Genre
The book is classified among the prophetic literature and is included among the twelve minor prophets
Date
Micah prophesied in the last half of the 700s BC into the early 600s BC. The early 700s were a time of war and also internal corruption. Worship of God had intermingled with worship of other gods such as Baal.
The book
Like many of the prophets, Micah was concerned chiefly with social justice, as well as the people’s rejection of God by worshipping false gods. Also like many of the minor prophets, the book alternates oracles of doom with the promise of hope and justice. If the people return to whole-hearted worship of God, the prophet envisions a new Israel at peace under the true shepherd. The book ends with a hymn to the faithful God who pardons sin and wrongdoing.