Micah 6

A declaration of God’s controversie with his people by reason of their unthankfulness fro his continual mercies, verse 1. God rejecteth and they stand bound to perform, 6 and forasmuch as the contrary was known among them, to wit, unrighteousness, oppression, lies and deceit; together with the idolatrous practice of Omri and Achab, he threatneth them with desolation, femine, helpness and the sword, 10.

1. Hear now the Lord saith: get thee up, contend (or plead) with the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. [some take this as against the mountains, the great ones, and by the hills, the meaner sort or common people. But it should seem, the particle with, here implies as much as if the LORD had said, take in the mountains for your aide, or as witness, or do it before, by, or presence of, c for the Lord bids the prophet in the sequel, to speak unto the mountains, to the further conviction and confusion of men. Compare Deut. 6.26 and chapter 31.1 and above 1.2 and the notes.]

2. Hear, ye mountains, the controversie of the LORD, as also ye strong foundation of the earth; [i.e. thou earth so strong founded: or ye foundations, groun-works, roots, cuttings off (as Jonah 2:6) of the mountains, rocks and clifts, which are as it were the strength and firmness of the earth] for the LORD hath a controversie [or, plea, cause, processe. Compare Isaiah 1:18 and chapter 5.3, 4 and 43.16 with the annotate.] with his people and he will go to law with Israel.

3. O my people, what have I done unto thee? [com. Jere. 2.5, 31.] and wherewith have I tried thee? [or made thee weary, have been toilsome and troublesome to, or molested thee? As if the LORD said; your own conscience convince you, that I never dealt ill, but on the contrary, always well with you: what reason have ye then, that ye carry yourselves so revoltingly and daringly against me?] testifie against me.

4. Surely I have brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and delivered you out of the house of bondage: [Heb, hose of bond-men, or servants, slaves, as frequently. See Exodus 20:2] and I sent away before your face, [viz. for to conduct and assist you, both in spiritual and temporall concernments. See Isa. 63. verse 11, 12] Moseh, Aaron and Miriam, [as being also a prophetess. See exod. 15.20. Numbers 12:2.]

5. My people, remember but what Balak the King the king of Maob consulted and what Bileam the son Beor, answered: [viz. how that the king sought and indevoured by all meanes possible and devisable, to bring my curse upon you, and how I changed the same into a glorious blessing. See Numbers 22:5 and 23.7 and 24.1, 14. Deuteronomy 23:4.5. jos. 24.9, 10. Revelation 2:14.] (and what happened) from Sittim, [where ye commited such heinous whordom with Baal-Peor, Num. 25.] even unto Gilgal; [where, according to my promise, notwithstanding your manifold unthankfulness, I led you on dry foot through the Jordan and brought you into the land of promise: a new, as it were, confirming my covenant there with you, by the circumcision. See Jos. 3 and chapter 5.2, c.] that ye might know the righteousness of the LORD, [i.e. those righteous acts which the LORD performed for you against your enemies, vouchsafing you those glorious against the kings of Midianites and Sihon and Og. See Numbers 31:7, 8. Deuteronomy 2:33 and 3.3. some do understand by the righteousnesse of the Lord. His great faithfulness in keeping of his promises, or his endless compassions. Compare Judges 5:11. and 1 Samuel 17:7. Daniel 9:16. with the annotate.]

6. Wherewith shall I [here the people is brought in, as making answer to the foregoing words of the prophet and demanding what they should do then, that might be pleasing to God] come towards the Lord, [i.e. go to meet him: thus the Hebr. Word is taken, Deuteronomy 23:4. Nehemiah 13:21. c or prevent. i.e. eschew his wrath and punishment] (and0 bow me before the high God? [Hebr. The God of highness] shall I come towards him burnt offering: with calves of a year old? [Hebr. Sons, or, children of a year?]

7. Should the LORD take pleasure in thousands of rams? In ten thousands of oyl-brooks? [this may be taken, as the prophets answer upon the people question going before, he by this other quere exprestely acknowledging, that the outward offering would be nothing to purpose in this case, though they brought never so many] shall I give my first born (for) my transgression? The fruit of my wombe (for) the sin of my soul? [the people instanceth, further implying, why if beasts will not do it, shall we offer up men then, even our own first born? Would that be availing to make our peace with God? According as they were wont to sacrifice their children to the idols after the manner of the heathen. See Leviticus 18:21. 2Kings 23.10. Jeremiah 7:13 and 19.5, 6. Ezekiel 16:20, 21 and 23.39 with the annotate. Thus the prophet doth most lively express, what thoughts they had in their mindes and wherein they, as hypocrites, did place true religion and conversion.]

8. He [viz. the Lord] hath made known unto thee what is good: namely, by his word; so that ye can pretend no ignorance and notwithstanding ye proceed clean contrary thereunto (as they are told of it in the sequel) and yet ye go about to perswade your selves as if God must needs be well pleased with your offerings, and that nothing else can be required at your hands] and what is it the LORD requireth of you, but to do right, [or judgement, see Genesis 18:19. 1 Kings 10:9. Jeremiah 4:2 with the annotate. These things which God required at their hand were so plainly and frequently exprest in the word of God, that doing the contrary (as they did) they could not but be extreme guilty] and to love mercy and to walk humbly [Heb. Humbly be walking, or to humble ones self (with) walking, or, walking. See of the like joining of two verbs together, Psalms 45 on verse 5] with thy God [see Gen. 5 on verse 22.]

