Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:14
Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib [shall be] a lie to the kings of Israel.
14. Therefore ] There is no logical sequence implied: ‘therefore’ often introduces a threatening passage sin leading to punishment. The prophet abruptly turns to the people of Judah.
shalt thou give presents, &c.] More strictly, farewell-presents. The meaning of the whole clause is that Judah will have to give up Moresheth-gath. True, it was to an enemy that this town was to be surrendered, and ‘farewell presents’ seems to have been a technical term for the marriage-portion of a bride (so 1Ki 9:16). But a loose use of the phrase is quite intelligible; the literal meaning is simply ‘dismissal.’
Moresheth-gath ] The birth-place of the prophet (see Introduction), who here makes an allusion to its meaning ‘possession of Gath.’
Achzib ] Mentioned as in the Shephlah, Jos 15:44. Its name suggests the thought of deception or disappointment; hence the following words. It is probably the same as Chezib, and, remarkably enough, the passage where Chezib is mentioned contains a similar reference to the ominous purport of the name. ‘He (Judah) was at Chezib,’ we read in Gen 38:5, ‘when she (Tamar) bare him.’ It was an appropriate birthplace for Shelah, who afterwards disappointed the just expectations of Tamar in regard to Judah.
a lie ] Rather, a disappointing brook. The word for ‘brook’ is omitted as in Jer 15:18, where the parallel clause explains the phrase to mean ‘waters that fail.’
the kings of Israel ] ‘Israel,’ after the fall of the northern kingdom (predicted in Mic 1:6-7) is legitimately applied to Judah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Therefore shalt thou give – (bridal) presents to Moresheth Gath Therefore! since Judah had so become a partaker of Israels sins, she had broken the covenant, whereby God had given her the land of the pagan, and she should part with it to aliens. The bridal presents, literally the dismissals, were the dowry 1Ki 9:16 with which the father sent away Jdg 12:9 his daughter, to belong to another, her lord or husband, never more to return. Moresheth, (literally, inheritance,) the inheritance which God gave her, was to be parted with; she was to be laden with gifts to the enemy. Judah should part with her, and her own treasure also.
The houses of Achzib shall be a lie – Achzib, so called probably from a winter brook, achzab, was to become what its name imported, a resource which should fail just in the time of need, as the winter brooks in the drought of summer. Wilt Thou be unto me as a failing brook, waters which are not sure? Jer 15:18. This Achzib, which is recounted between Keilah and Mareshah Jos 15:44, was probably one of, the oldest towns of Palestine being mentioned in the history of the Patriarch Judah. After having survived about 1,000 years, it should, in time of need, fail. The kings of Israel are here the kings of Judah. When this prophecy was to be accomplished, the ten tribes would have ceased to have any political existence, the remnant in their own lanai would have no head to look to, except the line of David, whose good kings had a care for them. Micah then, having prophesied the utter destruction of Samaria, speaks in accordance with the state of things which he foresaw and foretold.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. Give presents to Moresheth-gath] Calmet says that Moresa or Morashti, and Achzib, were cities not far from Gath. It is possible that when Ahaz found himself pressed by Pekah, king of Israel, he might have sent to these places for succour, that by their assistance he might frustrate the hopes of the king of Israel; and this may be the meaning of “The houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.” In these verses there are several instances of the paronomasia. See Mic 1:10, aphar, dust, and aphrah, the name of the city. Mic 1:11. tsaanan, the city, and yatsah, to go out. Mic 1:13, lachish, the city, and rechesh, the swift beast. Mic 1:14, achzib, the city, and achzab, a lie. Such paronomasias were reputed ornaments by the prophets. They occur in Isaiah with great effect. See Isa 5:7.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Therefore; forasmuch as thou hast imitated Israel in sin, and been at least an occasion to Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah to commit the same sins.
