Micah 1–3
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Introduction
1:1This is the prophetic message that the Lord gave to1 Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message2 during the reigns of3 Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to4 Samaria5 and Jerusalem.6
The Judge is Coming
1:2Listen, all you nations!7
Pay attention, all inhabitants of earth!8
The sovereign Lord will testify9 against you;
the Lord will accuse you10 from his majestic palace.11
1:3Look,12 the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place!
He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops!13
1:4The mountains will disintegrate14 beneath him,
and the valleys will be split in two.15
The mountains will melt16 like wax in a fire,
the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope.17
1:5All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion
and18 the sins of the nation19 of Israel.
How has Jacob rebelled, you ask?20
Samaria epitomizes their rebellion!21
Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask?22
They are right in Jerusalem!23
1:6“I will turn Samaria24 into a heap of ruins in an open field—
vineyards will be planted there!25
I will tumble26 the rubble of her stone walls27 down into the valley,
and tear down her fortifications to their foundations.28
1:7All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces;
all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire.29
I will make a waste heap30 of all her images.
Since31 she gathered the metal32 as a prostitute collects her wages,
the idols will become a prostitute’s wages again.”33
1:8For this reason I34 will mourn and wail;
I will walk around barefoot35 and without my outer garments.36
I will howl37 like a wild dog,38
1:9For Samaria’s41 disease42 is incurable.
It has infected43 Judah;
it has spread to44 the leadership45 of my people
and has even contaminated Jerusalem!46
1:10Don’t spread the news in Gath!47
Don’t shed even a single tear!48
In Beth Leaphrah sit in the dust!49
1:11Residents50 of Shaphir,51 pass by in nakedness and humiliation!52
The residents of Zaanan can’t leave their city.53
“He takes from you what he desires.”56
1:12Indeed, the residents of Maroth57 hope for something good to happen,58
though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem.59
1:13Residents of Lachish,60 hitch the horses to the chariots!
You61 influenced Daughter Zion62 to sin,63
for Israel’s rebellious deeds can be traced back64 to you!
1:14Therefore you65 will have to say farewell66 to Moresheth Gath.
The residents67 of Achzib68 will be as disappointing
as a dried up well69 to the kings of Israel.70
1:15Residents of Mareshah,71 a conqueror will attack you,72
the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam.73
1:16Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love;74
shave your foreheads as bald75 as an eagle,76
for they are taken from you into exile.
Land Robbers Will Lose their Land
2:1Those who devise sinful plans are as good as dead,1
those who dream about doing evil as they lie in bed.2
As soon as morning dawns they carry out their plans,3
because they have the power to do so.
2:2They confiscate the fields they desire,
and seize the houses they want.4
They defraud people of their homes,5
and deprive people of the land they have inherited.6
2:3Therefore the Lord says this: “Look, I am devising disaster for this nation!7
It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck.8
You will no longer9 walk proudly,
for it will be a time of catastrophe.
2:4In that day people will sing this taunt song to you—
they will mock you with this lament:10
‘We are completely destroyed;
they sell off11 the property of my people.
How they remove it from me!12
They assign our fields to the conqueror.’13
2:5Therefore no one will assign you land in the Lord’s community.14
2:6‘Don’t preach with such impassioned rhetoric,’ they say excitedly.15
‘These prophets should not preach of such things;
we will not be overtaken by humiliation.’16
2:7Does the family17 of Jacob say,18
‘The Lord’s patience19 can’t be exhausted—
he would never do such things’?20
To be sure, my commands bring a reward
for those who obey them,21
2:8but you rise up as an enemy against my people.22
You steal a robe from a friend,23
from those who pass by peacefully as if returning from a war.24
2:9You wrongly evict widows25 among my people from their cherished homes.
