10 Then she that is mine enemy H341 shall see H7200 it, and shame H955 shall cover H3680 her which said H559 unto me, Where is the LORD H3068 thy God? H430 mine eyes H5869 shall behold H7200 her: now shall she be trodden down H4823 as the mire H2916 of the streets. H2351
And they shall be as mighty H1368 men, which tread down H947 their enemies in the mire H2916 of the streets H2351 in the battle: H4421 and they shall fight, H3898 because the LORD H3068 is with them, and the riders H7392 on horses H5483 shall be confounded. H3001
Let the priests, H3548 the ministers H8334 of the LORD, H3068 weep H1058 between the porch H197 and the altar, H4196 and let them say, H559 Spare H2347 thy people, H5971 O LORD, H3068 and give H5414 not thine heritage H5159 to reproach, H2781 that the heathen H1471 should rule over H4910 them: wherefore should they say H559 among the people, H5971 Where is their God? H430
As with a sword H7524 in my bones, H6106 mine enemies H6887 reproach H2778 me; while they say H559 daily H3117 unto me, Where is thy God? H430
Then did I beat H7833 them as small as the dust H6083 of the earth, H776 I did stamp H1854 them as the mire H2916 of the street, H2351 and did spread them abroad. H7554
Now H3705 if H2006 ye be H383 ready H6263 that at what time H5732 ye hear H8086 the sound H7032 of the cornet, H7162 flute, H4953 harp, H7030 H7030 sackbut, H5443 psaltery, H6460 and dulcimer, H5481 and all H3606 kinds H2178 of musick, H2170 ye fall down H5308 and worship H5457 the image H6755 which I have made; H5648 well: but if H2006 ye worship H5457 not, H3809 ye shall be cast H7412 the same hour H8160 into the midst H1459 of a burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace; H861 and who H4479 is that God H426 that shall deliver H7804 you out of H4481 my hands? H3028
For thy violence H2555 against thy brother H251 Jacob H3290 shame H955 shall cover H3680 thee, and thou shalt be cut off H3772 for ever. H5769
He that dasheth in pieces H6327 is come up H5927 before thy face: H6440 keep H5341 the munition, H4694 watch H6822 the way, H1870 make thy loins H4975 strong, H2388 fortify H553 thy power H3581 mightily. H3966 For the LORD H3068 hath turned away H7725 the excellency H1347 of Jacob, H3290 as the excellency H1347 of Israel: H3478 for the emptiers H1238 have emptied them out, H1238 and marred H7843 their vine branches. H2156 The shield H4043 of his mighty men H1368 is made red, H119 the valiant H2428 men H582 are in scarlet: H8529 the chariots H7393 shall be with flaming H784 torches H6393 in the day H3117 of his preparation, H3559 and the fir trees H1265 shall be terribly shaken. H7477
And your eyes H5869 shall see, H7200 and ye shall say, H559 The LORD H3068 will be magnified H1431 from the border H1366 of Israel. H3478
And G2532 there came G2064 one G1520 of G1537 the seven G2033 angels G32 which G3588 had G2192 the seven G2033 vials, G5357 and G2532 talked G2980 with G3326 me, G1700 saying G3004 unto me, G3427 Come hither; G1204 I will shew G1166 unto thee G4671 the judgment G2917 of the great G3173 whore G4204 that sitteth G2521 upon G1909 many G4183 waters: G5204 With G3326 whom G3739 the kings G935 of the earth G1093 have committed fornication, G4203 and G2532 the inhabitants G2730 of the earth G1093 have been made drunk G3184 with G1537 the wine G3631 of her G846 fornication. G4202 So G2532 he carried G667 me G3165 away G667 in G1722 the spirit G4151 into G1519 the wilderness: G2048 and G2532 I saw G1492 a woman G1135 sit G2521 upon G1909 a scarlet coloured G2847 beast, G2342 full of G1073 names G3686 of blasphemy, G988 having G2192 seven G2033 heads G2776 and G2532 ten G1176 horns. G2768 And G2532 the woman G1135 was G2258 arrayed G4016 in purple G4209 and G2532 scarlet colour, G2847 and G2532 decked G5558 with gold G5557 and G2532 precious G5093 stones G3037 and G2532 pearls, G3135 having G2192 a golden G5552 cup G4221 in G1722 her G846 hand G5495 full of G1073 abominations G946 and G2532 filthiness G168 of her G846 fornication: