Micah 1-3
Micah is the first book in this series to definitely originate in the kingdom of Judah, likely in the period after the destruction of Samaria by the Assyrians. The book begins with the punishment of Samaria in a very kinetic scene: “For lo, the Lord is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. Then the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open, like wax near the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.” - Micah 1:3-4 Micah then echoes other prophets in comparing Israel to a prostitute. Is this a direct influence from Hosea, simple a very common insult at the time, or evidence of ritual prostitution occurring in competing cults? It will be interesting to see when that insult becomes less common. The focus then moves to the impact on Judah. Verse 9 is very suggestive, “her [Israel’s] wound is incurable, it has come to Judah.” This appears to be blaming Israel for the destruction facing Judah, presumably the looming t