MICAH 1
The lawsuit (1–7). Micah convenes the court and announces Jehovah’s verdict against Israel: judgment is coming! Assyria invaded the northern kingdom in 722 b.c. and made the capital city Samaria a heap of ruins. The nation’s idolatry was but harlotry against the Lord, and unfaithfulness must be judged.
The lament (8–16). But the Assyrians would also invade Judah, which they did in 701 b.c., and would destroy nearly fifty villages. Although they tried, they could not conquer Jerusalem (
The prophet wept over the terrible things that would happen to the people. He did not say, “They are getting what they deserve!” Instead, he mourned like a man at a funeral. Does the certainty of coming judgment cause us to mourn over lost sinners and seek to win them to Christ?
Hebrew Wordplay
In the Hebrew original of Micah 1:10–16, the prophet uses some clever wordplay to get his point across. Beth Aphrah means “house of dust.” Shaphir means “beautiful.” Zaanan means “going out,” and Beth Ezel means “house of nearness.” Maroth means “bitterness,” Lachish sounds like the word for “a team of horses,” Achzib means “a lie,” and Mareshah means “an inheritance.” Put these meanings with the prophet’s statements about these towns and see what you discover.