Shalt thou, Lachish,
give presents: though I do not remember the sacred story reporting this in matter of fact, we read not what presents were given, or by whom sent, or when; yet as it was foretold by the prophet, so no doubt it was fulfilled, and the inhabitants of Lachish courted the assistance of the Philistines against the Assyrian, and possibly against the Babylonian.
Moresheth-gath; a known city or town of the Philistines, called here Moresheth-gath to distinguish it from a town of the same name in the tribe of Judah and in the valley of Zephathah, where Asa smote Zerah, the Ethiopian king, who invaded Asa with a million of men.
Achzib: this was also a city of the Philistines not far from Mareshah, Ashkelon, and Gaza; it was a maritime town and strong. There was another city of that name toward Tyre also, but of this the prophet doth not speak in this place.
A lie; a lying refuge, or a prop that should break under them that leaned upon it, as Egypt proved a broken reed to Judah when trusted to: in the Hebrew there is an elegant allusion, which the translation cannot express.
To the kings of Israel; some say it is meant of the kings of Judah, but we find not that Hezekiah made any use of the houses of Achzib when Sennacherib invaded him. It is more probable the kings of the ten tribes are meant, and that Hoshea did rely on Gath. Achzib, &c., and on the friendship of the rest of the Philistines, to join with the Egyptians, or to give them a quiet passage through their country to help Israel against the Assyrian.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. shalt thou give presents toMoresheth-gaththat its inhabitants may send thee help. MAURERexplains it, “thou shalt give a writing of renunciation toMoresheth-gath,” that is, thou shalt renounce all claim to it,being compelled to yield it up to the foe. “Thou,” that is,Judah. “Israel” in this verse is used for the kingdom ofJudah, which was the chief representative of the whole nationof Israel. Moresheth-gath is so called because it had fallen for atime under the power of the neighboring Philistines of Gath.It was the native town of Micah (Mic1:1).
Achzibmeaning “lying.”Achzib, as its name implies, shall prove a “lie to . . .Israel,” that is, shall disappoint Israel’s hopes of succor fromher (compare Job 6:15-20;Jer 15:18). Achzib was in Judahbetween Keilah and Mareshah (Jos15:44). Perhaps the same as Chezib (Ge38:5).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath,…. Since Lachish was the cause of leading Judah into idolatry, and was a city so very wicked; therefore it should be reduced to such distress as to send messengers with presents to the Philistines at Moreshethgath, a place near to Gath of the Philistines, and may include that and other cities of theirs, to come and help them against the Assyrians:
the houses of Achzib [shall be] a lie to the kings of Israel; a city of Judah, Jos 15:44; or of Asher, Jos 19:29; the same with Chezib,
Ge 38:5; and called Ecdippa by Josephus h, Pliny i, and Ptolemy k. The Jewish writers commonly call it Cezib, of which they l say many things about that, and the land unto it, being subject to tithes, the laws of the seventh year, and the like. Maimonides and Bartenora say m it is the name of a place which divided between the land of Israel, which they possessed who came out of Babylon, and that land which they enjoyed who came out of Egypt; but the Jews are not agreed about the situation of it. One of their writers n places it to the northeast of the land of Israel; but another o observes, and proves from one that resided in those parts some time, and diligently inquired into and made his observation on places, that Cezib, and also Aco and Amana, frequently mentioned with it, were all on the western sea of the land of Israel, that is, the Mediterranean sea; in which he was right, without all doubt: the place is now called Zib by contraction, of which Mr. Maundrell p gives this account;
“having travelled about one hour in the plain of Acra, we passed by an old town called Zib, situate on an ascent close by the seaside; this may probably be the old Achzib, mentioned Jos 19:29; called afterwards Ecdippa; for St. Jerom q places Achzib nine miles distant from Ptolemais (or Aco), towards Tyre, to which account we found the situation of Zib exactly agreeing.”
