THE MINOR PROPHETS MAJOR   MINOR:     ISAIAH HOSEA JEREMIAH JOEL LAMENTATIONS AMOS EZEKIEL OBADIAH DANIEL JONAH   MICAH   NAHUM   HABAKKUK   ZEPHANIAH   HAGGAI   ZECHARIAH   MALACHI click here to view the Table of Dates for the Literary Prophets   PERIODS Early Assyrian   Assyrian   Chaldean   Post-Exile         Obadiah Amos Zephaniah Haggai Joel Hosea Nahum Zechariah Jonah Micah Habakkuk Malachi (BIBLICAL TIME SPAN REFERENCE BEGINS WITH 2 KINGS 14:23 AND GOES THROUGH EZRA AND NEHEMIAH)       IMPORTANT DATES B.C. Date   Event     932 -death of Solomon and dividing of kingdom -- 1 Kings 12:1-24 721 -Israel's exile 612 -fall of Ninevah 606 -battle at Carchemish, Babylon becomes dominant in the East 597 -fall of Jerusalem 486 -destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar 539 -Persian period begins 536 -decree by Cyrus, Zerubbabel returns 520 -Haggai and Zechariah stir up people to resume work on temple 516 -temple completed and dedicated 457 -return by Ezra 445 -Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem ASSIGNMENTS NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND EACH BOOK UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND AND THE TIMES IN WHICH EACH PROPHET SPOKE. UNDERSTAND WHY THE PROPHET WAS CALLED BY GOD TO SPEAK. SINCE THE DATES OF OBADIAH, JOEL AND JONAH ARE SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN, WE WILL STUDY THEM FIRST, BECAUSE THEY REALLY SEEM TO FIT IN THE EARLY-ASSYRIAN PERIOD OF TIME -- BETWEEN 845 B.C AND 800 B.C. NOTE THE CHART COPIED FROM HAILEY'S BOOK ON THE MINOR PROPHETS FOR DATE AND PERIOD INFORMATION. MICAH = "WHO IS LIKE JEHOVAH" OUTLINE OF MICAH Title: Author and date of Micah's labors, 1:1 Judgment on Samaria and Judah -- salvation of a remnant, chs. 1-2 Judgment on Samaria and judgment on Judah, 1:2-16. Samaria -- her destruction, vv. 2-7. General announcement of judgment, vv. 2-4. Destruction of Samaria, vv. 5-7. Lament over the destruction of Judah, vv. 8-16. Causes that make the judgment inevitable, 2:1-11. Arrogance and violence of the nobles, vv. 1-5. False prophets who would silence the true prophet, vv. 6-11. Eventual restoration of a remnant, 2:12-13. Contrast between present devastation and future exaltation, chs. 3-5. The sins and crimes of the heads of the nation, ch. 3. Civil rulers -- outrages committed by them, vv. 1-4 False prophets -- condemnation of their mercenary practices, vv. 5-8. Rulers, prophets, and priests -- renewed condemnation, vv. 9-12. The accusation against them, vv. 9-11. Consequence: Jerusalem to be plowed as a field, v. 12. The Messianic hope in contrast to present destruction, chs. 4-5 the glory of the latter days, 4:1-18. . The glorification of Zion -- the center of universal religion of Jehovah, vv. 1-5. The restoration of "the former dominion" -- healing of the dispersed, vv. 6-8 Distress and captivity before restoration, "now," -- 4:9-5:1. Distress -- into Babylon before restoration, 4:9-10. Deliverance of Zion and destruction of the enemy -- Jehovah's purpose, 4:11-5:1. The Messiah and the Messianic era, 5:2-15. The Messiah who shall arise out of Bethlehem, shall feed the flock, vv. 2-4. The Messiah to be the peace of His people, vv. 5-6. The Messiah provides power to His people, vv. 7-9. The remnant to be as dew among the peoples, v. 7. To be as a lion, v. 8. To triumph over their enemies, v. 9. In this strength and power Israel is to triumph, vv. 10-15. Jehovah and Israel in controversy (judicial contest) -- the way to salvation, chs. 6-7. The case against Israel, ch. 6. Israel's ingratitude for blessings bestowed, vv. 1-5. Not outward sacrifice, but righteous conduct, is God's requirement, vv. 6-8. Jehovah's threat of judgment -- denunciation of prevalent crimes, vv. 9-14. Penitential prayer and divine promise, ch. 7. Confession of the nation's guilt (people, or prophet), vv. 1-6. Confession of faith -- prayer of the penitent, vv. 7-13. Prayer for renewal of grace, v. 14; and the Lord's answers, vv. 15-17. Doxology: praise to Jehovah who alone is God, vv. 18-20. (Taken from Hailey's "The Minor Prophets" ) . QUESTIONS COVERING MICAH 1. Isaiah and Micah are contemporary prophets. How would you compare them?   2. During the days of what kings of Judah did Micah prophecy?   