Good for Adam

Faced with the indictment from the prophet Micah, Israel asks what it can do to pacify a scarily angry Yahweh. No number of ascensions will do the trick: What Yahweh requires is justice, covenant loyalty, humility (Micah 6:6-8).

The famous “Micah Mandate” is addressed to “man,” which translates adam . Israel is addressed as the new humanity, and also addressed as she is addressed at the beginning of Leviticus – “If any Adam among you brings near a near-bringing” (Leviticus 1:1). The use of “Adam” terminology here points to the fact that Micah is presenting to Israel the form of true sacrifice, the sacrifice of obedience, humility, and justice.