1.
Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
2.
The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
good = gracious.
men = mankind. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
3.
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
asketh = asketh [for a reward]. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 16:19 ). App-92 . Compare Micah 3:11 .Hosea 4:18 .
the judge asketh = the judge [judgeth], &c. Figure of speech complex Ellipsis. Compare Micah 3:11 .Isaiah 1:23 .
reward = bribe.
his mischievous desire = the mischief of his soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Compare Micah 3:9-11 .
they: i.e. the prince and the judge.
wrap it up = weave it together. Occurs only here.
it. Hebrew suffix is feminine, so we must supply a feminine noun: e.g. zimmah = wicked purpose, or mischievous device. Isaiah 32:7 .
4.
The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
the day of thy watchmen. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 :. the day [of punishment] foretold by thy watchmen.
5.
Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
Trust ye not = Put ye no faith in. Hebrew. 'aman . See App-69 .
put ye not confidence in. Hebrew. batah . See App-69 . So the Western Massorites. The Eastern, with three early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "neither put", &c. Quoted in Matthew 10:35 , Matthew 10:36 ; Luke 12:53 .
doors = entrances, or openings.
6.
For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
dishonoureth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:12 .Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 5:16 ). App-92 .
men. Hebrew, plural of 'enosh. App-14 .Micah 7:6; Micah 7:6 does not end "abruptly", nor does there "yawn a century". Micah 7:7 gives the true remedy in contrast with the vain remedies of verses: Micah 7:5 , Micah 7:6 .
7.
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . See the Structure.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
8.
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
when I fall: i.e. into calamity; not into sin. Literally I have fallen, I have arisen; though I should sit in darkness, Jehovah, &c.
9.
I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
indignation. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the punishment which was the result of it.
sinned. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .
behold = look unto.
His righteousness: i.e. His righteous vindication.
10.
Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
Then she, &c. So shall she [who had been] mine enemy: i.e. Assyria (in Micah 7:12 ).
11.
In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.
decree = prescribed limit or boundary. So the Oxford Gesenius, p. 349. Compare Job 26:10 ; Job 38:10 . Proverbs 8:29 . Isaiah 24:5 .Jeremiah 5:22 . Hebrew. chok.
be far removed = become distant: i.e. extended. See the Oxford Gesenius, p. 935. Hebrew. rachak, as in Isaiah 26:15 . Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), yir'chok.
12.
In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
he = one. But a special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), reads "they": i.e. thine exiles. come = come home; as in 1 Samuel 11:5 .Psalms 45:15 .Proverbs 2:10 , or, into blessing; as in Psalms 69:27 . Nothing has "fallen out" of the text!
Assyria. See the "enemy", Micah 7:10 .
the fortified cities = the cities of Matzor (i.e. the fortress) put for Egypt. Compare Isaiah 19:6 ; Isa 19:37 .
the river. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 , for the Euphrates. Also the Figure of speech Antonomasia .
13.
Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Notwithstanding: i.e. But first, or before this.
the land, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:33 , the same word).
14.
Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
Feed, &c. Note here, the prayer of Micah. Supply the Ellip sis: "[Then Micah prayed, and said: O Jehovah] Feed Thy People", &c.
Feed = shepherd Thou (masc).
rod. Hebrew. shebet, as in Micah 5:1 ; not as in Micah 6:9 . Here it is the token of rule.
which dwell, &c. = dwell thou (feminine): i.e. the "flock". Hebrew. tz'on (com. gender).
solitarily = alone. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 23:9 . Deuteronomy 33:28 ). App-92 .
as in the days of old = as in the age-past times: so shall be the yet future day of Israel's consolation; not Micah's day, when Israel was in possession of Bashan, &c. No ground, therefore, for dating this prayer in "the latest period of Israel's history, the days of Haggai and Zechariah", as alleged.
15.
According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.
According, &c. Verses 15-17 are Jehovah's answer as to the subjugation of Israel's enemies. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Micah 6:4 . App-92 . Not the continuation of Micah's prayer.
will I shew unto him. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 34:10 ).
16.
The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
17.
They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
lick the dust. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the utmost humiliation, as in Genesis 3:14 . Compare Psalms 72:9 . Isaiah 49:23 .
move = come quaking.
holes = fastnesses. Hebrew. misgereth.
worms. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:24 , the same word). Occurs only in these two places.
18.
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
pardoneth iniquity. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 34:7 ).
iniquity = perverseness. Hebrew. 'avah. .
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
19.
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
will turn again. Compare Hosea 14:8 .
20.
Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Thou wilt perform, &c. Quoted in Luke 1:72 , Luke 1:73 .
sworn unto our fathers. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 50:24 . &c.) App-92 . See Psalms 105:9 , Psalms 105:10 , Psalms 105:42 ,