G4202 And G2532 upon G1909 her G846 forehead G3359 was a name G3686 written, G1125 MYSTERY, G3466 BABYLON G897 THE GREAT, G3173 THE MOTHER G3384 OF HARLOTS G4204 AND G2532 ABOMINATIONS G946 OF THE EARTH. G1093 And G2532 I saw G1492 the woman G1135 drunken G3184 with G1537 the blood G129 of the saints, G40 and G2532 with G1537 the blood G129 of the martyrs G3144 of Jesus: G2424 and G2532 when I saw G1492 her, G846 I wondered G2296 with great G3173 admiration. G2295 And G2532 the angel G32 said G2036 unto me, G3427 Wherefore G1302 didst thou marvel? G2296 I G1473 will tell G2046 thee G4671 the mystery G3466 of the woman, G1135 and G2532 of the beast G2342 that carrieth G941 her, G846 which G3588 hath G2192 the seven G2033 heads G2776 and G2532 ten G1176 horns. G2768
Rejoice G2165 over G1909 her, G846 thou heaven, G3772 and G2532 ye holy G40 apostles G652 and G2532 prophets; G4396 for G3754 God G2316 hath avenged G2917 G2919 you G5216 on G1537 her. G846
Thus shall ye speak H559 to Hezekiah H2396 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 saying, H559 Let not thy God, H430 in whom thou trustest, H982 deceive H5377 thee, saying, H559 Jerusalem H3389 shall not be given H5414 into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 Behold, thou hast heard H8085 what the kings H4428 of Assyria H804 have done H6213 to all lands H776 by destroying them utterly; H2763 and shalt thou be delivered? H5337
My tears H1832 have been my meat H3899 day H3119 and night, H3915 while they continually H3117 say H559 unto me, Where is thy God? H430
Let mine adversaries H7853 be clothed H3847 with shame, H3639 and let them cover H5844 themselves with their own confusion, H1322 as with a mantle. H4598
Wherefore should the heathen H1471 say, H559 Where is now their God? H430
For in this mountain H2022 shall the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 rest, H5117 and Moab H4124 shall be trodden down H1758 under him, even as straw H4963 is trodden down H1758 for the dunghill. H1119 H4087 H4325 And he shall spread forth H6566 his hands H3027 in the midst H7130 of them, as he that swimmeth H7811 spreadeth forth H6566 his hands to swim: H7811 and he shall bring down H8213 their pride H1346 together with the spoils H698 of their hands. H3027 And the fortress H4013 of the high fort H4869 of thy walls H2346 shall he bring down, H7817 lay low, H8213 and bring H5060 to the ground, H776 even to the dust. H6083
For he bringeth down H7817 them that dwell H3427 on high; H4791 the lofty H7682 city, H7151 he layeth it low; H8213 he layeth it low, H8213 even to the ground; H776 he bringeth H5060 it even to the dust. H6083 The foot H7272 shall tread it down, H7429 even the feet H7272 of the poor, H6041 and the steps H6471 of the needy. H1800
And he said, H559 Throw her down. H8058 So they threw her down: H8058 and some of her blood H1818 was sprinkled H5137 on the wall, H7023 and on the horses: H5483 and he trode her under foot. H7429 And when he was come in, H935 he did eat H398 and drink, H8354 and said, H559 Go, H6485 see now this cursed H779 woman, and bury H6912 her: for she is a king's H4428 daughter. H1323 And they went H3212 to bury H6912 her: but they found H4672 no more of her than H518 the skull, H1538 and the feet, H7272 and the palms H3709 of her hands. H3027 Wherefore they came again, H7725 and told H5046 him. And he said, H559 This is the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he spake H1696 by H3027 his servant H5650 Elijah H452 the Tishbite, H8664 saying, H559 In the portion H2506 of Jezreel H3157 shall dogs H3611 eat H398 the flesh H1320 of Jezebel: H348 And the carcase H5038 of Jezebel H348 shall be as dung H1828 upon the face H6440 of the field H7704 in the portion H2506 of Jezreel; H3157 so that they shall not say, H559 This is Jezebel. H348
