Chapter 1

Argument

¹ There is one aim for all the divine prophets: the betterment of their hearers, who are guided both toward the knowledge of God and toward a zealous life. Many prophets arose, and some were even contemporaries of one another, not superfluously nor in vain; but since God testified to the people through many mouths that, if they would not depart from the idols and choose to live rightly, they would draw down evils upon themselves, while he himself would be without blame. Therefore, in order that they might be put to shame before so many heralds who announced beforehand things grievous and fearful, and through these struck them with fear, and that those hitherto unfeeling and hardened might abstain from their wicked habit—for this reason he sends many prophets. Physicians do the same, aiding those who are more severely ill with more remedies; and so too we set over children many instructors and admonishers. And so this holy prophet Micah, now in our hands, was sent to the two tribes that inhabit Jerusalem, and to the ten in Samaria, bringing the same charges as Joel and Amos and Hosea; for he was very nearly their contemporary, even if those slightly preceded him, having begun their prophecy in the reign of Uzziah. Now Uzziah was the father of Jotham, in whose reign this Micah prophesies. He gives signs beforehand of the coming of the Savior, in one place in shadowed form, in another more plainly; and he also builds up toward a moral way of life. You will inquire whether this was the Micaiah who prophesied to Ahab the evils that would befall him, and was struck on the cheek by the prophet Zedekiah. For if this man was that one, how is it written that he prophesied in the days of Jotham? For Jotham is many years later than Ahab. Either, then, he is not the same; or he is indeed the same—since this is also the opinion of Epiphanius of Cyprus, who studied most diligently the writings of the Hebrews, from whom he himself sprang—but, having prophesied earlier, without writing, in the time of Ahab, he later began to make a written prophecy in the days of Jotham; so that, with respect to prophesying in writing, this man comes after the prophets mentioned, though not simply with respect to the time of his life.