You defraud their children26 of their prized inheritance.27
2:10But you are the ones who will be forced to leave!28
For this land is not secure!29
Sin will thoroughly destroy it!30
2:11If a lying windbag should come and say,31
‘I’ll promise you blessings of wine and beer,’32
he would be just the right preacher for these people!33
The Lord Will Restore His People
2:12I will certainly gather all of you, O Jacob,
I will certainly assemble those Israelites who remain.34
I will bring them together like sheep in a fold,35
like a flock in the middle of a pasture;36
they will be so numerous that they will make a lot of noise.37
2:13The one who can break through barriers will lead them out38
they will break out, pass through the gate, and leave.39
Their king will advance40 before them,
The Lord himself will lead them.41
God Will Judge Judah’s Sinful Leaders
3:1I said,
“Listen, you leaders1 of Jacob,
you rulers of the nation2 of Israel!
You ought to know what is just,3
3:2yet you4 hate what is good,5
and love what is evil.6
You flay my people’s skin7
and rip the flesh from their bones.8
3:3You9 devour my people’s flesh,
strip off their skin,
and crush their bones.
You chop them up like flesh in a pot10—
like meat in a kettle.
3:4Someday these sinners will cry to the Lord for help,11
but he will not answer them.
He will hide his face from them at that time,
because they have done such wicked deeds.”
3:5This is what the Lord says: “The prophets who mislead my people
are as good as dead.12
If someone gives them enough to eat,
they offer an oracle of peace.13
But if someone does not give them food,
they are ready to declare war on him.14
3:6Therefore night will fall, and you will receive no visions;15
it will grow dark, and you will no longer be able to read the omens.16
The sun will set on these prophets,
and the daylight will turn to darkness over their heads.17
3:7The prophets18 will be ashamed;
the omen readers will be humiliated.
All of them will cover their mouths,19
for they will receive no divine oracles.”20
3:8But I21 am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives,
and have a strong commitment to justice.22
This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion,
and Israel with its sin.23
3:9Listen to this, you leaders of the family24 of Jacob,
you rulers of the nation25 of Israel!
You26 hate justice
and pervert all that is right.
3:10You27 build Zion through bloody crimes,28
Jerusalem29 through unjust violence.
3:11Her30 leaders take bribes when they decide legal cases,31
her priests proclaim rulings for profit,
and her prophets read omens for pay.
Yet they claim to trust32 the Lord and say,
“The Lord is among us.33
Disaster will not overtake34 us!”
3:12Therefore, because of you,35 Zion will be plowed up like36 a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
and the Temple Mount37 will become a hill overgrown with brush!38
Footnotes
- 1 Heb “The word of the Lord which came to.”
- 2 The words “he delivered this message” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- 3 Heb “in the days of” (so , , ).
- 4 Heb “which he saw concerning.”
- 5 For location see ; ; ; ; .
- 6 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
- 7 Heb “O peoples, all of them.”
- 8 Heb “O earth and all its fullness”; “and all that therein is.”
- 9 Heb “May the sovereign Lord testify against you.” The verb וִיהִי (vihiy) is jussive, which normally conveys a volitional sense of an urgent request or prayer (“may he testify!”). However, §109.k notes that here the jussive form is used without any volitional sense for the ordinary imperfect, as a rhythmic shortening at the beginning of a sentence, thus removed as far as possible from the principal accent (cf. Gen 49:17; Deut 28:8; 1 Sam 10:5; 2 Sam 5:24; Hos 6:1; 11:4; Amos 5:14; Zeph 2:13; Zech 9:5; Pss 72:16–17; 104:31; Job 18:12; 20:23, 26, 28; 27:8; 33:21; 34:37; Ruth 3:4). Thus, the translation here renders the jussive as an ordinary imperfect. Some translations render it in a traditional jussive sense: (1) urgent request: “And let my Lord God be your accuser” (); or (2) dependent purpose/result: “that the Sovereign Lord may witness against you” ().
