1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morasthite in the dayes of Iotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah Kings of Iudah, which hee saw concerning Samaria and Ierusalem.
2 Heare all ye people, hearken O earth, and all that therein is, and let the Lord God be witnesse against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3 For behold, the Lord commeth forth out of his place, and will come downe and tread vpon the high places of the earth.
4 And the mountaines shall be molten vnder him, and the valleis shall be cleft: as waxe before the fire, and as the waters that are powred downe a steepe place.
5 For the transgression of Iacob is all this, and for the sinnes of the house of Israel: What is the transgression of Iacob? Is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Iudah? are they not Ierusalem?
6 Therfore I will make Samaria as an heape of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard; and I will powre downe the stones therof into the valley, and I will discouer the foundations thereof.
7 And all the grauen images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burnt with the fire, and all the idoles therof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall returne to the hire of an harlot.
8 Therfore I wil waile and houle, I will goe stript and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owles.
9 For her wound is incurable, for it is come vnto Iudah: he is come vnto the gate of my people, euen to Ierusalem.
10 ¶ Declare yee it not at Gath, weepe yee not at all: In the house of Aphrah rowle thy selfe in the dust.
11 Passe yee away thou inhabitant of Saphir, hauing thy shame naked; the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel, he shall receiue of you his standing.
12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good, but euill came downe from the Lord vnto the gate of Ierusalem.
13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the charet to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sinne to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
14 Therfore shalt thou giue presents to Moresheth-Gath: the houses of Achzib shalbe a lie to þe kings of Israel.
15 Yet wil I bring an heire vnto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come vnto Adullam, the glory of Israel
16 Make thee bald, and polle thee for thy delicate children, enlarge thy baldnesse as the Eagle, for they are gone into captiuitie from thee.
Micah was raised up to support Isaiah, and to confirm his predictions, while he invited to repentance, both by threatened judgments and promised mercies. A very remarkable passage, #Mic 5| contains a summary of prophecies concerning the Messiah.The wrath of God against Israel. (1-7) Also against Jerusalem and other cities, Their precautions vain. (8-16)1-7 The earth is called upon, with all that are therein, to hear the prophet. God's holy temple will not protect false professors. Neither men of high degree, as the mountains, nor men of low degree, as the valleys, can secure themselves or the land from the judgments of God. If sin be found in God's people he will not spare them; and their sins are most provoking to him, for they are most reproaching. When we feel the smart of sin, it behoves us to seek what is the sin we smart for. Persons and places most exalted, are most exposed to spiritual diseases. The vices of leaders and rulers shall be surely and sorely punished. The punishment answers the sin. What they gave to idols, never shall prosper, nor do them any good. What is got by one lust, is wasted on another.
8-16 The prophet laments that Israel's case is desperate; but declare it not in Gath. Gratify not those that make merry with the sins or with the sorrows of God's Israel. Roll thyself in the dust, as mourners used to do; let every house in Jerusalem become a house of Aphrah, "a house of dust." When God makes the house dust it becomes us to humble ourselves to the dust under his mighty hand. Many places should share this mourning. The names have meanings which pointed out the miseries coming upon them; thereby to awaken the people to a holy fear of Divine wrath. All refuges but Christ, must be refuges of lies to those who trust in them; other heirs will succeed to every inheritance but that of heaven; and all glory will be turned into shame, except that honour which cometh from God only. Sinners may now disregard their neighbours' sufferings, yet their turn to be punished will some come.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.