Behold, I will make H7760 thee a new H2319 sharp H2742 threshing H4173 instrument having H1167 teeth: H6374 thou shalt thresh H1758 the mountains, H2022 and beat them small, H1854 and shalt make H7760 the hills H1389 as chaff. H4671 Thou shalt fan H2219 them, and the wind H7307 shall carry them away, H5375 and the whirlwind H5591 shall scatter H6327 them: and thou shalt rejoice H1523 in the LORD, H3068 and shalt glory H1984 in the Holy One H6918 of Israel. H3478
Sit H3427 thou silent, H1748 and get H935 thee into darkness, H2822 O daughter H1323 of the Chaldeans: H3778 for thou shalt no more H3254 be called, H7121 The lady H1404 of kingdoms. H4467 I was wroth H7107 with my people, H5971 I have polluted H2490 mine inheritance, H5159 and given H5414 them into thine hand: H3027 thou didst shew H7760 them no mercy; H7356 upon the ancient H2205 hast thou very H3966 heavily H3513 laid thy yoke. H5923 And thou saidst, H559 I shall be a lady H1404 for ever: H5769 so that thou didst not lay H7760 these things to thy heart, H3820 neither didst remember H2142 the latter end H319 of it. Therefore hear H8085 now this, thou that art given to pleasures, H5719 that dwellest H3427 carelessly, H983 that sayest H559 in thine heart, H3824 I am, and none else H657 beside me; I shall not sit H3427 as a widow, H490 neither shall I know H3045 the loss of children: H7908 But these two H8147 things shall come H935 to thee in a moment H7281 in one H259 day, H3117 the loss of children, H7908 and widowhood: H489 they shall come H935 upon thee in their perfection H8537 for the multitude H7230 of thy sorceries, H3785 and for the great H3966 abundance H6109 of thine enchantments. H2267
Thus saith H559 thy Lord H113 the LORD, H3068 and thy God H430 that pleadeth H7378 the cause of his people, H5971 Behold, I have taken out H3947 of thine hand H3027 the cup H3563 of trembling, H8653 even the dregs H6907 of the cup H3563 of my fury; H2534 thou shalt no more H3254 drink it again: H8354 But I will put H7760 it into the hand H3027 of them that afflict H3013 thee; which have said H559 to thy soul, H5315 Bow down, H7812 that we may go over: H5674 and thou hast laid H7760 thy body H1460 as the ground, H776 and as the street, H2351 to them that went over. H5674
Wherefore art thou red H122 in thine apparel, H3830 and thy garments H899 like him that treadeth H1869 in the winefat? H1660 I have trodden H1869 the winepress H6333 alone; and of the people H5971 there was none H376 with me: for I will tread H1869 them in mine anger, H639 and trample H7429 them in my fury; H2534 and their blood H5332 shall be sprinkled H5137 upon my garments, H899 and I will stain H1351 all my raiment. H4403
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 The children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 were oppressed H6231 together: H3162 and all that took them captives H7617 held them fast; H2388 they refused H3985 to let them go. H7971 Their Redeemer H1350 is strong; H2389 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name: H8034 he shall throughly H7378 plead H7378 their cause, H7379 that he may give rest H7280 to the land, H776 and disquiet H7264 the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon. H894
Babylon H894 is suddenly H6597 fallen H5307 and destroyed: H7665 howl H3213 for her; take H3947 balm H6875 for her pain, H4341 if so be she may be healed. H7495 We would have healed H7495 Babylon, H894 but she is not healed: H7495 forsake H5800 her, and let us go H3212 every one H376 into his own country: H776 for her judgment H4941 reacheth H5060 unto heaven, H8064 and is lifted up H5375 even to the skies. H7834 The LORD H3068 hath brought forth H3318 our righteousness: H6666 come, H935 and let us declare H5608 in Zion H6726 the work H4639 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Micah 7
Commentary on Micah 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
Mic 7:1-20. The Universality of the Corruption; the Chosen Remnant, Driven from Every Human Confidence, Turns to God; Triumphs by Faith over Her Enemies; Is Comforted by God's Promises in Answer to Prayer, and by the Confusion of Her Enemies, and So Breaks Forth into Praises of God's Character.
