Micah 1

good.] The words may be better translated, Although the inhabitant of Maroth waited for good, yet evil &c. W. Lowth. Maroth seems to be a city in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, or one that had dependence on it, and so could not but be involved in her calamity. Dr. Pocock. A city of like name is placed in the tribe of Judah, Josh. xv. 59. Abp. Newcome.

Micah 1:13

13. O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot &c.] As for you, O ye inhabitants of Lachish, make all possible speed to escape by flight: put your swiftest beasts into your chariots, and drive away hastily, taking the advantage of your remoteness: try if you can thus avoid the judgment, who were the authors of sin to the rest of Judah, next after the revolt of the ten tribes to their molten calves. Lachish was the first of the tribe of Judah, that both received and diffused the infection to the daughter of Zion; the idolatries of Israel were first found in thee, O Lachish. Bp. Hall.

Micah 1:14

14. Therefore shalt thou give presents &c.] Therefore shalt thou be fain to give vain presents unto the Philstines to help thee: thou shalt have recourse to those false and lying succours, which have been ever deceitful to the kings of Judah, and so shall be still unto thee. Bp. Hall. Moresheth-gath appears to have been a place or city probably near or belonging to Gath of the Philistines. Achzib is the name of a town, mentioned with Mareshah, Josh. xv. 44, as belonging to the tribe of Judah: and there is another of the same name, mentioned Josh. xix. 29, and Judges i. 31, as belonging to or bordering for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee. Before CHRIST about 750. ### CHAP. II.

Micah 1:15

15. Yet will I bring an heir] Namely, an enemy, that shall take possession of the people and all that they have, as if it were his inheritance. Here is an allusion to the name “Mareshah,” which includes in it the signification of inheritance. This city is supposed by most interpreters to be the country of the Prophet. Dr. Pocock. — he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.] He, that is, the glory and God of Israel, executing his justice upon the people, and thereby manifesting his glory, shall come even as far as to Adullam, in the inmost part of the kingdom of Judah, giving all into the hand of the enemy. See the margin. Bp. Hall, Dr. Pocock. Or, he, namely, the enemy, the heir of Mareshah, shall come to Adullam, which may have been called “the glory of Israel,” on account of its situation, strength, or beauty, or for some reasons, now not well known. It was a royal city, Josh. xii. 15; taken by Joshua, and transferred to the tribe of Judah, chap. xv. 35; made a city of defence by Rehoboam, 2 Chron. xi. 7; and it had villages belonging to it, Neh. xi. 30. Dr. Pocock.

Micah 1:16

16. Make thee bald, &c.] In the mention of Adullam and other particular places, the whole land is understood: and it is accordingly here called upon, to give itself entirely up to sorrow and mourning, and to express its grief by all the customary outward signs. See Jer. vii. 29; Amos viii. 10; Job i. 20. Dr. Pocock. — enlarge thy baldness as the eagle.] When he sheds his plumage, Ps. ciii. 5. Rochart observes, that at these times eagles are said to be bald. Abp. Newcome. Chap. II. ver. 1, 2. The Prophet proceeds to shew, how justly deserved were the punishments, denounced against Israel and Judah, by a declaration of some of the sins of which their inhabitants were guilty. Dr. Pocock.