MICAH, BOOK OF

Micah lived south of Jerusalem during the reigns of Jothan, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (cir. 749-697 B.C.). He was a contemporary of both Hosea and Isaiah. Micah's mission was to rebuke the sins of both Israel and Judah, and to foretell the punishing judgments that were to be visited upon them. He also depicts some of the glories of the coming Messianic age (2:12ff; 4:1ff; 5:2).