- 10 Heb “the Lord from his majestic palace.” Since the verb is omitted it is unclear whether the implied term be supplied from the preceding line (“he will testify against you”) or the following line (“he is leaving”). So the line may be rendered “the Lord will accuse you from his majestic temple” or “the Lord will come forth from his majestic temple.” Most translations render it literally, but some remove the ambiguity: “the Lord God accuses you from his holy temple” (); “He speaks from his holy temple” ().
- 11 Or “his holy temple” (, , , , , ). This refers to the Lord’s dwelling in heaven, however, rather than the temple in Jerusalem (note the following verse, which describes a theophany).
- 12 Or “For look.” The expression כִּי־הִנֵּה (ki-hinneh) may function as an explanatory introduction (“For look!”; Isa 26:21; 60:2; 65:17, 18: 66:15; Jer 1:15; 25:29; 30:10; 45:5; 46:27; 50:9; Ezek 30:9; 36:9; Zech 2:10; 3:8), or as an emphatic introduction (“Look!”; Jdgs 3:15; Isa 3:1; Jer 8:17; 30:3; 49:15; Hos 9:6; Joel 3:1 [ 4:1]; Amos 4:2, 13; 6:11, 14; 9:9; Hab 1:6; Zech 2:9 [ 2:13]; Zech 3:9; 11:16).
- 13 Or “high places” (, , , , ).
- 14 Or “melt” (, , , , ). This is a figurative description of earthquakes, landslides, and collapse of the mountains, rather than some sort of volcanic activity (note the remainder of the verse).
- 15 The mountains will disintegrate … the valleys will be split in two. This imagery pictures an earthquake and accompanying landslide.
- 16 The words “the mountains will melt” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The simile extends back to the first line of the verse.
- 17 The words “the rocks will slide down” are supplied in the translation for clarification. This simile elaborates on the prior one and further develops the imagery of the verse’s first line.
- 18 Heb “and because of.” This was simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- 19 Heb “house.”
- 20 Heb “What is the rebellion of Jacob?”
- 21 Heb “Is it not Samaria?” The negated rhetorical question expects the answer, “It certainly is!” To make this clear the question has been translated as a strong affirmative statement.
- 22 Heb “What are Judah’s high places?”
- 23 Heb “Is it not Jerusalem?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “It certainly is!” In vv. 2–5 Micah narrows the scope of God’s judgment from the nations (vv. 2–4) to his covenant people (v. 5). Universal judgment is coming, but ironically Israel is the focal point of God’s anger. In v. 5c the prophet includes Judah within the scope of divine judgment, for it has followed in the pagan steps of the northern kingdom. He accomplishes this with rhetorical skill. In v. 5b he develops the first assertion of v. 5a (“All of this is because of Jacob’s rebellion”). One expects in v. 5c an elaboration of the second assertion in v. 5a (“and the sins of the nation of Israel”), which one assumes, in light of v. 5b, pertains to the northern kingdom. But the prophet specifies the “sins” as “high places” and makes it clear that “the nation of Israel” includes Judah. Verses 6–7 further develop v. 5b (judgment on the northern kingdom), while vv. 8–16 expand on v. 5c (judgment on Judah). For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
- 24 For location see ; ; ; ; .
- 25 Heb “into a planting place for vineyards.”
- 26 Heb “pour” (so , ); , “pour down”; “throw down”; “roll.”
- 27 Heb “her stones.” The term stones is a metonymy for the city walls whose foundations were constructed of stone masonry.
- 28 Heb “I will uncover her foundations.” The term “foundations” refers to the lower courses of the stones of the city’s outer fortification walls.
- 29 Heb “and all her prostitute’s wages will be burned with fire.” The precious metal used by Samaria’s pagan worship centers to make idols are here compared to a prostitute’s wages because Samaria had been unfaithful to the Lord and prostituted herself to pagan gods, such as Baal.
- 30 Heb “I will make desolate” (so ).
- 31 Or “for” (, , ).
- 32 No object is specified in the Hebrew text; the words “the metal” are supplied from the context.
