Micah’s message

Prologue

1:1

• God’s Word came to Micah during the reigns of
  • King Jotham [see 2 Kings 15:32-38, 2 Chron ch. 27],
  • King Ahaz [see 2 Kings ch. 16, 2 Chron ch. 28] &
  • King Hezekiah [see 2 Kings ch. 18 – 20, 2 Chron ch. 29 – 32].
• This is what he saw [in visions] concerning Samaria [in Israel] and Jerusalem [in Judah]

God is bringing judgement against Israel & Judah

1:2

• ‘Listen, you peoples & land; God is [testifying as] a witness against you!’ [cf. 3:1, v9, 6:1-2, Isa 1:2]

1:3-5

• God is coming to the Earth and the mountains will melt like wax [cf. Ex 24:17, Ps 97:2-5] because of the [sinful] transgression of [the tribes of] Jacob in both Samaria & Jerusalem

1:6-7

• Samaria will be destroyed along with her idols

[King Jeroboam I of Israel had built two golden calves as false gods & also built idolatrous shrines on the mountainous high places, see 1 Kgs 12:28-31]

1:8-9

• [Micah says:] ‘I lament over [Samaria’s] incurable wounds, for they reach [and affect] Jerusalem’

1:10-16

Micah’s poetic lament [using wordplay to help describe the people of Judah and Jerusalem]:

• (v10) - Tell it not in Gath; do not weep [Gath sounds like the Hebrew word for ‘Tell’; David used this phrase when he wept over Saul’s death as he didn’t want Philistines in Gath to rejoice at his sorrow, 2 Sam 1:20]
• At Beth Ophrah, roll in the dust [in mourning / Beth Ophrah can be translated as ‘House of Dust’]
• (v11) - Shaphir [residents] will be naked & ashamed [Shaphir means ‘Beautiful’ or ‘Pleasant’]
• Zaanan [residents] will not come out [to help fight / Zaanan comes from a word meaning ‘To Migrate’]
• Beth Ezel mourns & no longer stands [near to help you / Beth Ezel is translated as ‘Near House’]
• (v12) - Maroth residents will wait anxiously for good [Maroth means ‘Bitter Springs’]...
• because God’s disaster has reached Jerusalem [Jerusalem means ‘Founded in Peace’]
• (v13) - Lachish must take fast horses [to flee! Lachish (‘Compact’) was strong & was expected to defend itself]
• (v14) - Give [parting] gifts to Moresheth-Gath [Moresheth comes from a word that can mean ‘Inheritance’]
• Akzib residents will deceive the kings of Israel [who trusted them to help / Akzib means ‘Deceitful’]
• (v15) - I shall bring an heir [or occupier] to Mareshah [The similar word marashah means ‘headship / dominion’]
• The glory of Israel will [flee and] come to Adullam [the same cave where David hid, 1 Sam 22:1-2]
• (v16) - Shave your head in sorrow [and in mourning] for your children who are exiled

The charges against Israel & Judah

2:1-5

A¹. Woe to those who plan evil in their beds [at night]; for in the morning, they [rise up &] steal land & houses;

• God is planning evil against [such people] & their property will be taken

2:6-7

B¹. ‘Do not drip [such words]!’ [the false prophets say as] they drip [words in return, saying], ‘They [of God’s prophets] should not drip [such words], as we will not be humiliated!’

[OR Micah responds: ‘{If God’s prophets} should not drip {such words, they also} will not take away humiliation’ (see v6, YLT)]

[The Hebrew word 'drip' means to drop liquid, but is often used as a metaphor for drip-feeding information. It is normally translated as 'preaching' or 'prophesying', but the original meaning of dripping liquid is important for Micah and this is shown when he uses it in verse 11 (see below)]

• [Micah says:] ‘House of Jacob, why do you [reject God’s words &] say, “God does not grow impatient; He will not act that way!”? Do not my words benefit those who walk upright?’

2:8-10

A². People [who] steal clothes & houses [are told:]

• ‘Leave [Israel] or [the land] will destroy you’

2:11

B². If a man with a lying spirit says, ‘I will drip wine & drink for you [by prophesying the words: you will have drink];’ then he would [be accepted as the prophet to] drip [prophecy] for these people

2:12-13

• But: God says, ‘I will gather the remnant of Israel & they will break out [from the land of exile]’

3:1-4

A³. [Micah] said, ‘Listen, judges of Israel; you should know justice, but you oppress people!’;

• [Soon, the judges] will cry out to God [for help] & He will not answer them [cf. Prov 1:23-31]

3:5-7

A⁴. To the [false] prophets who give [a blessing of] ‘Peace’ to those who feed them & wage war on those who don’t,

• Yahweh says, ‘You will be in darkness & have no answer from God!’

3:8

• [Micah says:] ‘I am filled with God’s Spirit, justice & might, to declare to Israel their sin!’

3:9-12

A⁵. Listen, judges of Israel who pervert justice, yet say, ‘God is with us; we won’t face evil!’:

• Zion will be ploughed like a field & Jerusalem will be a heap [of rubble / cf. Jer 7:1-15, 26:18]

Oba / Jon / MIC/ Nah / Hab