Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.
Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath - that its inhabitants may send thee help. Maurer explains it, thou shalt give a writing of renunciation to Moresheth-gath' - i:e., thou shalt renounce all claim to it, being compelled to yield it up to the foe. "Thou" - i:e., Judah.
The houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. "Israel" in this verse is used for the kingdom of Judah, which was the chief representative of the whole nation of Israel. Moresheth-gath is so called because it had fallen for a time under the power of the neighbouring Philistines of Gath. It was the native town of Micah (Micah 1:1). "Therefore" implies the inseparable connection which exists in the divine mind between sin and its consequent punishment. This accounts for the rapid transitions in Micah from upbraiding to threatening, and from threatening to mercy, and back again to upbraiding. The mercies to come he subjoins either suddenly, without any conjunction, or with the simple "and" (Micah 2:12; Micah 4:13).
Achzib - meaning 'lying.' Achzib, as its name implies, shall prove a "lie to ... Israel" - i:e., shall disappoint Israel's hopes of succour from her (cf. Job 6:15-20). Achzib was so called from such a winter-torrent soon dried up, and disappointing in summer (Jeremiah 15:18). Achzib was in Judah between Keilah and Mareshah (Joshua 15:44). Perhaps the same as Chezib (Genesis 38:5).