KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Prior Book Prior Chapter Back to Commentaries Author Bio & Contents Next Chapter Next Book
The Blue Letter Bible

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown :: Commentary on Micah 3

toggle collapse
Choose a new font size and typeface

The Book of Micah

Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET

CHAPTER 3

Mic 3:1-12. THE SINS OF THE PRINCES, PROPHETS, AND PRIESTS: THE CONSEQUENT DESOLATION OF ZION.

      1. princes--magistrates or judges.
      Is it not for you?--Is it not your special function ( Jer 5:4, 5 )?
      judgment--justice. Ye sit in judgment on others; surely then ye ought to know the judgment for injustice which awaits yourselves ( Rom 2:1 ).

      2. pluck off their skin. . . flesh--rob their fellow countrymen of all their substance ( Psa 14:4 Pro 30:14 ).

      3. pot. . . flesh within. . . caldron--manifold species of cruel oppressions. Compare Eze 24:3, &c., containing, as to the coming punishment, the same figure as is here used of the sin: implying that the sin and punishment exactly correspond.

      4. Then--at the time of judgment, which Micah takes for granted, so certain is it (compare Mic 2:3 ).
      they cry. . . but he will not hear--just as those oppressed by them had formerly cried, and they would not hear. Their prayer shall be rejected, because it is the mere cry of nature for deliverance from pain, not that of repentance for deliverance from sin.
      ill in their doings--Men cannot expect to do ill and fare well.

      5. Here he attacks the false prophets, as before he had attacked the "princes."
      make my people err--knowingly mislead My people by not denouncing their sins as incurring judgment.
      bite with. . . teeth, and cry, Peace--that is, who, so long as they are supplied with food, promise peace and prosperity in their prophecies.
      he that putteth not into their mouths, they. . . prepare war against him--Whenever they are not supplied with food, they foretell war and calamity.
      prepare war--literally, "sanctify war," that is, proclaim it as a holy judgment of God because they are not fed (see on JF & B for Jer 6:4; compare Isa 13:3 Joe 1:14 ).

      6. night. . . dark--Calamities shall press on you so overwhelming as to compel you to cease pretending to divine ( Zec 13:4 ). Darkness is often the image of calamity ( Isa 8:22 Amo 5:18 8:9 ).

      7. cover their lips--The Orientals prided themselves on the moustache and beard ("upper lip," Margin). To cover it, therefore, was a token of shame and sorrow ( Lev 13:45 Eze 24:17, 22 ). "They shall be so ashamed of themselves as not to dare to open their mouths or boast of the name of prophet" [CALVIN].
      there is no answer of God--They shall no more profess to have responses from God, being struck dumb with calamities ( Mic 3:6 ).

      8. I--in contrast to the false prophets ( Mic 3:5, 7 ).
      full of power--that which "the Spirit of Jehovah" imparts for the discharge of the prophetical function ( Luk 1:17 24:49 Act 1:8 ).
      judgment--a sense of justice [MAURER]; as opposed to the false prophets' speaking to please men, not from a regard to truth. Or, "judgment" to discern between graver and lighter offenses, and to denounce punishments accordingly [GROTIUS].
      might--moral intrepidity in speaking the truth at all costs ( 2Ti 1:7 ).
      to declare unto Jacob his. . . sin-- ( Isa 58:1 ). Not to flatter the sinner as the false prophets do with promises of peace.

      9. Hear--resumed from Mic 3:1. Here begins the leading subject of the prophecy: a demonstration of his assertion that he is "full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah" ( Mic 3:8 ).

      10. They--change of person from "ye" ( Mic 3:9 ); the third person puts them to a greater distance as estranged from Him. It is, literally, "Whosoever builds," singular.
      build up Zion with blood--build on it stately mansions with wealth obtained by the condemnation and murder of the innocent ( Jer 22:13 Eze 22:27 Hab 2:12 ).

      11. heads thereof--the princes of Jerusalem.
      judge for reward--take bribes as judges ( Mic 7:3 ).
      priests teach for hire--It was their duty to teach the law and to decide controversies gratuitously ( Lev 10:11 Deu 17:11 Mal 2:7; compare Jer 6:13 Jud 1:11 ).
      prophets. . . divine--that is, false prophets.
      Is not the Lord among us?--namely in the temple ( Isa 48:2 Jer 7:4, 8-11 ).

      12. Jer 26:18 quotes this verse. The Talmud and MAIMONIDES record that at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus, Terentius Rufus, who was left in command of the army, with a ploughshare tore up the foundations of the temple.
      mountain of the house--the height on which the temple stands.
      as the high places of the forest--shall become as heights in a forest overrun with wild shrubs and brushwood.

Introduction to Jonah ← Prior Book
Introduction to Nahum Next Book →
Commentary on Micah 2 ← Prior Chapter
Commentary on Micah 4 Next Chapter →
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.