
The Book of Micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible. Ostensibly, it records the sayings of Micah, an 8th-century BCE prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah.
Micah reproaches unjust leaders, defends the rights of the poor against the rich and powerful; while looking forward to a world at peace centered on Zion under the leadership of a new Davidic monarch.
While the book is relatively short, it includes
lament (1.8–16; 7.8–10),
theophany (1.3–4),
hymnic prayer of petition and confidence (7.14–20),
and the "covenant lawsuit" (6.1–8),
a distinct genre in which Yahweh (God) sues Israel for breach of contract of the Mosaic covenant.
Content
The book has three major divisions, chapters 1–2, 3–5 and 6–7,
each introduced by the word "Hear," with a pattern of alternating announcements of doom and expressions of hope within each division.
At the broadest level, Micah can be divided into three roughly equal parts:
Judgment against the nations and their leaders
Restoration of Zion (chapters 4–5, probably exilic and post-exilic, together with the next section);
God's lawsuit against Israel and expression of hope (chapters 6–7).
Within this broad three-part structure are a series of alternating oracles of judgment and promises of restoration:
1.1 Superscription
1.2–2.11 Oracles of judgment
2.12–13 Oracles of restoration
3.1–12 Oracles of judgment
4.1–5.15 Oracles of restoration
6.1–7.6 Oracles of judgment
7.7–20 Oracles of restoration
Date
Some, but not all, scholars accept that only chapters 1–3 contain material from the late 8th century prophet Micah.
The latest material comes from the post-Exilic period after the Temple was rebuilt in 515 BCE, so that the early 5th century BCE seems to be the period when the book was completed.
The rest of this comprehensive Wikipedia article on the book can be read here.
_______________________________