Jer 26:18 M..prophesied in the time of Hezekiah
Micah (Heb. Mîkâh or Mîkâ’, probably “who is like ?” ). Prophet of the time of kings Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Mic 1:1; Jer 26:18). He was the author of the book that bears his name. See Micah, Book of. Micah, Book of. Sixth of the so-called Minor Prophets. I. Author. The book is named after the prophet Micah,* who identifies himself as “of Moresheth.”* II. Setting. That Micah only mentions Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (Mic 1:1), implies that his ministry was largely confined to the southern kingdom, although his message applied to the people of Samaria as well (v 1 ). A comparison of Mic 1:1 with Isa 1:1, 6:1 and Hos 1:1 reveals that he began his prophetic ministry shortly after that of Isaiah and Hosea, and that he was a contemporary of both for a few years. Thus, Micah served him between c739 and 686 BC, perhaps during the first part of that period. While Hosea carried his message almost exclusively to the northern kingdom (cf. Hos 4:15; 11:12) and Isaiah to the southern kingdom, especially Jerusalem (Is. 1:1), Micah addressed both kingdoms. While Isaiah reflects the culture of the capital city, Micah is more of an ordinary man, sympathizing with them in their sufferings at the hands of oppressive lords and judges. That is why he has been called the prophet of social justice, because he attacks the evils to which the poor are exposed by aristocrats without mercy. III. Literary style. He combines severity with tenderness, rigor with sympathy, daring with love, simplicity with elegance. The abrupt transitions suggest that the book represents a collection of messages delivered at various times and places, brought together without the intention of combining them into a unified whole. Direct speech, particularly the questions he directs at people (1:5; 2:7; 4:9; 6:3, 6, 7, 10, 11), probably vividly reflects the messages as they were originally given in the form of oral. He frequently employs literary devices such as metaphor (1:6; 3:2, 3, 6; 4:6-8, 13; 6:10, 11, 14, 15) and paronomasia, or puns, evident in the Hebrew, as in the use of place names: Afra (1:10), Marot (v 12), Lachish (v 13), Moresetgat and Aczib (v 14), and Maresa (v 15). In 7:18 Micah apparently plays with his own name. His familiarity with history is reflected in 1:13-15; 5; 6:4, 6, 16; 7:20. IV. Theme. Micah’s influence undoubtedly had something to do with the profound reforms carried out by King Hezekiah, whose father Ahaz went so far as to erect a pagan altar in the temple court; Just like in Israel, idolatry in Judah was rampant. Social injustice, which Micah specifically spoke against, was the natural result of it. Even the priests tolerated and supported idolatry in order to retain their popularity among the people. The nobles and the higher social classes indulged in a life of luxury, and were cruel and unscrupulous in their dealings with the poorer classes, oppressing them with excessive exactions and depriving them of their moral and legal rights. But, as with most OT prophets, Micah’s message had a dark side and a bright side. On the one hand he condemned the sins of the people and warned of the results of obstinately persisting on a wrong path; on the other, he spoke of the glory and joy of the messianic kingdom that would be established in the “last times” (4:1). V. Content. Micah attacks the corrupt state of society (Mic 1:1-3:12). Judah’s “sore” appears “sore” (“incurable”, JB), an apparent reference to Sennacherib’s invasion described in detail in Isa_36 and 37. Judah’s leadership is so steeped in wickedness and oppression of their fellow citizens who stay up at night inventing new means of exaction (2:1, 2). Consequently, God promises to devise “an evil” from which they will not be able to escape (v 3). Micah makes a specific appeal to the leaders and princes of the people, who have the responsibility to provide justice for all, but who were figuratively eating the flesh of the common people while skinning them alive (3:1-3). False prophets, dishonest judges, and mercenary priests had become Israel’s curse (vs 5-11), and unless the nation repented, Jerusalem would be devastated (v 12). In chs 4:1-5:15 Micah turns the page of prophecy to show the glorious future when the “mountain of the house” of Jehovah, which would be desolate as a result of the sins of the people (3:12), he would become “established at the head of the mountains” with glory and honor (4:1). Israel would then fulfill her messianic role by converting the nations to the worship of the true God (v 2) and thereby bringing peace to the earth (vs 3, 4, 7; cf 5:7, 8). The dominion that God had planned for his people would be theirs (4:8), when the Messiah came to rule over Israel (5:1-5). In chapter 6 Micah returns to the “Jehovah’s lawsuit” with his people (v 2), and proclaims in simple and clear language what God requires of them: to do justice, to be kind to one another and to be humble before God ( vs 8). Captivity and repentance are foretold in 7:1-13, and the prophecy closes with a prayer for reformation and restoration (vs 14-20; see CBA 4:1035-1037). See Prophet (II).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Hebrew Mikahay, who is like Yahweh? Male name in the OT 1. Son of Yimla, prophet who exercised his ministry in the kingdom of Israel, in the time of King Ajab, 874-853 a. C. he predicted to Ahab that he would be defeated in his campaign against the Arameans, in Ramoth Gilead, for which he was slapped and imprisoned, but his oracle was fulfilled, Ahab died, 1 Kings 22, 8-38 ; 2 Chr 18, 7-34. 2. One of the officials sent by King Jehoshaphat, with the Levites, to teach the Law to all Judah, 2 Cro 17, 7. 3. Father of Achbor or Abdon, one of those sent by King Josiah of Judah to consult to the prophetess Huldah about the scroll of the Law, found in the reconstruction of the Temple, 2 R 22, 12; 2 Cro 34, 20.. 4. Father of Uzziah, one of the chiefs of the Jewish city of Betulia, Jdt 6, 15. 5. One of the Twelve Minor Prophets, born in Moresheth-Gat, southeast of Jerusalem. A contemporary of Isaiah, he exercised his ministry during the reigns of Jotham, 740-736 BC. C.; Ahaz, 736-716 BC. C.; Hezekiah, 716-687 BC C.; and, perhaps, also in part of the reign of Manasseh, 687-642 a. c.
