Justice and Loyalty: A Commentary on the Book of Micah - ITC (International Theological Commentary) [Paperback]

Mr. Juan I. Alfaro (Author), Mr. Fredrick Carlson Holmgren (Preface), Mr. George Angus Fulton Knight (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 1989 | Series: International Theological Commentary

As the most forceful biblical proponent of the ideals of justice, loyalty, and kindness, Micah holds special appeal for those who are concerned about the powerlessness of the poor and humble.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Juan I. Alfaro is Director of the Pastoral Institute of the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas. He also teaches at Incarnate Word College Pastoral Institute and at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (June 19, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802804314
• ISBN-13: 978-0802804310
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,644,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars relevant for Bible Study and preaching in church, August 24, 2010

By 

Will J. Green (Hull, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Justice and Loyalty: A Commentary on the Book of Micah - ITC (International Theological Commentary) (Paperback)

Alfaro's commentary was the most helpful book I used in preparation for teaching a seven week Bible Study class on Micah that had hour long sessions. The other texts I used were Wolf's Augsburg commentary (for which I do not know enough Hebrew to follow), the Anderson/Freedman Anchor Bible (again, often over my head) and volume 2 of Sweeney's Berit Olam/Liturgical Press (also excellent but rather brief).
Alfaro for the most part only references theories and research that he finds plausible and helpful for a general reader. Thus he avoids broad outlines of the history of interpretation or describing every possible explanation.
Important themes are national disarmament, prophecy as a call to conversion and salvation (rather than a prediction of the future), the dissenting social voice of a prophet and the way we are prone to look back to our traditions (David, Exodus, Sinai) to make sense of the present rather than wait for a change sometime in the future.
I appreciated the way he adopted the reading of chapters 4 and 5 as a back and forth dialogue with false prophets - (taking his lead from Alsonso-Schokel, Sicre and van der Woude) - a very creative and helpful technique for the whole class.