- 33 Heb “for from a prostitute’s wages she gathered, and to a prostitute’s wages they will return.” When the metal was first collected it was comparable to the coins a prostitute would receive for her services. The metal was then formed into idols, but now the Lord’s fiery judgment would reduce the metal images to their original condition.
- 34 The prophet is probably the speaker here.
- 35 Or “stripped.” The precise meaning of this Hebrew word is unclear. It may refer to walking barefoot (see 2 Sam 15:30) or to partially stripping oneself (see Job 12:17–19).
- 36 Heb “naked.” This probably does not refer to complete nudity, but to stripping off one’s outer garments as an outward sign of the destitution felt by the mourner.
- 37 Heb “I will make lamentation.”
- 38 Or “a jackal”; “howling wolves.”
- 39 Heb “[make] a mourning.”
- 40 Or perhaps “ostrich” (cf. , , , , ).
- 41 Heb “her”; the referent (Samaria) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 42 The reads the plural “wounds”; the singular is read by the , , and . Or “wound.”
- 43 Heb “come to.”
- 44 Or “reached.”
- 45 Heb “the gate.” Kings and civic leaders typically conducted important business at the city gate (see 1 Kgs 22:10 for an example), and the term is understood here to refer by metonymy to the leadership who would be present at the gate.
- 46 Heb “to Jerusalem.” The expression “it has contaminated” do not appear in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied to fill out the parallelism with the preceding line. For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
- 47 Heb “Tell it not in Gath.” The Hebrew word for “tell” (נָגַד, nagad) sounds like the name of the city, Gath (גַּת, gat).
- 48 The Hebrew infinitive absolute before the negated jussive emphasizes the prohibition.
- 49 The translation assumes a masculine plural imperative. If one were to emend בְּבֵית (bévet) to בֵית (vet), Beth Leaphrah would then be the addressee and the feminine singular imperative (see Qere) could be retained, “O Beth Leaphrah, sit in the dust.” Heb “roll about in mourning in the dust”; or “wallow about in mourning in the dust.” The verb פָּלַשׁ (palash, “roll about in mourning [in dust]”; פלשׁ) is figurative (metonymy) for sitting as an outward sign of mourning. To sit in the dust was an outward sign of mourning. The name Beth Leaphrah means “house of dust.”
- 50 The Hebrew participial form, which is feminine singular, is here used in a collective sense for the all the residents of the town. See §122.s.
- 51 The place name Shaphir means “pleasant” in Hebrew.
- 52 The imperatival form is used rhetorically, emphasizing that the inhabitants of Shaphir will pass by into exile.
- 53 Heb “have not come out”; “will not come out”; “dare not come outside.” The expression can’t leave their city alludes to a siege of the town. The place name Zaanan sounds like the verb “come out” (i.e., “can’t leave”) in Hebrew.
- 54 The place name Beth Ezel means “house of nearness” or “house of proximity” in Hebrew.
- 55 Heb “the lamentation of Beth Ezel.” The following words could be the lamentation offered up by Beth Ezel (subjective genitive) or the mourning song sung over it (objective genitive).
- 56 The form עֶמְדָּתוֹ (’emdato) should be emended to חֲמַדְּתוֹ (khamadto, “his (the conqueror’s) desire”). The precise meaning of the line is uncertain. The translation assumes: (a) the subject of the third masculine singular verb יִקַּח (yiqqakh, “he/it takes”) is the conqueror, (b) the second masculine plural suffix (“you”) on the preposition מִן (min, “from”) refers to the residents of Shaphir and Zaanan, (c) the final form עֶמְדָּתוֹ should be emended to חֲמַדְּתוֹ, “his (the conqueror’s) desire.”
- 57 The place name Maroth sounds like the Hebrew word for “bitter.”