1. I am as when, &c.—It is the same with me as with one seeking fruits after the harvest, grapes after the vintage. "There is not a cluster" to be found: no "first-ripe fruit" (or "early fig"; see on Isa 28:4) which "my soul desireth" [Maurer]. So I look in vain for any good men left (Mic 7:2).
2. The Hebrew expresses "one merciful and good in relation to man," rather than to God.
is perished out of the earth—(Ps 12:1).
3. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly—literally, "Their hands are for evil that they may do it well" (that is, cleverly and successfully).
the great man, he—emphatic repetition. As for the great man, he no sooner has expressed his bad desire (literally, the "mischief" or "lust of his soul"), than the venal judges are ready to wrest the decision of the case according to his wish.
so they wrap it up—The Hebrew is used of intertwining cords together. The "threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Ec 4:12); here the "prince," the "judge," and the "great man" are the three in guilty complicity. "They wrap it up," namely, they conspire to carry out the great man's desire at the sacrifice of justice.
4. as a brier—or thorn; pricking with injury all who come in contact with them (2Sa 23:6, 7; Isa 55:13; Eze 2:6).
the day of thy watchmen—the day foretold by thy (true) prophets, as the time of "thy visitation" in wrath [Grotius]. Or, "the day of thy false prophets being punished"; they are specially threatened as being not only blind themselves, but leading others blindfold [Calvin].
now—at the time foretold, "at that time"; the prophet transporting himself into it.
perplexity—(Isa 22:5). They shall not know whither to turn.
5. Trust ye not in a friend—Faith is kept nowhere: all to a man are treacherous (Jer 9:2-6). When justice is perverted by the great, faith nowhere is safe. So, in gospel times of persecution, "a man's foes are they of his own household" (Mt 10:35, 36; Lu 12:53).
guide—a counsellor [Calvin] able to help and advise (compare Ps 118:8, 9; 146:3). The head of your family, to whom all the members of the family would naturally repair in emergencies. Similarly the Hebrew is translated in Jos 22:14 and "chief friends" in Pr 16:28 [Grotius].
her that lieth in thy bosom—thy wife (De 13:6).
6. son dishonoureth the father—The state of unnatural lawlessness in all relations of life is here described which is to characterize the last times, before Messiah comes to punish the ungodly and save Israel (compare Lu 21:16; 2Ti 3:1-3).
7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord—as if no one else were before mine eyes. We must not only "look unto the Lord," but also "wait for Him." Having no hope from man (Mic 7:5, 6), Micah speaks in the name of Israel, who herein, taught by chastisement (Mic 7:4) to feel her sin (Mic 7:9), casts herself on the Lord as her only hope," in patient waiting (La 3:26). She did so under the Babylonian captivity; she shall do so again hereafter when the spirit of grace shall be poured on her (Zec 12:10-13).
8. Rejoice not—at my fall.
when I fall, I shall arise—(Ps 37:24; Pr 24:16).
when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light—Israel reasons as her divine representative, Messiah, reasoned by faith in His hour of darkness and desertion (Isa 50:7, 8, 10). Israel addresses Babylon, her triumphant foe (or Edom), as a female; the type of her last and worst foes (Ps 137:7, 8). "Mine enemy," in Hebrew, is feminine.
