The Book of Micah

I. Title

        The title of the book is the same in Hebrew as it is in the English and Greek translations. The name Micah means "who is like Yahweh?"

II. Author and Setting

        Micah was from Moresheth, about twenty miles southwest of Jerusalem on the Philistine border, in Judah. He prophesied to both Jerusalem and Samaria, though his principle ministry was to the Southern Kingdom. His prophesy was remembered and respected in the days of Jeremiah, and his words convinced the king not to put Jeremiah to death (Jeremiah 26:18-19).
        His prophesies were spoken during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, placing his dates then between about 740 and 695 BC. Contemporaries of Micah were Isaiah in the south and Hosea in the north. See 2 Kings 15:8-21:18 for further information on the events of this period.

III. An Outline of Micah

I. Judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem 1:1-2:13
II. Rebuke and promise 3:1-5:15
III. The case against Israel 6:1-7:20

Questions on Micah

1. When did Micah prophesy?
2. To which kingdom did he prophesy? What is significant about this?
3. What sins did Micah denounce?
4. What did Micah suggest were Israel's three outstanding failures, as implied in Micah 6:8?