Micah 6

Micah 6:1-16 . APPEAL BEFORE ALL CREATION TO THE ISRAELITES TO TESTIFY, IF THEY CAN, IF JEHOVAH EVER DID AUGHT BUT ACTS OF KINDNESS TO THEM FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD: GOD REQUIRES OF THEM NOT SO MUCH SACRIFICES, AS REAL PIETY AND JUSTICE: THEIR IMPIETIES AND COMING PUNISHMENT.

1. contend thou--Israel is called by Jehovah to pie ad with Him in controversy. Micah 5:11-13 suggested the transition from those happy times described in the fourth and fifth chapters, to the prophet's own degenerate times and people.
before the mountains--in their presence; personified as if witnesses (compare Micah 1:2 , Deuteronomy 32:1 , Isaiah 1:2 ). Not as the Margin, "with"; as God's controversy is with Israel, not with them.

2. Lord's controversy--How great is Jehovah's condescension, who, though the supreme Lord of all, yet wishes to prove to worms of the earth the equity of His dealings ( Isaiah 5:3 , 43:26 ).

3. my people--the greatest aggravation of their sin, that God always treated them, and still treats them, as His people.
what have I done unto thee?--save kindness, that thou revoltest from Me ( Jeremiah 2:5 Jeremiah 2:31 ).
wherein have I wearied thee?--What commandments have I enjoined that should have wearied thee as irksome ( 1 John 5:3 )?

4. For--On the contrary, so far from doing anything harsh, I did thee every kindness from the earliest years of thy nationality.
Miriam--mentioned, as being the prophetess who led the female chorus who sang the song of Moses ( Exodus 15:20 ). God sent Moses to give the best laws; Aaron to pray for the people; Miriam as an example to the women of Israel.

5. what Balak . . . consulted--how Balak plotted to destroy thee by getting Balaam to curse thee ( Numbers 22:5 ).
what Balaam . . . answered--how the avaricious prophet was constrained against his own will, to bless Israel whom he had desired to curse for the sake of Balak's reward ( Numbers 24:9-11 ) [MAURER]. GROTIUS explains it, "how Balaam answered, that the only way to injure thee was by tempting thee to idolatry and whoredom" ( Numbers 31:16 ). The mention of "Shittim" agrees with this: as it was the scene of Israel's sin ( Numbers 25:1-5 2 Peter 2:15 Revelation 2:14 ).
from Shittim unto Gilgal--not that Balaam accompanied Israel from Shittim to Gilgal: for he was slain in Midian ( Numbers 31:8 ). But the clause, "from Shittim," alone applies to Balaam. "Remember" God's kindnesses "from Shittim," the scene of Balaam's wicked counsel taking effect in Israel's sin, whereby Israel merited utter destruction but for God's sparing mercy, "to Gilgal," the place of Israel's first encampment in the promised land between Jericho and Jordan, where God renewed the covenant with Israel by circumcision ( Joshua 5:2-11 ).
know the righteousness--Recognize that, so far from God having treated thee harshly ( Micah 6:3 ), His dealings have been kindness itself (so "righteous acts" for gracious, Judges 5:11 , Psalms 24:5 , 112:9 ).

6. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?--The people, convicted by the previous appeal of Jehovah to them, ask as if they knew not (compare Micah 6:8 ) what Jehovah requires of them to appease Him, adding that they are ready to offer an immense heap of sacrifices, and those the most costly, even to the fruit of their own body.
burnt offerings--( Leviticus 1:1-17 ).
calves of a year old--which used to be offered for a priest ( Leviticus 9:2 Leviticus 9:3 ).