9. bear—patiently.
the indignation of the Lord—His punishment inflicted on me (La 3:39). The true penitent "accepts the punishment of his iniquity" (Le 26:41, 43); they who murmur against God, do not yet know their guilt (Job 40:4, 5).
execute judgment for me—against my foe. God's people plead guilty before God; but, in respect to their human foes, they are innocent and undeserving of their foes' injuries.
bring me forth to the light—to the temporal and spiritual redemption.
I shall behold his righteousness—His gracious faithfulness to His promises (Ps 103:17).
10. shame shall cover her—in seeing how utterly mistaken she was in supposing that I was utterly ruined.
Where is … thy God—(Ps 42:3, 10). If He be "thy God," as thou sayest, let Him come now and deliver thee. So as to Israel's representative, Messiah (Mt 27:43).
mine eyes shall behold her—a just retribution in kind upon the foe who had said, "Let our eye look upon Zion." Zion shall behold her foe prostrate, not with the carnal joy of revenge, but with spiritual joy in God's vindicating His own righteousness (Isa 66:24; Re 16:5-7).
shall she be trodden down—herself, who had trodden down me.
11. thy walls … be built—under Cyrus, after the seventy years' captivity; and again, hereafter, when the Jews shall be restored (Am 9:11; Zec 12:6).
shall the decree be far removed—namely, thy tyrannical decree or rule of Babylon shall be put away from thee, "the statutes that were not good" (Eze 20:25) [Calvin]. Ps 102:13-16; Isa 9:4. The Hebrew is against Maurer's translation, "the boundary of the city shall be far extended," so as to contain the people flocking into it from all nations (Mic 7:12; Isa 49:20; 54:2).
12. In that day also—rather, an answer to the supposed question of Zion, When shall my walls be built? "The day (of thy walls being built) is the day when he (that is, many) shall come to thee from Assyria," &c. [Ludovicus De Dieu]. The Assyrians (including the Babylonians) who spoiled thee shall come.
and from the fortified cities—rather, to suit the parallelism, "from Assyria even to Egypt." (Matzor may be so translated). So Assyria and Egypt are contrasted in Isa 19:23 [Maurer]. Calvin agrees with English Version, "from all fortified cities."
from the fortress even to the river—"from Egypt even to the river" Euphrates (answering in parallelism to "Assyria") [Maurer]. Compare Isa 11:15, 16; 19:23-25; 27:13; Ho 11:11; Zec 10:10.
13. However glorious the prospect of restoration, the Jews are not to forget the visitation on their "land" which is to intervene for the "fruit of (evil caused by) their doings" (compare Pr 1:31; Isa 3:10, 11; Jer 21:14).
14. Feed thy people—Prayer of the prophet, in the name of his people to God, which, as God fulfils believing prayer, is prophetical of what God would do. When God is about to deliver His people, He stirs up their friends to pray for them.
Feed—including the idea of both pastoral rule and care over His people (Mic 5:4, Margin), regarded as a flock (Ps 80:1; 100:3). Our calamity must be fatal to the nation, unless Thou of Thy unmerited grace, remembering Thy covenant with "Thine heritage" (De 4:20; 7:6; 32:9), shalt restore us.
thy rod—the shepherd's rod, wherewith He directs the flock (Ps 23:4). No longer the rod of punishment (Mic 6:9).
which dwell solitarily in the wood, in … Carmel—Let Thy people who have been dwelling as it were in a solitude of woods (in the world, but not of it), scattered among various nations, dwell in Carmel, that is, where there are fruit-bearing lands and vineyards [Calvin]. Rather, "which are about to dwell (that is, that they may dwell) separate in the wood, in … Carmel" [Maurer], which are to be no longer mingled with the heathen, but are to dwell as a distinct people in their own land. Micah has here Balaam's prophecy in view (compare Mic 6:5, where also Balaam is referred to). "Lo, the people shall dwell alone" (Nu 23:9; compare De 33:28). To "feed in the wood in Carmel," is to feed in the rich pastures among its woods. To "sleep in the woods," is the image of most perfect security (Eze 34:25). So that the Jews' "security," as well as their distinct nationality, is here foretold. Also Jer 49:31.
