Micah 1

Verse 1. Morasthite, “of Maresa,” (Chal. Calmet. 1:14. Calmet.) a village near Eleutheropolis. Saint Jerome—Kings. They reigned about sixty years. Calmet.

When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).

Verse 2. Witness. Deuteronomy 32. Isaiah 1 and 6. The prophet discharges his duty, and will not be blameable, if people die in their sins. Jeremiah 3:18. Worthington.—This sublime address shews the importance of the subject, and how deep an impression the sins of Israel had made in his breast.

The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

Verse 3. Earth, to subdue the rebels. Amos 4:13. Habakkuk 3:3. Calmet.

“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

Verse 4. Melted. Septuagint “moved.” Bible.—Cleft, as it was to swallow up Core, (Numbers 16:31) with the greatest ease.

Verse 5. Jerusalem. High places were left there under Joathan. 4 Kennicott. 15:35. Achab had introduced the worship of Baal into Samaria, and though the family of Jehu repressed this worship, it gained ground when Micheas appeared. Calmet.—This conduct excited God’s indignation. Bible.—He came to punish the most guilty. Calmet.

Verse 6. Heap. Septuagint “hut to keep the fruit.” Hebrew “hillock of the field,” ( Bible.) to be cultivated. Grot.—Bare, by Salmanasar. 4 Kennicott. 17:6. It was afterwards rebuilt, ( Calmet.) but completely levelled by Hircan. Jos. Ant. xiii. 18.

Verse 7. Her wages. That is, her donaries or presents offered to her idols; or the hire of all her traffic and labour. Challoner.—Samaria had trafficked with infidels, and thus grew rich, but imitated their idolatry; ( Worthington.) and therefore was ruined, and her citizens and riches Bible. removed into Assyria. Worthington.—Harlot. They were gathered together by one idolatrous city, that is Samaria: and they shall be carried away to another idolatrous city, that is Ninive. Challoner.—The hire of prostitution was not to be received in God’s temple, (Deuteronomy 23:18) which prohibition shews the antiquity of this abominable custom. Baruch 6:9. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. iv. 10. Calmet.

Verse 8. Naked. Ill clothed, ( Bible.) to shew the approaching calamity of the Israelites. Isaiah 20. Menochius.—Septuagint and Chal. explain all of the people, ( Calmet.) or of Samaria. “Therefore shall she lament and howl, go barefoot and naked, bewail like,” and so forth Bible.—Dragons, when they are crushed by the elephant. Solin xxxviii. Menochius.—Tannim means also ( Bible.) whales, and so forth which make a horrible noise.—Ostriches, or swans. Isaiah 13:21. Both have a mournful note. Calmet.

Verse 9. Gate. That is, the destruction of Samaria shall be followed by the invasion of my people of Juda, and the Assyrian shall come and lay all waste even to the confines of Jerusalem. Challoner.—Juda received the worship of Baal from Israel. It shared in the punishment of that kingdom. The prophet alludes to the ravages of Sennacherib, verse 13. Yet Juda was much afflicted by Razin and Phacee, before that invasion: which caused Achaz to call in the aid of Theglathphalassar. 2 Chronicles 28 and 4 Kennicott. 16. Calmet.

Verse 10. Geth. Amongst the Philistines, lest they rejoice at your calamity. Challoner. 2 Kennicott. 1:20. Amos 3:9. Calmet.—Tell not these calamities, which I foresee, among your enemies, lest they rejoice. But lament in your own houses, which shall be filled with dust. S. Jerom prays for the light of the Holy Ghost to understand this passage. Worthington.—Weep ye not. Keep in your tears, that you may not give your enemies an occasion of exulting over you: but in your own houses, or in your house of dust, your earthly habitation, sprinkle yourselves with dust, and put on the habit of penitents. Some take the house of dust (in Hebrew Haphra) to be the proper name of a city. Challoner.—With tears. Hebrew “at all,” (Prot. Bible.) “in Acco,” or Ptolemais, (Reland) or Bochim, ( Bible.) a place near Jerusalem. Judges 2:1. But no reference to this place, or to “the Enakim,” (who appear in some copies of the Sept.) seems to be made.—Of dust. Samaria. verse 6. Calmet.

Beth Ophrah means literally “House of Dust.”

Verse 11. Place. In Samaria. In the Hebrew, the beautiful place is expressed by the word Shaphir, which some take for the proper name of a city. Challoner.—It is thought that S. Jerom has given the sense of several proper names, ( Calmet.) or this has been done since in the Vulg. by some other. In the edit. of his works, (A.D. 1533) we read, “The dwelling of Saphir passes from you: she hath not come out who inhabits Sennan. The house of Asel shall receive,” and so forth Bible.—Saphir or Diocesarea was a strong place (Jos. Bel. ii. 37.) of Galilee, where Saanan was also situated. Judges 4:11. Haetsel may denote “the vicinity.” Calmet.—People shall not attempt to comfort their neighbours, being themselves under the greatest alarms. Bible.—Forth. That is, they that dwelt in the confines came not forth, but kept themselves within, for fear.—Adjoining, that is Judea and Jerusalem, neighbours to Samaria, and partners in her sins, shall share also in her mourning and calamity: though they had pretended to stand by themselves, trusting in their strength. Challoner.—All the inhabitants shall be led into captivity naked. Bible.

Verse 12. Weak, and so forth Jerusalem is become weak unto any good; because she dwells in the bitterness of sin. Challoner.—Prot. “the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good.” Bible.—We know not of any place called Maroth. Grotius would substitute Ramoth. Calmet.—Bitterness. Saint Jerome “Maroth.” Sym. “provoking to bitterness.” They are unable to defend their possessions. Bible.

Verse 13. Lachis, when Sennacherib came to besiege it. 4 Kennicott. 18:13. Calmet.—Beginning. That is, Lachis was the first city of Juda that learnt from Samaria the worship of idols, and communicated it to Jerusalem. Challoner.—This is not very probable. We may translate, “this is the source of sin,” or of chastisement; or the imitation of Israel, is the chief of the crimes of Sion. Calmet.

Verse 14. Send. Lachis shall send to Geth for help; but in vain: for Geth, instead of helping, shall be found to be a house of lying and deceit to Israel. Challoner.—Inheritance. Some translate rather “Moreseth (or Morasthi) of Geth, the houses of Acsib,” and so forth Both these towns were near Geth, and perhaps at this time subject to it. 2 Chronicles 28:18. Achaz sent to ask for aid against the king of Israel, verse 9. Calmet.—Prot. “therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-Gath, the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the,” and so forth Bible.—There is an allusion between Acsib and a lie, as also between Maresa and an heir, (verse 15. Calmet.) as the terms have those senses. Bible.

Verse 15. Heir. Maresa (which was the name of a city of Juda) signifies inheritance: but here God by his prophet tells the Jews, that he will bring them an heir to take possession of their inheritance: and that the glory of Israel shall be obliged to give place, and to retire even to Odollam, a city in the extremity of their dominions. And therefore he exhorts them to penance in the following verse. Challoner.—Maresa shall fall a prey to the king of Assyria. Micheas was a native of this town, and he ironically addresses his countrymen. Calmet.—Glory. Thus he denotes “the misery” of Israel, which shall be extended to the last town in Juda. Worthington.—Hebrew means also “burden.” Odolla was taken by Sennacherib, ( Calmet.) with the other towns around Jerusalem. Bible.

Verse 16. Eagle. When it loses its feathers, it becomes languid. Theod.—This verse should be joined with the next chapter, which regards the kingdom of Israel. Calmet.