3. To whom did he prophecy?   4. Explain the language employed by Micah in vv. 3-4.   5. What is the transgression of Jacob?   6. What will God do to Samaria?   7. To what other prophet would you turn to find similar language to that of v. 7?   8. How would Micah lament and wail? (v. 8)   9. What does the idea of "stripped and naked" convey about what was to take place?   10. What does "Bethleaphrah" mean?   11. To what city would a parting gift be given? Why do you think a parting gift would be given? (v. 14).   12. Why would there be a cutting off of the hair? Do you understand the expression "bald as an eagle?"   13. What does it mean to devise iniquity upon their beds? (2:1).   14. How does v. 2, compare to Isaiah 1:16, 17, 23?   15. According to vv. 3-5, what can those who oppressed others expect?   16. What is the attitude of those who have defrauded others toward the prophets? (v. 6)   17. To what kind of prophets do they want to listen? (v. 11).   18. What hope do they have according to vv. 12-13?   19. How had they perverted justice (v. 2)?   20. To what degree had they pursued their fellow man to take away his possessions?   21. Can people reach a point of saturation in evil so great that God will not be available for them when they seek Him? (v. 4).   22. What does God say to the prophets who make His people err? (v. 5-7).   23. What does Micah say about himself in v. 8?   24. Describe the condition of the leaders of Israel as found in vv. 9-11.   24. What will happen to Zion and Jerusalem?   25. Chapter 4:1, predicts something that will happen "in the latter days." When are those days?   26. What passage in Isaiah is similar to this context?   27. What was to be established on the top of the mountains? What significance is there in the word "mountain."   28. What would go forth out of Zion?   29. According to v. 6-8, God would do something for the lame and those who are afflicted. What is the meaning conveyed by the prophet here?   30. Into what country does Micah predict the daughter of Zion would go?   31. From what town would the ruler of Israel come?  / 32. What passage in the N.T. makes reference back to Micah 5:2?   33. Verse 5 speaks of the Assyrian but Assyrian was not in existence when Micah 5:2 was fulfilled. What does "Assyria" represent?   34. What will the remnant of Jacob be like? (v. 7-8)   35. In that day God will cut off what? (vv. 10-13).   36. Chapter 6:1-ff, presents a scene where God calls upon the people to present their case much like a court scene. Of what can they accuse God?   37. Verses 6-7, convey the people's response to God. What can be given to God that He needs to appease His anger?   38. What does God require of men? (v. 8).   39. In vv. 9-12, God presents His case against the people. Of what does He charge them?   40. As a result of their sins, what is going to come to them?   41. In chapter 7:1-6, Micah speaks for Jerusalem. How does he respond to God's charge?   42. Then in vv. 7-13, Micah speaks for the spiritual remnant of God's people. What does he mean by "I will wait for the God of my salvation?"   43. They will be rescued from captivity -- compare Isaiah 11:10-16.   44. In vv. 14-16, Micah relays a pray from the remnant. For what do they ask?   45. Explain v. 17.   46. Verses 18-20 form a doxology. How is God praised? How does this give hope?   47. What will God give to Jacob and Abraham? Upon what basis could the prophet expect the promises to Jacob and Abraham to come to pass? -- compare Hebrews 6:13-20.

	Created on 11-Jul-99	Page last updated