Micah 1 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

The word of the LORD. The only occurrence of this expression in this book: bidding us to receive it from Jehovah, not Micah, and to note Micah's pen but Jehovah's words.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Micah. Who is like Jehovah? An abbreviated form of Micaiah (2 Chronicles 18:7, &c.); it is used in Jeremiah 26:18 (in the Heb). Compare Micah 7:18.

Morasthite: Mareshah (Micah 1:15) or Moresheth-gath (Micah 1:14); now Tel Sandahanna, in the Shephelah, or plain, between Judea and Philistia. In the excavations at Sandahanna the ancient name is seen as Marissa. Marissa was. Sidonian colony (cent.. B. C), and was afterward used as the capital of' Idumea by the Edomites during the captivity of Judah (see Records of the Past, vol. iv, part x, pp. 291-306).

which he saw. Compare Isaiah 1:1.Obadiah 1:1.Nahum 1:1.

concerning, &c. This furnishes the subject.

Hear, all ye people. Micah begins by taking up the concluding words of the other Micah or Micaiah (1 Kings 22:28), and recurs to them in Micah 3:1; Micah 3:9; Micah 6:1; Micah 6:2. Five times, not three, as some say; and forms no part of the Structure of the whole book. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:1). App-92.

all ye. ye peoples, all of them.

people. peoples. Including ourselves.

all that therein is. her fullness.

let the Lord GOD be witness. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 31:50).

the Lord. Hebrew Adonai. App-4.

GOD Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

the LORD*. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim say they altered "Jehovah" of the primitive text to "Adonai". See App-32.

from His holy temple. Compare Psalms 11:4.Jonah 2:7; Habakkuk 2:20.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

tread upon, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:13; Deuteronomy 33:29). App-92. Compare Amos 4:13.

the mountains, &c. This verse foretells the calamities of 2 Kings 17 and 25.

transgression. rebellion. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44.

sins. Hebrew. chata'. App-44. Aram, and Syriac read singular.

What. Whose.

is it not Samaria?. is it not Samaria's [idolatry]? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

high places. Compare 1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 14:23.Ezekiel 6:6. These existed in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 32:35); hence the mention of them in the further question. Figure of speech Erotesis. Compare 2 Kings 16:4.

are they not Jerusalem?. is it not Jerusalem's [idol altars]?

discover, &c. This has now recently (1911) been done in the unearthing of Ahab's wine-cellars.

graven images. Hebrew. pesilim. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:4). App-92.

hires. The technical Pentateuchal word for. harlot's hire, to which idolatry is compared. Compare Hosea 8:9; Hosea 8:10; Hosea 9:1. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:18). App-92.

they shall return, &c.: i.e. the wealth gained by idolatry shall be taken away by the Assyrian idolaters.

wail. lament. Compare the Structure above; and note weight of the prophetic "burden".

dragons. jackals.

owls. Hebrew daughters of. doleful cry.

wound. stroke. Hebrew. makkah (feminine)

it. Aramaean and Syriac read "she". Referring to her stroke, which is feminine.

he. he, referring to some unnamed foe. Aram, and Syriac read "she", referring to the "stroke" of judgment.

the gate. Compare Obadiah 1:11; Obadiah 1:13.

Declare ye it not at Gath. Compare 2 Samuel 1:20.

Gath. Now Tell es Safi (Joshua 11:22, &c).

at all. Hebrew. bakko, written defectively for beakko. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6). Hebrew. bakko 'al tibku "[in] Weep-town weep not".

in... Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6). Hebrew in 'aphrah... 'aphar, English, "in Dust-house roll thyself in dust, "

Pass ye away: i.e. go into exile.

Saphir, having thy shame, &c. Here we have contrast. Saphir. Beautytown, with beauty shamed; now es Suafir.

inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth. Hebrew not gone forth hath... Zaanan. Hebrew Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6): lo yatz'ah... tz'anan = not gone out [to weep] hath the inhabitant of Outhouse.

in the mourning... his standing. Commence. fresh sentence here; thus: "The trouble of Beth-ezel (Neighbour-town) shall be. useless neighbour". Or, "the Bystander's house will, from you, get its standing-room".

he shall receive, &c. : or, he will take from you its support.

Maroth waited carefully. The inhabitress of Bitter town bitterly grieved for her goods [taken from her].

evil. calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. Not by chance.

the gate of Jerusalem. In Taylor's Cylinder, Sennacherib mentions his breaking of this gate (col. iii, lines 22:23).

inhabitant. inhabitress.

Lachish... swift beast. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6). Hebrew. larekesh... lakish. [bind the chariot] to the horse,. inhabitress of Horse-town,

Lachish. Now Ummtum Lakis, or Tell el Hesy. See notes on 2 Kings 14:19; 2 Kings 19:8.

she. Evidently Samaria. Compare verses: Micah 5:9; Micah 6:16.

give presents to. give up possessions at.

Achzib... a lie. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia,. the houses of False-town ('Akzib) shall prove false (iakzab).

Achzib. Now es Zib (Joshua 15:44; Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31).

an heir... Mareshah. Hebrew the possessor (hayyoresh)... O Possession (Mareshah). The possessor whom Jehovah would bring was Assyria.

he shall come, &c. The glory: i.e. the nobility (Isaiah 5:13) of Israel shall go (or flee) unto [the cave] Adullam; as David had done (1 Samuel 22:1).

Make thee bald, &c. The signs of mourning. Compare Job 1:20; Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 22:12.Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 16:6; Jeremiah 47:5; Jeremiah 48:37). This is addressed to Judah. It was forbidden under the law (Deuteronomy 14:1). Judah had become as the heathen: let them mourn as the heathen.

children. sons.