Bible Commentaries
Micah

Micah

[Note. "Micah calls himself a Morasthite, and was a native of Morasthi, near Gath, or (if the two places be the same) Mareshah, a place of some importance in the south of Judah (Micah 1:1 , Mic 1:15 ). He seems to have been commissioned not long after Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah had begun their ministry, and reiterates the reproofs and warnings which they had addressed to both Israel and Judah. Greek writers (Epiphanius and others) say he was slain by Jehoram, son of Ahab; but they confound him with Micaiah, the son of Imlah ( 1Ki 22:8-28 ); Micah, moreover, does not appear to have suffered martyrdom, but died in peace in the days of Hezekiah ( Jer 26:18-19 ). One of his predictions saved the life of Jeremiah, who would have been put to death for foretelling the destruction of the temple, had it not appeared that Micah had foretold the same thing above a hundred years before. He, himself, wrote his predictions (Micah 3:1 , Mic 3:8 ), and is referred to as a prophet by Jeremiah, and in the New Testament, Matthew 2:5 ; John 7:42 . His language seems also quoted by Zephaniah ( Zep 3:19 ); Ezekiel ( Eze 22:27 ); perhaps by Isaiah (Isaiah 2:2-4 ; Isa 41:15 ), and by our Lord ( Mat 10:35-36 ). His predictions may be divided into three sections. He first describes the approaching ruin of both kingdoms; particularising several of the towns and villages of Judah in his own neighbourhood (chap. 1). He then rebukes and threatens the princes, prophets, and people, for their prevailing sins; introducing, however, an intimation of mercy ( Mic 2:3 ). In the second section, he proceeds to unfold the future and better destinies of the people; dwelling at length upon the happiness and glory of the church, under the reign of Christ, in a prophecy which presents a beautiful epitome of the latter parts of Isaiah; and then reverting to the nearer deliverance of the Jews, and the destruction of the Assyrian power ( Mic 4:5 ). The third division exhibits the reasonableness, purity, and justice of the Divine requirements, in contrast with the ingratitude, injustice, and superstition of the people, which caused their ruin. From the contemplation of this catastrophe, the prophet turns for encouragement to the unchanging truth and mercy of Jehovah, which he sets before the people as the most powerful inducement to hearty repentance ( Mic 6:7 )." Angus's Bible Handbook .]