1.
Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
2.
Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
Hear ye, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:1 ). App-92 .
3.
O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
testify = answer.
4.
For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
I brought thee up, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:51 ; Exodus 14:30 ; Exodus 20:2 .Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 4:20 ). App-92 .
and redeemed thee. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 13:13-16 ).
house of servants = house of bondage. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 13:3 , Exodus 13:14 ; Exodus 20:2 .Deuteronomy 5:6 ; Deuteronomy 6:12 ; Deuteronomy 7:8 ).
I sent before . . . Miriam. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:20 , Exodus 15:21 .Numbers 12:4 , Numbers 12:10 , Numbers 12:15 ; Numbers 20:1 ; Numbers 26:59 ). Miriam not mentioned after Deuteronomy 24:9 , except 1 Chronicles 6:3 .
5.
O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
remember now, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 22:5 ; Numbers 23:7 ; Numbers 24:10 , Numbers 24:11 ; Numbers 25:1 ; Numbers 31:16 . Deuteronomy 23:4 , Deuteronomy 23:5 ). App-92 .
Balak. Not mentioned since Judges 11:25 .
Balaam. Not mentioned since Joshua 24:9 , Joshua 24:10 , except in Nehemiah 13:2 . Compare 2 Peter 2:15 , and Jude 1:11 .Revelation 2:14 .
righteousness = righteous acts.
6.
Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
the high God = God on high.
high. Hebrew. marom ; not Elyon.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
burnt offerings. See App-43 .
of a year old. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 9:3 ). App-92 .
7.
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Will . . . ? shall I. . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
transgression = rebellion, insubordination. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .
the fruit of my body = my firstborn.
sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
8.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
walk humbly. The Hebrew expression ( hatzene' leketh) occurs only here. This verse embodies the principles governing Jehovah's administration under the Law, but not under the Gospel. Now, He requires faith in the Substitute Whom He has provided for the sinner; and His righteousness must be imputed in grace. See App-63 . IX: and 72. Compare also Romans 3:23 , Romans 3:24 .Ephesians 2:3-9 . Titus 3:5-8 , &c.
9.
The LORD's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
city. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject), App-6 , for the inhabitants.
the man of wisdom shall see Thy name = [such as would have] true stability (or safety) will regard Thy name. The Mugah Codex, quoted in the Massorah ( App-30 ), reads: "such as revere".
wisdom. Hebrew. tushiyah. See note on Proverbs 2:7 .
Thy. The Septuagint reads: "and He (the LORD) will save such as revere His name".
rod. Hebrew. matteh = staff (for support or chastisement). Not the same word as in Micah 5:1 ; Micah 7:14 . Either put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the chastisement inflicted, or supply the Ellipsis thus: "hear ye the rod, and [Him] Who hath appointed [the chastisement]. "The suffix of the verb, "it", is feminine; while "rod" is masculine. Therefore we may supply "chastisement "(Hebrew. tokahath), which is feminine.
10.
Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
wickedness . . . wicked = lawlessness . . . lawless. Hebrew. rasha' .
the scant measure, &c. Note the word "abominable" below. In this form, only in Proverbs 22:14 .
measure = ephah. See App-51 .
abominable. Reference to Pentateuch. Out of six words thus rendered, Hebrew. za'am is chosen in Numbers 28:7 , Numbers 28:8 , Numbers 28:8 , "defied" = abhorred. It occurs only eight times elsewhere. App-92 .
11.
Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
them. Supply [her]: i.e. the wicked city.
the wicked balances. Hebrew balances of wickedness. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 25:13-16 ). App-92 .
12.
For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13.
Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
will I make thee sick. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:16 ).
14.
Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
Thou shalt eat, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:26 ).
thy casting down = thy dissatisfaction or emptiness. Hebrew. yeshach. Occurs only here.
shall be in the midst of thee = [shall remain] in thee.
take hold. Some codices, with one early printed edition (Rabbinic, marg), read "take possession".
15.
Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
Thou shalt sow, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:38-40 ).
sweet wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .
16.
For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
the statutes. Hebrew. hukkoth = in a religious sense ( Lev 20:8 . 2 Kings 17:34 .Jeremiah 10:3; Jeremiah 10:3 ).
of Omri. Compare 1 Kings 16:31 , 1 Kings 16:32 , as to the worship of Baal.
kept = strictly kept. Compare Hosea 5:4 .
the house of Ahab. Compare 1 Kings 16:30 . &c.; Mic 21:25 , Mic 21:26 . See App-65 .
that I should make, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:37 ).