Bible Commentary

And they covet fields, and take [them] by violence; and houses, and take [them] away: so they oppress a man and his house even a man and his heritage. 2. And they covet fields, &c.] ‘To covet’ is itself a gross offence against the law of God, as the deepest of all the Ten Commandments … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 2:2”

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. 1 5. Sin and its corresponding Punishment 1. and work evil ] To ‘work,’ as distinguished from ‘devise’ and to ‘practise’ or ‘execute,’ is to prepare … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 2:1”

Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee. 16. Make thee bald ] The prophet addresses the sorrowing mother, Judah, who sees her children go forth into exile. The injunction is to be understood poetically (see on Mic 1:13). … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:16”

Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel. 15. Yet will I bring, &c.] Rather, Moreover unto thee will I bring him that shall possess thee (viz. Sargon and his Assyrians). ‘Mareshah’ was near Achzib (Jos 15:44). There is an allusion to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:15”

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, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:14”

O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she [is] the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. 13. Lachish ] That well-known fortified town in the Shephlah, or maritime plain, the capture of which was commemorated by Sennacherib in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:13”

For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem. 12. Maroth ] The name might mean Bitternesses, i.e. ‘perfect grief.’ Comp. Rth 1:20, ‘Call me Mara, for the Lord hath made it bitter unto me,’ i.e. hath grieved me. waited carefully ] Rather, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:12”

Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall receive of you his standing. 11. inhabitant ] The word in the Hebrew is feminine, the population of the city being (as often, e.g. Isa 1:8) personified as a virgin. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:11”

Declare ye [it] not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. 10. Declare ye it not ] ‘May we at least be spared the sight of the malicious joy of our envious neighbours!’ Here begins a series of paronomasias, which however are far from indicating … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:10”

For her wound [is] incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, [even] to Jerusalem. 9. her wound ] Lit. her stripes. Samaria’s trouble is a chastisement (comp. Isa 1:3-4), but it is not Samaria’s trouble only. It has reached Jerusalem; hence the ‘incurableness’ of the ‘wound,’ … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 1:9”