Background of Micah

The prophet Micah came from the small town of Moresheth, southwest of Jerusalem. His message is intended primarily for the Southern KingdomThe Southern Kingdom consisted of two tribes of Israel, Judah and Benjamin. Jerusalem was its capital, and the kingdom lasted from 931-586 B.C.E. As with the Northern Kingdom many of the kings were wicked, and prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel spoke their often judgmental... More of JudahJudah was the name of Jacob's fourth son and one of the 12 tribes. More, though he also makes reference to the Northern KingdomThe Northern Kingdom consisted of ten of the twelve tribes of Israel and lasted for 200 years until it was destroyed by Assyria in 721 B.C.E. In the northern kingdom the kings were evil. Prophets like Elijah and Amos railed against them and their evildoing. More of Israel (the nation had split into two kingdoms after the death of SolomonThird king of Israel who was known for wisdom and building the first Temple. More around 920 BCE). In his first oracleAn oracle is a divine utterance of guidance, promise, or judgment delivered to humans through an intermediary (who is often also called an oracle). In the Bible oracles are given by Balaam (in the book of Numbers) and by David (in 2 Samuel). A number... More (1:2-7) Micah predicts the fall of the Northern Kingdom. That would date the beginning of his prophetic ministry before 721 BCE, when Samaria fell to the Assyrians. From that time on, only the Southern Kingdom of Judah remained, until it was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. Micah expected that Judah would follow the fate of Israel and predicted that Jerusalem, the holyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine More city that God had chosen for the TempleThe Jerusalem temple, unlike the tabernacle, was a permanent structure, although (like the tabernacle) it was a place of worship and religious activity. On one occasion Jesus felt such activity was unacceptable and, as reported in all four Gospels, drove from the temple those engaged... More, would be wiped off the face of the earth. For those holding to the assurance that God would never break promises to protect the king and Temple, these words would have been a great shock, probably thought to demonstrate a lack of faith on Micah’s part. Micah spoke harshly to prophets, seers, and priests who told people what they wanted to hear–the reassuring words of God’s promises–and not the reality that Judah’s fate could soon follow that of Israel.

Like JonahJonah son of Amittai was a rebellious prophet who fled from the Lord's command, only to be delivered by a big and fish and bring about the repentance of Nineveh. More, Micah’s predictions of destruction were premature but eventually realized, albeit exaggerated in his picture of the complete annihilation of Jerusalem–which, of course, like most Old Testament prophecies, is poetic in nature. Jerusalem was destroyed, but not until more than a century after Micah’s time. However, many of the towns mentioned in 1:10-12 were destroyed in 701 BCE by the Assyrians.