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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Book of Micah

Chiastic Structure and Concentric Structure and Parallel of each pericope

[1]Judgment pronounced against Samaria  (Mic 1:1-7)
 
  A(1:1)  1:1 the vision he received concerning Samaria and Jerusalem (1:1)
    B(1:2-4)    1:4 The mountains melt under him and the valleys split open
  A'(1:5)  Samaria and Jerusalem
    B'(1:6-7)    1:6 I will make Samaria a stone heap in the field, a place to plant for vineyards
 
   A: Samaria and Jerusalem. B: Ruins.

[2]The doom of the cities of Judah  (Mic 1:8-16)
 
P(1:8-9)1:9 it has come even to Judah, It reaches to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem
  A1(1:10)  Call to Gath
  A2(1:11-12)  Call to Shaphir
  A3(1:13-14)  Call to Lachish
  A4(1:15-16)  Call to Mareshah
 
   A: Call to other nations.

[3]Social evils denounced  (Mic 2:1-13)
 
  A(2:1-2)  2:2 They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance.(2:2)
    B(2:3-7)    2:4 Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors (2:4)
  A'(2:8-9)  2:9 The women of my people you drive out from their pleasant houses; From their children you take away forever the honor I gave them.(2:9)
    B'(2:10-13)    2:10 Up! Be off, this is no place to rest (2:10)
 
   A: Robbery. B: Going out from the land.

[4]Wicked rulers and prophets  (Mic 3:1-12)
 
  A(3:1-4)  
"3:1 Hear, you leaders of Jacob, rulers of the house of Israel (3:1)"   
(שׁמעו)
    B(3:5-8)    3:5 Thus says the LORD regarding the prophets who lead my people astray (3:5)
  A'(3:9-12)  
"3:9 Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel (3:9)"   
(שׁמעו)
 
   A: Hear. B: False prophets.

[5]Restoration promised after exile  (Mic 4:1-7)
 
  A(4:1-4)  many nations will come (4:2)
    B(4:5-7)    The LORD will reign over them (4:7)
    B'(4:8-9)    the royal power of the daughter of Jerusalem (4:8)
  A'(4:10-14)  many nations have mustered against you (4:11)
 
   A: Many nations. B: Kingship.

[6]The ruler from Bethlehem  (Mic 5:1-8)
 
  A(5:1-4)  the rest of his brethren (5:2)
    B(5:5)    they shall tend the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword (5:5)
  A'(5:6-7)  The remnant of Jacob (5:6)
    B'(5:8)    all your enemies shall be destroyed (5:8)
 
   A: The remnant. B: Victory.

[7]The future role of the remnant  (Mic 5:9-14)
 
  A1(5:9)  The horses
  A2(5:10)  The cities
  A3(5:11)  The means of divination
  A4(5:12)  The carved images
  A5(5:13-14)  The sacred poles
 
   A: Destroyed.

[8]God challenges Israel  (Mic 6:1-8)
 
  A(6:1-2)  Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD (6:2)
    B(6:3-5)    Questions of the LORD
    B'(6:6-7)    Questions of the people
  A'(6:8)  You have been told (6:8)
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: Questions.

[9]Cheating and violence to be punished  (Mic 6:9-16)
 
P(6:9)It is wisdom to fear your name (6:9)
  A(6:10-12)  Accusation of sins
    B(6:13-15)    Punishments
  A'(6:16)  Accusation of sins
 
   A: Accusation. B: Punishments.

[10]The total corruption of the people  (Mic 7:1-8)
 
  A(7:1-2)  The faithful are gone from the earth (7:2)
    B(7:3-4)    Their hands succeed at evil (7:3)
    B'(7:5-6)    Put no trust in a friend (7:5)
  A'(7:7-8)  I will put my trust in God my savior (7:7)
 
   A: The believers. B: The evils.

[11]Penitence and trust in God  (Mic 7:9-13)
 
  A(7:9a)  Punishments
    B(7:9b)    Salvation
      C(7:10)      7:10 When my enemy sees this, shame shall cover her (7:10)
    B'(7:11-12)    Salvation
  A'(7:13)  Punishments
 
   A: Punishments. B: Salvation. C: Shame of enemies.

[12]God's compassion and steadfast love  (Mic 7:14-20)
 
  A(7:14)  Wish for salvation
    B(7:15-17)    Miracles
    B'(7:18-19)    Forgiveness
  A'(7:20)  Wish for salvation
 
   A: Wish for salvation. B: Deeds of God.


Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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