Introduction

Micah 1

The word of YHWH that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

Listen, all y’all peoples! Listen, O earth, and all that is therein. Let Lord YHWH be witness against y’all, the Lord from ʜɪꜱ holy temple.

Coming Judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem

Look! YHWH comes out of ʜɪꜱ place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains melt under ʜɪᴍ, and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place.

 

“All this is for the disobedience of Jacob, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the disobedience of Jacob? Isn’t it Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Aren’t they Jerusalem? Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations. All her idols will be smashed to pieces, all her temple gifts will be burned with fire, and I will destroy all her images; for of the hire of a prostitute has she gathered them, and to the hire of a prostitute will they return.”

 

Micah’s Lament

For this I will lament and wail. I will go stripped and naked. I will howl like the jackals and mourn like the ostriches. For her wounds are incurable; for it has come even to Judah. It reaches to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. Y’all are not to announce it in Gath. Y’all must not weep at all. In Beth Ophrah+1:10 Beth Ophrah means literally “House of Dust.” roll in the dust. Y’all must pass by naked and ashamed, inhabitants of Shaphir! The inhabitants of Zaanan won’t come out. Beth Ezel is mourning: its support is taken from y’all. For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, because evil has come down from YHWH to the gate of Jerusalem. Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish. She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath. The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel. I will yet bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam. Shave your heads, and cut off your hair for the children of your delight. Enlarge your baldness like the vulture, for they have gone into captivity from you!