmers by legally impeccable means, but thereby deprives them of the inheritance to which they are entitled from God (cf. above on Ruth). Micah expects God's judgment on Samaria (?), Judah and Jerusalem (not the nations!), he can only imagine YHWH's coming as a destructive work. In a special way in chapter 3, the chiefs, princes and prophets are blamed for the predicament. They should know what is right, but they themselves hate good and love evil (3:2).

Also important in Micah, as in Isaiah, is the special significance of the idea of Zion. His opponents take it up with the comment "Is not God in our midst? No evil can come upon us" (3:11). Against this assurance of salvation (cf. Jer 7 in terms of content) Micah announces destruction: "Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins and the Temple Mount a forested hill" (3:12).

Chapters 4 and 5, in contrast, focus again on Zion as the guarantee of salvation. The nations will go in pilgrimage to Zion, from there the kingdom of peace will arise. Chapter 5 prophesies the Davidic Messiah of Bethlehem. Chapter 6 summarizes God's demands on His people; 6:8 summarizes this again (probably later), "You, man, are told what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do nothing but what is right (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿, mišpat) and to love what is good and to walk visibly with God." This phrase is considered in Judaism to be the sum total of the 613 commandments of the Torah.

The liturgical form added in ch. 7 possibly goes back to a special redaction that used and revised the Book of Micah for exilic laments.