- 58 The translation assumes an emendation of חָלָה (khalah; from חִיל, khil, “to writhe”) to יִחֲלָה (yikhalah; from יָחַל, yakhal, “to wait”). Heb “[the residents of Maroth] writhe [= “anxiously long for”?] good.”
- 59 Heb “though disaster has come down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.”
- 60 The place name Lachish sounds like the Hebrew word for “team [of horses].”
- 61 Heb “she”; this has been translated as second person (“you”) in keeping with the direct address to the residents of Lachish in the previous line.
- 62 The epithet Daughter Zion pictures the city of Jerusalem as a young lady.
- 63 Heb “She was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zion.”
- 64 Heb “for in you was found the transgressions of Israel.”
- 65 The subject of the feminine singular verb is probably Lachish.
- 66 Heb “you will give a dowry to”; , , , “give parting gifts to.” Lachish is compared to a father who presents wedding gifts to his daughter as she leaves her father’s home to take up residence with her husband. In similar fashion Lachish will bid farewell to Moresheth Gath, for the latter will be taken by the invader.
- 67 Heb “houses.” By metonymy this refers to the people who live in them.
- 68 The place name Achzib (אַכְזִיב, ’akhziv, “place on the dried up river”; see אַכְזָב) creates a word play on the similar sounding term כָּזָב (kazav, “lie, deception”; כָּזָב). Like the dried up river upon which its name was based, the city of Achzib would fail to help the kings of Israel in their time of need.
- 69 Or “will be a deception.” The term אַכְזָב (’akhzav) is often translated “deception,” as derived from the verb I כָּזָב (“to deceive, lie”; I כזב). However, it probably means “what is dried up,” since (1) the noun elsewhere refers to an empty well or dried river in summer (Jer 15:18; cf. Job 6:15–20) ( אַכְזָב); (2) the place-name “Achzib” (אַכְזִיב) literally means “place on the אַכְזָב [dried up river]” ( אַכְזָב); and (3) it is derived from the verb II כָּזָב (“to dry up [brook]”; Isa 58:11), which also appears in Mishnaic Hebrew and Arabic. The point of the metaphor is that Achzib will be as disappointing to the kings of Israel as a dried up spring in the summer is to a thirsty traveler in the Jordanian desert.
- 70 Because of the enemy invasion, Achzib would not be able to deliver soldiers for the army and/or services normally rendered to the crown.
- 71 The place name Mareshah sounds like the Hebrew word for “conqueror.”
- 72 Heb “Again a conqueror I will bring to you, residents of Mareshah.” The first person verb is problematic, for the Lord would have to be the subject (cf. , , , , ). But the prophet appears to be delivering this lament and the Lord is referred to in the third person in v. 12. Consequently many emend the verb to a third person form (יָבוֹא, yavo’) and understand the “conqueror” as subject.
- 73 Heb “to Adullam the glory of Israel will go.” This probably means that the nation’s leadership will run for their lives and, like David of old, hide from their enemy in the caves of Adullam. Cf. ’s “He who is the glory of Israel will come to Adullam,” which sounds as if an individual is in view, and could be understood as a messianic reference.
- 74 Heb “over the sons of your delight.”
- 75 Heb “make wide your baldness.”
- 76 Or “a vulture” (cf. , ); “a buzzard.” The Hebrew term נֶשֶׁר (nesher) refers to the griffon vulture or eagle.
- 1 Heb “Woe to those who plan sin.” The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “woe”; “ah”) was a cry used in mourning the dead.
- 2 Heb “those who do evil upon their beds.”
- 3 Heb “at the light of morning they do it.”
- 4 Heb “they desire fields and rob [them], and houses and take [them] away.”
- 5 Heb “and they oppress a man and his home.”
- 6 Heb “and a man and his inheritance.” The verb עָשַׁק (’ashaq, “to oppress”; “to wrong”) does double duty in the parallel structure and is understood by ellipsis in the second line.
- 7 Heb “clan” or “extended family.”
- 8 Heb “from which you will not remove your neck.” The words “It will be like a yoke” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- 9 Or “you will not.”
