The Time of Micah

(735 – 710 B.C.)

A. According to Micah 1:1, he ministered during the reigns of the following kings of Judah:

1. Jotham (739-731 B.C.)

3. Ahaz (731-715 B.C.)

4. Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.)

a. This means Isaiah was a contemporary of Hosea who worked in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Isaiah who ministered to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

b. Although Micah deals primarily with Judah, he also addresses the Northern Kingdom of Israel and predicts the fall of Samaria (1:6).

1. Much of his ministry took place before the Assyrian captivity of Israel in 722 B.C.

a. During the ministry of Micah, the Northern Kingdom of Israel continued to crumble inwardly and outwardly until its collapse in 722 B.C.

b. Babylon was still under Assyrian domination and Micah’s prediction of future Babylonian captivity for Judah (4:10) must have seemed unlikely.

2. His strong denunciations of idolatry and immorality also suggest that his ministry largely preceded the sweeping religious reforms of Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.).

3. Thus, Micah’s prophecies range from about 735-710 B.C.