Year not stated · Divided Kingdom

Micah warns Jerusalem and promises a ruler from Bethlehem

Micah denounced leaders who built Zion with bloodshed and warned that Jerusalem would become ruins. He also promised that from little Bethlehem would come a ruler for Israel whose greatness would reach the ends of the earth (Micah 3:8-12; 5:2-5).

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📖 Micah 1:1–3

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem: 2Hear, O peoples, all of you; listen, O earth, and everyone in it! May the Lord GOD bear witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. 3For behold, the LORD comes forth from His dwelling place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.

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Connections

Quotation

The ruler from Bethlehem

When Herod asked where the Christ was to be born, the chief priests and scribes cited Micah to identify Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel's promised ruler.

Matthew 2:5–6

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

Micah 5:2 says that a ruler for Israel would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah, and verse 4 describes Him shepherding His flock; Matthew 2:5-6 cites the prophet and repeats Bethlehem, the coming ruler, and the shepherding of Israel.

Read Matthew 2:5–6 (BSB) →Go there on the timeline →
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Sources: Scripture — Micah 1:1-9 · Micah 3:8-12 · Micah 5:1-5
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