- 10 The form נִהְיָה (nihyah) should be omitted as dittographic (note the preceding וְנָהָה נְהִי vénahah néhiy). Heb “one will lament [with] a lamentation [and] say.”
- 11 Or “exchange.” The suggests a reading יִמַּד (yimmad) from מָדַד (madad, “to measure”). In this case one could translate, “the property of my people is measured out [i.e., for resale].”
- 12 Heb “how one removes for me.” Apparently the preposition has the nuance “from” here (cf. , , , , ).
- 13 The Hebrew term שׁוֹבֵב (shovev, “the one turning back”) elsewhere has the nuance “apostate” (cf. ) or “traitor” (cf. ). The translation assumes an emendation to שָׁבָה (shavah, “captor”). Heb “to the one turning back he assigns our fields.”
- 14 Heb “therefore you will not have one who strings out a measuring line by lot in the assembly of the Lord.” No one will assign you land in the Lord’s community. When judgment passes and the people are restored to the land, those greedy ones who disregarded the ancient land allotments will not be allowed to participate in the future redistribution of the land.
- 15 Heb “ ‘Do not foam at the mouth,’ they foam at the mouth.” The verb נָטַף (nataf) means “to drip.” When used of speech it probably has the nuance “to drivel, to foam at the mouth” ( נטף). The sinful people tell the Lord’s prophets not to “foam at the mouth,” which probably refers in a derogatory way to their impassioned style of delivery. But the Lord (who is probably still speaking here, see v. 3) sarcastically refers to their impassioned exhortation as “foaming at the mouth.”
- 16 If one follows the as it stands, it would appear that the Lord here condemns the people for their “foaming at the mouth” and then announces that judgment is inevitable. The present translation assumes that this is a continuation of the quotation of what the people say. In this case the subject of “foam at the mouth” is the Lord’s prophets. In the second line יִסַּג (yissag, a Niphal imperfect from סוּג, sug, “to remove”) is emended to יַסִּגֵנוּ (yassigenu; a Hiphil imperfect from נָסַג/נָשַׂג, nasag/nasag, “to reach; to overtake”). Heb “they should not foam at the mouth concerning these things, humiliation will not be removed.”
- 17 Heb “house” (so many English versions); “descendants.’
- 18 The has אָמוּר (’amur), an otherwise unattested passive participle, which is better emended to אָמוֹר (’amor), an infinitive absolute functioning as a finite verb (see 55 אָמַר).
- 19 The Hebrew word רוּחַ (ruach) often means “Spirit” when used of the Lord, but here it seems to have an abstract sense, “patience.” See 925 3.d.
- 20 Heb “Has the patience of the Lord run short? Or are these his deeds?” The rhetorical questions expect the answer, “No, of course not.” The people contest the prophet’s claims that the Lord’s judgment is falling on the nation.
- 21 Heb “Do not my words accomplish good for the one who walks uprightly?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course they do!” The Lord begins his response to the claim of the house of Jacob that they are immune to judgment (see v. 7a). He points out that the godly are indeed rewarded, but then he goes on to show that those in the house of Jacob are not godly and can expect divine judgment, not blessing (vv. 8–11). Some emend “my words” to “his words.” In this case, v. 7b is a continuation of the immediately preceding quotation. The people, thinking they are godly, confidently ask, “Do not his [God’s] words accomplish good for the one who walks uprightly?”
- 22 Heb “Recently my people rise up as an enemy.” The is problematic in light of v. 9, where “my people” are the object of oppression, not the perpetrators of it. The form וְאֶתְמוּל (vé’etmul, “and recently”) is probably the product of fusion and subsequent suppression of an (ע) ayin. The translation assumes an emendation to וְאַתֶּם עַל (vé’attem ’al, “and you against [my people]”). The second person plural pronoun fits well with the second plural verb forms of vv. 8b–10. If this emendation is accepted, then יְקוֹמֵם (yéqomem, the imperfect of קוּם [qum]) should be emended to קָמִים (qamim; a participle from the same root).
