RE: Xtian Bible "Prophecy" Demolished
November 7, 2011 at 11:25 am
(This post was last modified: November 7, 2011 at 11:48 am by Ziploc Surprise.)
Here's what the book "Old Testament Survey" says about Micah 5. BTW there are several books by this name. The one I'm referring to is ISBN 978-0-8028-3788-2 pages 274-275. I will highlight an important bit in red.
"Oracles of Hope in Times of Distress Michah (4:6-5:9). Two positive messages about the "remnant" are given in 4:6-8 and 5:7-9. They frame three present/future contrasts in 4:9-10,11-13;5:1-6. Notice the term "now in 4:9,11;5:1. The last of the three is well known as a messianic promise (see Matt. 2:6). Like Isaiah, Micah reaffirmed ancient promises associated with the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:8-16), and celebrated in the royal psalms (see Ps.2). Hezekiah's weakness during the Assyrian blockade of Jerusalem was to be followed by a new era of power and peace under a true son of David. Bethelehem is mentioned (v.2) to stress the humble origin of both David and his future successor, who would be a true shepherd of the people (v.4). In its context the oracle prophesises not the birth of the coming king, but the continuity of the line of David. "
I will talk about the dating of the book of Micah in another post just to make things a bit more organized. Also the book I cited is not an Atheist book. In the beginning of the book the authors say that they are most definitely theists.
Here's what the book "Old Testament Survey" says about the dating of the book of Micah . BTW there are several books by this name. The one I'm referring to is ISBN 978-0-8028-3788-2 pages 274-275.
"Basic Date. The book's title (1:1) places Micah in the regions of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, roughly 735-700 b.c. the message in 1:2-9 was given before the destruction of Samaira in 721. The appeal of Jeremiah's supporter to the prophecy of Micah confirms his connection with Hezekiah:
And some of the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembled people, "Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the days of Hezekiah king of Jodah..." (Jer. 26:17f.)
the judgement on Judah depicted in 1:10-16 seems to be linked with Asyrian campaigns against the Philistines in 720 or 714-711. The reference to human sacrifice (6:7) is often taken to reflect Manasseh's terrifying reign when the rite was common, but 2 Kgs. 16:3 attributes it to Ahaz as well. So the tradition that Micah, like Isaiah, prophesied just before and after the fall of the northern kingdom finds internal support, The threat of doom hanging over Jerusalem (see 3:12) and the references to Assyria as the prime national enemy (5:5f.) suggest the period between the fall of Samaria in 721 and the withdrawal of Sennacherib's army from blockading Jerusalem in 701. The affinities to Isaiah in the theme and emphasis support this conclusion.
Unity. While the oracles of judgement in chs. 1-3 have generally been accepted as Micah's, considerable question has arisen over dating the oracles of chs. 4-7. The major role of the preexilic prophets was to give a negative critique of conditions in the nation and to announce the judgement that must follow. So scholars look very carefully at messages of hope. They ask whether they came from the prophet who gave his name to the book or from later prophets. Certainly the final, canonical edition of the book gives the impression of coming from early postexilic times. The liturgical poem in 7:8-20 may presuppose that judgement has fallen on Judah and lay claim to the fulfillment of the messages of hope. Most of the messages of hope can be credited to Micah, but often their general content hinders reconstruction of a specific historical setting. What is important is the spiritual message of these prophetic texts rather than their precise historical origin."
BTW the book cited above has an entire chapter dedicated to the problems with dating anything from the OT. It's commonly known amongst Christians as "The Chronological Puzzle". They don't usually teach this in church to lay people but occasionally they do. The standard kindergarten doctrine that they feed people in church implies that Micah did everything as god told them to, at the time he told him to do it,....blah blah blah...
"Oracles of Hope in Times of Distress Michah (4:6-5:9). Two positive messages about the "remnant" are given in 4:6-8 and 5:7-9. They frame three present/future contrasts in 4:9-10,11-13;5:1-6. Notice the term "now in 4:9,11;5:1. The last of the three is well known as a messianic promise (see Matt. 2:6). Like Isaiah, Micah reaffirmed ancient promises associated with the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:8-16), and celebrated in the royal psalms (see Ps.2). Hezekiah's weakness during the Assyrian blockade of Jerusalem was to be followed by a new era of power and peace under a true son of David. Bethelehem is mentioned (v.2) to stress the humble origin of both David and his future successor, who would be a true shepherd of the people (v.4). In its context the oracle prophesises not the birth of the coming king, but the continuity of the line of David. "
I will talk about the dating of the book of Micah in another post just to make things a bit more organized. Also the book I cited is not an Atheist book. In the beginning of the book the authors say that they are most definitely theists.
Here's what the book "Old Testament Survey" says about the dating of the book of Micah . BTW there are several books by this name. The one I'm referring to is ISBN 978-0-8028-3788-2 pages 274-275.
"Basic Date. The book's title (1:1) places Micah in the regions of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, roughly 735-700 b.c. the message in 1:2-9 was given before the destruction of Samaira in 721. The appeal of Jeremiah's supporter to the prophecy of Micah confirms his connection with Hezekiah:
And some of the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembled people, "Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the days of Hezekiah king of Jodah..." (Jer. 26:17f.)
the judgement on Judah depicted in 1:10-16 seems to be linked with Asyrian campaigns against the Philistines in 720 or 714-711. The reference to human sacrifice (6:7) is often taken to reflect Manasseh's terrifying reign when the rite was common, but 2 Kgs. 16:3 attributes it to Ahaz as well. So the tradition that Micah, like Isaiah, prophesied just before and after the fall of the northern kingdom finds internal support, The threat of doom hanging over Jerusalem (see 3:12) and the references to Assyria as the prime national enemy (5:5f.) suggest the period between the fall of Samaria in 721 and the withdrawal of Sennacherib's army from blockading Jerusalem in 701. The affinities to Isaiah in the theme and emphasis support this conclusion.
Unity. While the oracles of judgement in chs. 1-3 have generally been accepted as Micah's, considerable question has arisen over dating the oracles of chs. 4-7. The major role of the preexilic prophets was to give a negative critique of conditions in the nation and to announce the judgement that must follow. So scholars look very carefully at messages of hope. They ask whether they came from the prophet who gave his name to the book or from later prophets. Certainly the final, canonical edition of the book gives the impression of coming from early postexilic times. The liturgical poem in 7:8-20 may presuppose that judgement has fallen on Judah and lay claim to the fulfillment of the messages of hope. Most of the messages of hope can be credited to Micah, but often their general content hinders reconstruction of a specific historical setting. What is important is the spiritual message of these prophetic texts rather than their precise historical origin."
BTW the book cited above has an entire chapter dedicated to the problems with dating anything from the OT. It's commonly known amongst Christians as "The Chronological Puzzle". They don't usually teach this in church to lay people but occasionally they do. The standard kindergarten doctrine that they feed people in church implies that Micah did everything as god told them to, at the time he told him to do it,....blah blah blah...
I have studied the Bible and the theology behind Christianity for many years. I have been to many churches. I have walked the depth and the breadth of the religion and, as a result of this, I have a lot of bullshit to scrape off the bottom of my shoes. ~Ziploc Surprise