Now the houses or families that dwelt in this place, or the idols’ temples there, as some, and the idolatry exercised therein, should be a lie unto, or disappoint the expectations of, the kings of Israel; which, according to Kimchi, is put for Judah, who placed confidence in them, and had dependence on them: there is an elegant play on words between Achzib and a “lie” r. The Targum is,
“thou shall send gifts to the heirs of Gath; the houses of Achzib shall be delivered to the people, because of the sins of the kings of Israel, who worshipped idols in them.”
h Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22. De Bello Jud. l. 1. c. 13. sect. 4. i Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19. k Geograph, l. 5. c. 15. l T. Hieros. Sheviith, fol. 36. 2. T. Bab. Gittin, foi. 7. 2. Misn. Demai, c. 1. sect. 3. m In Misn. Demai, c. 1. sect. 3. n Bartenora in Misn. Sheviith, c. 6. 1. & Challa, c. 4. sect. 8. o Yom Tob in Sheviith, c. 6. 1. e Caphtor Uperah, c. 11. p Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 33. Ed. 7. q De locis Hebr. fol. 88. I. r & .
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the Prophet alludes to another thing, — that they would attempt to pacify their enemies with gifts, and would try to redeem themselves and their neighbors. But the Prophet expressly mentions this, that the event might teach them that nothing happens without a design; for it ought to work a greater conviction in blind and obstinate men, when they see that they really find that to be true which had been long before predicted. This, then, is the reason why the Prophet enumerates here various particulars; it was, that the hand of God might be more evident and conspicuous when he would begin, in an especial manner, to fulfill all the things which he now in words foretells, Thou, he says, wilt send a gift for Moreseth-gath; that is, for a neighboring city. And he calls it Moreseth-gath, to distinguish it from another city of the same name. Thou wilt then send gifts for Moreseth-gath, to the sons of Achzib for a lie אכזיב, aczib, is a word derived from one which means a lie. There is, therefore, a striking alliteration, when he says, Thou wilt send gifts to the sons of אכזיב, Aczib, for a lie, לאכזב, laaczeb; that is Thou wilt send gifts to the sons of a lie, for a lie. The city had obtained its name from its fallacies or guiles. And he says, for a lie to the kings of Israel; because it profited the children of Israel nothing to pacify them with gifts or to attempt to draw them to their side, as they hired the services of one another. So then he says, that they would be for a lie to the kings of Israel, for they would gain nothing by having many auxiliaries. Some take the words actively, — that the kings of Israel had first deceived the citizens of Achzib: but this view is less probable; I am therefore disposed to adopt the other, — that though the citizens of Lachish tried to conciliate their neighbors with a great sum of money, especially the people of Achzib, this would be yet to no purpose; for it would be a lie to the people of Israel: or, it may be, that the Prophet’s meaning is this, — that the citizens of Achzib had already wished to bring aid, but in vain to the kings of Israel; for Lachish was one of the first cities which the Assyrians conquered; but it was within the kingdom of Judah, or on its borders. It is then probable that the kings of Israel had recourse to the aid of this people, and were not assisted. Now, as the citizens of Lachish also endeavored to extricate themselves from the hand of their enemies by such aid, the prophet derides such a folly, inasmuch as they did not become wise by experience, having seen with their own eyes, that such an help had been useless and deceptive to the kings of Israel: they ought then to have tried some other means rather than to expose themselves to the same deceptions. (73) I cannot finish the chapter to-day.
(73) The two lines of this verse are improperly connected, and the word “sons” is substituted for “houses,” בתי, and there are no various readings, and the Septuagint has “houses.” The literal rendering is this, —
Therefore thou wilt send presents to Moresheth-gath: The houses of Achzib will be a lie ( i.e., false) to the kings of Israel.
Henderson, after Cocceius, gives a different meaning to “presents,” שלוחים; and he renders it “divorce,” and says that it signifies letters of repudiation, and that it is to be taken here metaphorically for the breaking up of connection. The word only occurs in two other places, that is, in Exo 18:2, and in 1Kg 9:16; and in neither does it mean what is alleged. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) Give presentsi.e., thou shalt cease to give to Moresheth-gath the protection due from a husband to a wife: thou shalt give her a bill of divorce. The Hebrew word means either the presents sent with a daughter or the dismissal sent to a wife.