The prophet M. was of peasant origin like Amos, with whom, in addition to the strong and concrete language, he has in common the way of considering the capitals Samaria and Jerusalem as centers of iniquity, and M. Announces the destruction of the latter. M. acted before and after the fall of Samaria in the hands of the Assyrians, in the year 721 a. C., and, perhaps, until the invasion of Sennacherib in the year 701 a. c.
M.’s book is not all by the same author, there are several interpolations.
Most scholars agree that 7:8-20 is from after the return from Babylonian captivity, as is the oracle of 2:12-13. The oracles of chapters 4 and 5 may be from the time of the captivity or after it. M.’s book consists of four parts: I The trial of Israel. Threats and convictions, 1; two; 3.
II Promises to Zion 4; 5. III New process of Israel. Reproaches and threats, 6; 7, 1-7. IV Hopes, 7, 8-20. M. denounces religious and moral sins. He confronts the judges with their venality and avarice; to the priests and prophets, their greed; tyranny to bosses friends of bribery; he denounces fraudulent merchants and wealthy hoarders; fragmented families. That is, everything against Yahweh’s ideal: † œpractice equity, love mercy and walk humbly with your God †, 6, 8. Therefore, Yahweh will judge and punish his people, predicts the ruin of Samaria, 1, 6-7; that of the Lower Land, 1, 815; and that of Jerusalem, which will stop at “a heap of ruins”, 3, 12. But there is hope, a Remnant will be saved, in Ephrata the King will be born who will shepherd Yahweh’s flock, 5, 1-5.
The prophet Jeremiah quotes him in his speech against the Temple and Jerusalem, Jr 26, 18. In the NT, his messianic text, Mt 2, 6; Jn 7, 42.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
Shortened form of the name Micaiah, or Michael, meaning †œWho is like Jehovah?†
1. An Ephrathean (Judges 17-18, Micaiah in the KJV).
2. A Reubenite (1Ch 5:5, Micah in the KJV).
3. A grandson of Jonathan (1Ch 8:34; 1Ch 9:40, Micah in KJV).
4. A Levite (1Ch 23:20, Micaiah in the KJV).
5. Abdon’s father (2Ch 34:20, Micah in KJV); called Achbor son of Micaiah in 2Ki 22:12.
6. The canonical prophet Micah of Moresheth (Mic 1:1; Jer 26:18).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(Who is like Jehovah?). Jewish prophet who developed his ministry in the times of the kings † ¢ Jotham, † ¢ Ahaz and † ¢ Hezekiah. He was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. But while Isaiah was of a noble family, M. he was a humble country man, like †¢Amos. He was a native of †¢Moreset, or Moreset-gat, near †¢Lachish, a very small community. Although his preaching announced judgment against Jerusalem, the result was favorable, because King Hezekiah paid attention to it and decided to sponsor the revival of his time, which caused the destruction of the city to be postponed for about a hundred years. This is testified by the elders who defended Jeremiah when they were going to kill him, saying: “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the time of Hezekiah…Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: Zion shall be plowed like a field…Did Hezekiah king of Judah kill him and all Judah? Did he not fear the Lord, and prayed in the presence of the Lord, and did the Lord repent of the evil that he had spoken against them?† (Jer 26:16-19). His book is one of the so-called minor prophets. †¢Micah, Book of.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG PROF HOMB HOAT
vet, = “Who is like Jehovah?” Prophet and author of the Book of Micah. Apparently originating from Moresheth-gath (Mic. 1:14), undoubtedly in Judah, not far from Gath, the Philistine city on which Micah’s hometown depended for a time. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Mic. 1:1; Jer. 26:18); he began his career shortly after Hosea and Isaiah, his contemporaries (Mic. 1:1; cf. Is. 1:1; Hos. 1:1). Micah, closer to Isaiah, deals with the same great themes as he does, as Calvin rightly pointed out.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
One of the 12 Old Testament prophets called Minors. He wrote his book very briefly. Micah lived in the eighth century BC, perhaps between 738 and 693, at the same time as Isaiah. He began prophesying before the fall of Samaria in 721 BC.
The very short book announces the final triumph of the chosen people, despite the immediate punishment that lies ahead.
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