9. the voice of the LORD calleth to the city, [viz. Jerusalem. Some apply it to Samaria from verse 16. or to both these capital cities. The sense is, that yee do clean contrary, to what ye know God requireth of you, the same is sufficiently made known and daily preached and published unto you by his prophets and by my self at this time] (for thy name [i.e. thy self, O LORD full of Glory and Majesty] seeth substance.) [i.e. thou seeth all things. See Deut. 28 on verse 58 or what there is, i.e. everything, or that passeth, how it is outwardly and inwardly conditioned. Oth. Seeth after the wisdom (which consists in true repentance) Oth. The wisdom (i.e. wise man) shall see thy name, i.e. he shall perceive that thou art he that doth it, that they are thy words and works and govern himself accordingly. See of the Hebrew word, Job 5 on verse 12] Hear the rod, [i.e. the prophesie of God’s rod, that is of his plagues and punishment. See Job 9:34. Isaiah 10:5. Lamentations 3:7 with the annotate.] and who appointed it.? Viz. but God, or besides him. See the like words of the sword of the LORD, Jeremiah 47:7 and compare Isaiah 30:32 with the annotate.]

10. Are there (not) in every wicked (mans) house yet, treasures of wickednesse? [i.e. such as are gotten by wicked and violent or other wrongfull means; yet that is after so many divine warnings and chastisements. Oth. (hath not) every one yet a wicked house? Or, a house of wicked one? And treasures of wickednesse? But it should seem the prophet hath regard here to the generality of wickednesse, that every one was practicing still all manner of wrong and wickedness, or as some, are there not in the house of the wicked (man) yet treasure of wickednesse? Compare Bel. chapter 7.2, 3, &c. yet the Hebrew word (here extant in the text) may likewise be taken for is or are. See the like 2 Sam 14.19 in the annotate. Whence this diversely ariseth] and a scant Epha [or sharp, i.e such a one as is too little. Heb an Epha of leannesse or meagerness. Of the Epha. See Exod. 16 on verse 36 and Deuteronomy 25:15, 16. Ezekk. 45.10, 11, &c] which is to be abhorred? [or, is abhorred, ought to be abhorred.]

11. Should I be clean, [i.e. can any one be clean, c.] with a wicked balance? [Hebr. Balance of wickedness] and with a bag of decietfull weight? [Hebr weighing stones deceit. They had their weights in bags. See Lev. 19 on verse 36. and Deuteronomy 25:13. in no wife, doth he mean, shall the LORD, account them clean, but he shall account of and deal with them, as followeth.]

12. Because her [viz. Jerusalem from verse 9 or thus, whose (viz. Jerusalems) rich and whose inhabitants, &c.] rich people are full of violence, and her inhabitants speak lies and their [i.e. her inhabitants] tongue is deceitfull [Heb. Deceit,] in their mouth.

13. Therefore shall I also disease thee, [i.e. you the inhabitants or people of Jerusalem; I will punish you with disease, sickness, faintnesse, c.] smitting (and) wasting you for your sins.

14. Thou shalt eat, but be satisfied, and thy pressing down, [viz. wherewith others shall bring down thine insolent and haughty course and carriage. See above chapter 2.3.] shall be in the midst of thee [or within thee, in the inmost of thee. This may be understood of great straits, which they should be reduced unto within the city, during the siege by the Babylonians. Some take it, as if God said, yee shall be the cause your selves of all your miseries and no body else; and ye shall be fain to see with your own eyes, how ye shall decay from time to time, until ye be utterly ruined] and thou shalt lay hold on, [or, remove, transport transpose from one place to the other, viz, your wives and children; your goods and substance, for to save and secure them, but in vain] but not get away, and that which thou shalt get away, [i.e. shalt have shifted to an other place, and conceive it free and safe there out of harms way] I will deliver up to the sword.

15. Thou shalt sowe but not reap; thou shalt tread [i.e. press] olives, [Hebr. The olive-tree] nut not anoint thee with oyl; and must, [i.e. tread grapes. Compare Amos 5:11. Zephaniah 1:13] but drink no wine.

16. for, the institutions of Omri are kept and all the work of the house of Achab; [Understand the idolatries which Omri and his son Achab; so highly advanced among the ten tribes. See 1 kings 16 verse 16, 25, 30, 31 with the annotate] and ye walk in their consultations. [i.e. those of Omri and Achab, by all means and practices to introduce and settle that idolatry and to frame and fashion all the land accordingly] that I may make thee a desolation, [i.e. whereby ye do even constrain me that I must, c. compare Jeremiah 18:16 and 27.10, 15 and 32.31. Lamentations 2:4. Ezekiel 8:6, c with the annotate.] and her [Jerusalems] inhabitants, whistling; [see 1 kings 9 on verse 8] thus shall ye bear the reproach of my people [i.e. the punishment of the reproach and shame, which ye have put upon my people, (especially the poor and needy ones among them) by all foresaid base and wicked practices of yours: or; the reproach of my people. i.e. that which my people hath deserved,. So, reproach of my youth i.e. that which I have deserved in my youth, or brought upon my own neck, by the sins thereof. Jeremiah 31:19.]