Bashan—famed for its cattle (Ps 22:12; Am 4:1). Parallel to this passage is Jer 50:19. Bashan and Gilead, east of Jordan, were chosen by Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, as abounding in pastures suited for their many cattle (Nu 32:1-42; De 3:12-17).
15. thy … him—both referring to Israel. So in Mic 7:19 the person is changed from the first to the third, "us … our … their." Jehovah here answers Micah's prayer in Mic 7:14, assuring him, that as He delivered His people from Egypt by miraculous power, so He would again "show" it in their behalf (Jer 16:14, 15).
16. shall see—the "marvellous things" (Mic 7:15; Isa 26:11).
confounded at all their might—having so suddenly proved unavailing: that might wherewith they had thought that there is nothing which they could not effect against God's people.
lay … hand upon … mouth—the gesture of silence (Job 21:5; 40:4; Ps 107:42; Isa 52:15). They shall be struck dumb at Israel's marvellous deliverance, and no longer boast that God's people is destroyed.
ears … deaf—They shall stand astounded so as not to hear what shall be said [Grotius]. Once they had eagerly drunk in all rumors as so many messages of victories; but then they shall be afraid of hearing them, because they continually fear new disasters, when they see the God of Israel to be so powerful [Calvin]. They shall close their ears so as not to be compelled to hear of Israel's successes.
17. lick the dust—in abject prostration as suppliants (Ps 72:9; compare Isa 49:23; 65:25).
move out of their holes—As reptiles from their holes, they shall come forth from their hiding-places, or fortresses (Ps 18:45), to give themselves up to the conquerors. More literally, "they shall tremble from," that is, tremblingly come forth from their coverts.
like worms—reptiles or crawlers (De 32:24).
they shall be afraid of the Lord—or, they shall in fear turn with haste to the Lord. Thus the antithesis is brought out. They shall tremble forth from their holes: they shall in trepidation turn to the Lord for salvation (compare Note, see on Ho 3:5, and Jer 33:9).
fear because of thee—shall fear Thee, Jehovah (and so fear Israel as under Thy guardianship). There is a change here from speaking of God to speaking to God [Maurer]. Or rather, "shall fear thee, Israel" [Henderson].
18. Grateful at such unlooked-for grace being promised to Israel, Micah breaks forth into praises of Jehovah.
passeth by the transgression—not conniving at it, but forgiving it; leaving it unpunished, as a traveller passes by what he chooses not to look into (Pr 19:11). Contrast Am 7:8, and "mark iniquities," Ps 130:3.
the remnant—who shall be permitted to survive the previous judgment: the elect remnant of grace (Mic 4:7; 5:3, 7, 8).
retaineth not … anger—(Ps 103:9).
delighteth in mercy—God's forgiving is founded on His nature, which delights in loving-kindness, and is averse from wrath.
19. turn again—to us, from having been turned away from us.
subdue our iniquities—literally, "tread under foot," as being hostile and deadly to us. Without subjugation of our bad propensities, even pardon could not give us peace. When God takes away the guilt of sin that it may not condemn us, He takes away also the power of sin that it may not rule us.
cast … into … depths of the sea—never to rise again to view, buried out of sight in eternal oblivion: not merely at the shore side, where they may rise again.
our … their—change of person. Micah in the first case identifying himself and his sins with his people and their sins; in the second, speaking of them and their sins.
20. perform the truth—the faithful promise.
to Jacob … Abraham—Thou shalt make good to their posterity the promise made to the patriarchs. God's promises are called "mercy," because they flow slowly from grace; "truth," because they will be surely performed (Lu 1:72, 73; 1Th 5:24).
sworn unto our fathers—(Ps 105:9, 10). The promise to Abraham is in Ge 12:2; to Isaac, in Ge 26:24; to Jacob, in Ge 28:13. This unchangeable promise implied an engagement that the seed of the patriarchs should never perish, and should be restored to their inheritance as often as they turned wholly to God (De 30:1, 2).