- 23 Heb “From the front of a garment glory [or perhaps, “a robe”] you strip off,” but this makes little if any sense. The term מִמּוּל (mimmul, “from the front of”) is probably the product of dittography (note the preceding word, which ends in [ם] mem) and subsequent suppression of ע (ayin). The translation assumes an emendation to מֵעַל (me’al, “from upon”). The translation also assumes an emendation of שַׂלְמָה אֶדֶר (salmah ’eder, “a garment, glory [or robe]”) to שֹׁלְמִים אֲדֶרֶת (sholémim ’aderet, “[from] a friend the robe [you strip off]”). The ’s אֶדֶר (’eder) is the result of misdivision (the article has erroneously been attached to the preceding word) and haplography (of the final tav, which also begins the following word).
- 24 The passive participle שׁוּבֵי (shuvey) is unattested elsewhere and should be emended to a participle שָׁבִים (shavim). Heb “from those passing by peacefully, returnees from war.” Actual refugees, however, are probably not in view. The second line compares those who pass by peacefully with individuals returning from war. The battle is over and they do not expect their own countrymen to attack them.
- 25 Heb “women.” This may be a synecdoche of the whole (women) for the part (widows).
- 26 Heb “her little children” or “her infants”; , “young children.”
- 27 Heb “from their children you take my glory forever.” The yod (י) ending on הֲדָרִי (hadariy) is usually taken as a first person common singular suffix (“my glory”). But it may be the archaic genitive ending (“glory of”) in the construct expression “glory of perpetuity,” that is, “perpetual glory.” In either case, this probably refers to the dignity or honor the Lord bestowed on each Israelite family by giving them a share of his land to be inherited perpetually from one generation to another within each family. The term הָדָר (hadar) may refer to possessions that a person prizes (Lam 1:6).
- 28 Heb “Arise and go!” These imperatives are rhetorical. Those who wrongly drove widows and orphans from their homes and land inheritances will themselves be driven out of the land (cf. Isa 5:8–17). This is an example of poetic justice.
- 29 Heb “for this is no resting place.” The Lord speaks to the oppressors.
- 30 Heb “uncleanness will destroy, and destruction will be severe.”
- 31 Heb “if a man, coming [as] wind and falsehood, should lie”; “walking after wind and falsehood”; “a liar and a deceiver.”
- 32 Heb “I will foam at the mouth concerning wine and beer.”
- 33 Heb “he would be the foamer at the mouth for this people.”
- 34 Heb “the remnant of Israel.”
- 35 The reads בָּצְרָה (batsrah, “Bozrah”) but the form should be emended to בַּצִּרָה (batsirah, “into the fold”). See D. R. Hillers, Micah (Hermeneia), .
- 36 The reads “its pasture,” but the final vav (ו) belongs with the following verb. See §127.i.
- 37 Heb “and they will be noisy [or perhaps, “excited”] from men.” The subject of the third feminine plural verb תְּהִימֶנָה (téhimenah, “they will be noisy”) is probably the feminine singular צֹאן (tso’n, “flock”). (For another example of this collective singular noun with a feminine plural verb, see Gen 30:38.) In the construction מֵאָדָם (me’adam, “from men”) the preposition is probably causal. L. C. Allen translates “bleating in fear of men” (Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah [], ), but it is possible to take the causal sense as “because of the large quantity of men.” In this case the sheep metaphor and the underlying reality are mixed.
- 38 Heb “the one who breaks through goes up before them.” The verb form is understood as a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of this coming event.
- 39 The three verb forms (a perfect and two preterites with vav [ו] consecutive) indicate certitude. The “fold” from which the sheep/people break out is probably a reference to their place of exile.
- 40 The verb form (a preterite with vav [ו] consecutive) indicates certitude.
