Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Book Overview - Micah

by John Dummelow

Introduction

1. Date and Period. Micah the prophet was a younger contemporary of Isaiah. His work began, according to Micah 1:1, in the days of Jotham, and may have lasted right through the reign of Hezekiah (726-697 b.c.), into the time of Manasseh his successor. This date is confirmed by the historical reference in Jeremiah 26:17-19, where the prophecy of Jeremiah 3:12 is quoted in defence of Jeremiah, and is said to have been spoken in the days of Hezekiah (see notes). The period of Hezekiah was marked by great outward changes. Northern Israel was finally overthrown when Samaria was captured by Sargon of Assyria. During Sargon's reign and the early part of that of Sennacherib his successor (705-680 b.c.) Judah also was constantly threatened by Assyria. Then came the great deliverance of Jerusalem (701), which formed the crowning triumph of Isaiah's life (see notes in loco). Micah must have lived through this, if, as seems probable, the last two chapters of the book come from him.

As it stands, the book consists of a number of short oracles which were uttered separately and brought together later. Unless the reader remembers this, he will be bewildered by the abrupt transitions. There are two main divisions, widely separated in time. The earlier, Micah 1-5, belong to the period of Jotham and Hezekiah; the later, chs., 6, 7, probably to that of Manasseh.