Achzib.A town on the sea-coast between Accho and Tyre. Its name means false, deceptive; it is used of a river drying up, and disappointing the traveller. In like manner Achzib shall fulfil the import of its name, and prove a lie, a broken reed, to the kings of Israel. (See also Jer. 15:18, where the prophet asks God, Wilt Thou be altogether unto me as a liar [Heb., Achzab], as waters that fail?)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Mic 1:14. Therefore shalt thou give presents Therefore shalt thou send presents against Mareshah to Gath the house of a lie, that thou mayest deceive the kings of Israel. Lachish and Mareshah were two cities in the tribe of Judah. The sacred history is silent why Lachish, when it was besieged, should send gifts to Gath. Perhaps Lachish implored the help of Gath, and promised help to the people of Gath in return, when delivered from the siege, to assist them in the taking of Mareshah from the kings of Israel or of Judah. Therefore it is added, to deceive the kings of Israel. See Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mic 1:14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib [shall be] a lie to the kings of Israel.
Ver. 14. Therefore shalt thou give presents, &c. ] And so seek to make thee friends among the Philistines; but such carnal confederacies never prosper. The Greek Churches, A. D. 1438, afraid of the Turks, sent and subjected themselves to the Bishop of Rome, that they might have the help of the Latin Churches; but shortly after they were destroyed, their empire subdued, and swallowed up by the Ottoman greatness, &c. How much better were it to send a lamb to the ruler of the earth! Isa 16:1 , to bring presents unto him that ought to be feared! Psa 76:11 , even to God, who cutteth off the spirits of princes, and is terrible to the kings of the earth! Mic 1:12 . Was he not so to Sennacherib, whom Lachish here feared, and fled from? to Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Xerxes, who, after he had wasted over two million men into Greece, and whipped the Hellespont (for battering his bridge of boats over it) with three hundred stripes, was defeated, routed, and forced to flee back in a poor fisher’s boat, to save his own life? (Herod.)
The houses of Achzib (that is, of a lie) shall be a lie to the kings of Israel] Or have been a lie to the kings of Israel; never true to those that trusted them: and wilt thou confederate with them, and confide in them?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
give presents to = give up possessions at.
Achzib . . . a lie. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia, = the houses of False-town (‘Akzib) shall prove false (iakzab).
Achzib. Now es Zib (Jos 15:44; Jos 19:29. Jdg 1:31).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
give: 2Sa 8:2, 2Ki 16:8, 2Ki 18:14-16, 2Ch 16:1-3, Isa 30:6
to: or, for
houses: Psa 62:9, Psa 118:8, Psa 118:9, Psa 146:3, Psa 146:4
Achzib: that is, a lie, Jos 15:44
Reciprocal: Jos 19:29 – Achzib 1Sa 21:10 – Gath Mic 1:1 – Micah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mic 1:14, Give presents to [for” In the margin] Morcsheth-gath. Give presents Is a terra of military and political significance, meaning to make a formal surrender to another, or at least to acknowledge his superiority. This was another idolatrous place and the people of God were destined to give presents to the Assyrians Eor or because of their corrupt practices in this and other cities. Achzib shall be a lie. The last word is from AKZAB which Strong defines, falsehood; by implication treachery.” The kings of Israel had counted on this city and others like it for support, in times of national need. The prediction means that when the test comes they will fail the kings and will prove to be traitors.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1:14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to {p} Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib [shall be] a lie to the kings of Israel.
(p) You will bribe the Philistines your neighbours, but they will deceive you, as well as those of Jerusalem.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Zion (Jerusalem) would give Moresheth-gath as a portion of a parting gift to the invader. The Davidic king would not be able to prevent the Assyrians from taking Moresheth-gath captive. The people of Achzib (Heb. ’akzib), represented here by their houses, would become deceitful (Heb. ’akzab) to the kings of Israel because they could not fend off the enemy.