- 41 Heb “the Lord [will be] at their head.”
- 1 Heb “heads.”
- 2 Heb “house.”
- 3 Heb “Should you not know justice?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course you should!”
- 4 Heb “the ones who.”
- 5 Or “good.”
- 6 Or “evil.”
- 7 Heb “their skin from upon them.” The referent of the pronoun (“my people,” referring to Jacob and/or the house of Israel, with the Lord as the speaker) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 8 Heb “and their flesh from their bones.” Micah compares the social injustice perpetrated by the house of Jacob/Israel to cannibalism, because it threatens the very lives of the oppressed.
- 9 Heb “who.”
- 10 The reads “and they chop up as in a pot.” The translation assumes an emendation of כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka’asher, “as”) to כִּשְׁאֵר (kish’er, “like flesh”).
- 11 Heb “then they will cry out to the Lord.” The words “Someday these sinners” have been supplied in the translation for clarification.
- 12 Heb “concerning the prophets, those who mislead my people.” The first person pronominal suffix is awkward in a quotation formula that introduces the words of the Lord. For this reason some prefer to begin the quotation after “the Lord says” (cf. ), but this leaves “concerning the prophets” hanging very awkwardly at the beginning of the quotation. It is preferable to add הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) at the beginning of the quotation, right after the graphically similar יְהוָה (yéhvah; see D. R. Hillers, Micah [Hermeneia], ). The phrase הוֹי עַל (hoy ’al, “woe upon”) occurs in Jer 50:27 and Ezek 13:3 (with “the prophets” following the preposition in the latter instance).
- 13 Heb “those who bite with their teeth and cry out, ‘peace.’ ” The phrase “bite with the teeth” is taken here as idiomatic for eating. Apparently these prophets were driven by mercenary motives. If they were paid well, they gave positive oracles to their clients, but if someone could not afford to pay them, they were hostile and delivered oracles of doom.
- 14 Heb “but [as for the one] who does not place [food] in their mouths, they prepare for war against him.”
- 15 Heb “it will be night for you without a vision.” The coming of night (and darkness in the following line) symbolizes the cessation of revelation.
- 16 Heb “it will be dark for you without divination.” The reading of omens (Heb “divination”) was forbidden in the law (Deut 18:10), so this probably reflects the prophets’ view of how they received divine revelation.
- 17 Heb “and the day will be dark over them.”
- 18 Or “seers.”
- 19 Or “the mustache,” or perhaps “the beard.” Cf. , , “cover their lips.”
- 20 Heb “for there will be no answer from God.”
- 21 The prophet Micah speaks here and contrasts himself with the mercenaries just denounced by the Lord in the preceding verses.
- 22 Heb “am full of power, the Spirit of the Lord, and justice and strength.” The appositional phrase “the Spirit of the Lord” explains the source of the prophet’s power. The phrase “justice and strength” is understood here as a hendiadys, referring to the prophet’s strong sense of justice.
- 23 Heb “to declare to Jacob his rebellion and to Israel his sin.” The words “this enables me” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- 24 Heb “house.”
- 25 Heb “house.”
- 26 Heb “who.” A new sentence was begun here in the translation for stylistic reasons (also at the beginning of v. 10).
- 27 Heb “who.”
- 28 Heb “bloodshed” (so , , ); “murder.”
- 29 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
- 30 The pronoun Her refers to Jerusalem (note the previous line).
- 31 Heb “judge for a bribe.”
- 32 Heb “they lean upon” (so , , ); “rely on.”
- 33 Heb “Is not the Lord in our midst?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course he is!”
- 34 Or “come upon” (so many English versions); “happen to us”; “come to us.”
- 35 The plural pronoun refers to the leaders, priests, and prophets mentioned in the preceding verse.
- 36 Or “into” (an adverbial accusative of result).
- 37 Heb “the mountain of the house” (so , , ).
- 38 Heb “a high place of overgrowth.”
The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press