THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET MICAH _Chronological Notes relative to this Book_ -Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3254. -Year of the Julian Period, 3964. -Year since the Flood, 1598. -Year from the vocation of Abram, 1171. -Year since the first celebration of the Olympic games... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:2. _HEAR, ALL YE PEOPLE_] The very commencement of this prophecy supposes _preceding_ exhortations and predictions. _HEARKEN, O EARTH_] ארץ _arets_, here, should be translated _land,_ the country of the Hebrews being only intended. _AND LET THE LORD GOD BE WITNESS_] Let him who has s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:3. _FOR, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMETH FORTH_] See this clause, Amos 4:13. He represents Jehovah as a mighty conqueror, issuing from his pavilion, stepping from mountain to mountain, which rush down and fill the valleys before him; a consuming fire accompanying him, that melts and confounds... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:5. _WHAT_ IS _THE TRANSGRESSION OF JACOB?_] Is it not something extremely grievous? Is it not that of _Samaria_? Samaria and Jerusalem, the chief cities, are infected with _idolatry_. Each has its _high places_, and its _idol worship_, in opposition to the worship of the true God. That... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:6. _I WILL MAKE SAMARIA_] I will bring it to desolation: and, instead of being a royal city, it shall be a _place for_ _vineyards_. _Newcome_ observes, that Samaria was situated on a hill, the right soil for a vineyard. _I WILL DISCOVER THE FOUNDATIONS THEREOF._] I will cause its wall... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:7. _ALL THE HIRES THEREOF SHALL BE BURNED_] Multitudes of women gave the money they gained by their public _prostitution_ at the temples for the support of the priesthood, the ornamenting of the walls, altars, and images. So that these things, and perhaps several of the images themselv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _I WILL MAKE A WAILING LIKE THE DRAGONS_] _Newcome_ translates: - I will make a wailing like the foxes, (or jackals,) And mourning like the daughters of the ostrich. This beast, the _jackal_ or _shiagal_, we have often met with in the prophets. Travellers inform us that its _howlings_ by... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _HER WOUND_ IS _INCURABLE_] Nothing shall prevent their utter ruin, for they have filled up the measure of their iniquity. _HE IS COME _- EVEN _TO JERUSALEM._] The desolation and captivity of Israel shall first take place; that of Judah shall come after.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:10. _DECLARE YE_ IT _NOT AT GATH_] Do not let this prediction be known among the _Philistines_, else they will glory over you. _HOUSE OF APHRAH_] Or, _Beth-aphrah_. This place is mentioned Joshua 18:23, as in the tribe of Benjamin. There is a paronomasia, or play on words, here: בבית... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:11. _INHABITANT OF SAPHIR_] _Sapher, Sepphoris_, or _Sephora_, was the strongest place in Galilee. - _Calmet_. It was a city in the tribe of Judah, between Eleutheropolis and Ascalon. - _Houbigant_. _ZAANAN_] Another city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:13. _BETH-EZEL_] A place near... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:12. _THE INHABITANT OF MAROTH_] There was a city of a similar name in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:59.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:13. _INHABITANT OF LACHISH_] This city was in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:39, and was taken by Sennacherib when he was coming against Jerusalem, 2 Kings 18:13, c., and it is supposed that he wished to reduce this city first, that, possessing it, he might prevent Hezekiah's receiving... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:14. _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 mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:15. _YET WILL I BRING AN HEIR UNTO THEE, O - MARESHAH_] Here is another instance, הירש _haigeresh, to bring an heir_, and מרשה _mareshah, the city_, the name of which signifies _heirship_. And so of the above proper names. _ADULLAM THE GLORY OF ISRAEL._] This was a fenced city in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Micah 1:16. _MAKE THEE BALD_] _Cutting off the hair_ was a sign of great distress, and was practised on the death of near relatives; see Amos 8:10. The desolation should be so great that Israel should feel it to her utmost extent; and the _mourning_ should be like that of a mother for the deat... [ Continue Reading ]