Prophet Prophet Micah of Moresheth

CRITICAL: date corrected — the previous record "January 5/18" belongs to an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT biblical Micah — Micah son of Imlah, a contemporary of the Prophet Elijah (9th c. BC), who foretold King Ahab's death in battle (1 Kings 22:8-22) and died in prison. This card's content (author of a Minor Prophets book, the Bethlehem prophecy, Micah 6:8) belongs entirely to the OTHER Micah — of Moresheth — whose correct feast day is August 14/27.

Micah came from the tribe of Judah, a native of the town of Moresheth-Gath near Eleutheropolis, south of Jerusalem — hence his epithet "the Morasthite." His prophetic ministry began c. 778 BC and continued about 50 years under the Judean kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah — a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea.

He is the author of a Minor Prophets book (sixth of the twelve), denouncing idolatry and social injustice in Israel and Judah while also proclaiming future messianic salvation. His famous prophecy: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One to be ruler over Israel" (Micah 5:2) — quoted by the chief priests and scribes to Herod in answer to the Magi's question about where the Christ was to be born (Matthew 2:5–6).

Also famous is his brief summary of true piety: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). He died peacefully, buried in his homeland at Moresheth; his relics, together with those of the Prophet Habakkuk, were discovered in the 4th century, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Great.