Title Micah 1
Content Micah 1
Like other prophets, Micah begins his introduction with the coming judgment. He exhorts the people to listen to God and stresses the necessity of God's judgment.
1. have a title
“The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Moresetite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” (verse 1).
Micah prophesied in the days of “Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.” There is no mention of Micah's ancestors. He is the name of the Moresetites only here and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:18), and the Moresetites, Micah’s cat, only here and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:18), and the name comes from Micah’s cat Moreset (verse 14).
“The word of the Lord to Micah” (v. 1) emphasizes the divine authority of this prophecy. This prophecy concerns “Samaria and Jerusalem” (v. 1). “The word of the Lord” is a common tone in the work of a prophet.
“Hear, all ye people” (verse 2).
The prophecy about Israel consisted of 4 verses and 6 verses each.
(1) There is the appearance of Jehovah in judgment.
“The Lord testifies of you” (v. 2), “Hear all”, “Listen carefully” (v. 2). It is a general expression, not a specific object. The Lord gives a lesson to the nations in judgment against Israel.
(2) There is a picture of the coming of the Lord.
“The Lord has come out of his place” (v. 3, 0, which shows the urgency of the judgment. The case is all the more vivid.
(3) There is a reason for punishment.
“All this does not absolve Jacob’s transgression” (v. 5), where Jacob is applied to the Northern Kingdom as before (Mic 1:3). In iniquity, “the sin of the house of Israel and the transgression of Jacob” (v. 5) come together.
(4) The punishment of Samaria was foretold.
“Therefore I make Samaria like a heap of fields” (verse 6), and Samaria becomes desolate and like a mountain of vineyards. This is an expression of a state of being corrupted by sin.
(5) There is a sigh of Micah.
“Therefore I will mourn and mourn, walk naked, mourn like a wild dog, and mourn like an ostrich” (verse 8).
(6) There is a state of ruin.
“For its wounds cannot be healed” (v. 9), which seems to allude to the fall of Samaria in 721 B.C.E. and various events that followed. “Because he also went to Jerusalem” (verse 9) seems to suggest Sennacherib’s expedition rather than Sargon’s expedition to Egypt, which ended at the Battle of Raphia (719 B.C.E.).
3. There is a lament about the fate of Israel
“Do not tell Gath, and do not cry at all” (verse 10).
Danger is coming to Jerusalem. After the Assyrian army has seized the coastal plain going to Egypt, they head to the valley of the river Micah lives, conquer the cities one by one, and finally arrive at Jerusalem. Here (verses 10 - 16), each line consists of 4 verses and 4 measures.
(1) To mourn over the northern city (10-11).
Gath - Reminiscent of David's lamentations about Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:19-20). It seems to have been destroyed before Ammos (Amos 6:2) and not restored.
Beth-Leabra - An unknown city, like “Bethel.”
Sabil - unknown region, generally like Shamir of Judah (Joshua 15:48).
(2) The plagues of judgment fall on the cities of Judah (verses 11-12)
Saanan - Like Senan in Spela (Joshua 15:37).
Beth-Ezer - I do not know at all.
Marot - A place you never know. They are in a state of mourning.
(3) Evacuation of the inhabitants of Lachish is urgent.
“You inhabitants of Lachish, fill your horses with chariots” (verse 13), Lachish 16 miles northeast of Gaza, like Tell el Hesse. This is “the beginning of the sins of the daughter of Zion” (verse 13) and “the transgression of Israel” (verse 13) is revealed.
4. The land of Israel and its inhabitants are doomed
“For they have left you in captivity” (verse 16).
The miserable condition of Israel is described. “The glory of Israel has come as far as Adullam” (verse 15). Adullam is 6 miles northeast of Beit Jibrin, originally the residence of a Canaanite prince, but was later conquered by Israel and incorporated into the territory of Judah (Joshua 15:35). This is a cave, and the Israeli nobility used it as a refuge. The people of Lachish carrying their chariots on horses (verse 13) were an expression of their readiness before attacking Jerusalem. This is “the beginning of the sins of Zion” (verse 13).
Judas was judged by the following characteristics: ① He shaved his head to make him look bald ② His head was large
③ It is evident in the captivity and departure.