Micah 6:7

7 Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand male sheep? Will he be pleased with ten thousand rivers of oil? Should I give my first child for the evil I have done? Should I give my very own child for my sin?"

Micah 6:7 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 6:7

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams
If single burnt offerings of bullocks and heifers will not do, will rams, and thousands of them, be acceptable to him? if they will, they are at his service, even as many as he pleases; such creatures, as well as oxen, were offered by Balak, ( Numbers 23:1 Numbers 23:2 Numbers 23:4 Numbers 23:29 Numbers 23:30 ) ; [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
for meat offerings, as Jarchi, in which oil was used: this is a hyperbolical expression, as Kimchi rightly observes; suggesting that he was willing to be at any expenses, even the most extravagant, if he could but gain his point, and get the God of Israel on his side. Some render it, "ten thousands of fat valleys" F4; abounding with corn, and wine, and oil; the produce of which, had he so many, he could freely part with, could he but obtain his end; see ( Job 20:17 ) ; shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body
[for] the sin of my soul?
his Son, his firstborn, his own flesh and blood, to make atonement for his sins and transgressions; this betrays the person speaking. The people of Israel, though they were sometimes guilty of this horrid, unnatural, and abominable sin, in the height of their degeneracy and apostasy, as to sacrifice their children to Moloch; yet when convinced of their sins, and humbling themselves before God for them, even though but in a hypocritical way, could never be so weak and foolish, so impious and audacious, as to propose that to God, which they knew was so contrary to his will, and so abominable in his sight, ( Leviticus 18:21 ) ; but this comes well enough from a Heathen prince, with whom it was the, height of his devotion and religion, and the greatest sacrifice he thought he could offer up to God; for there is a climax, a gradation in the words from lesser things to greater; and this is the greatest of all, and what was done among the Heathens, ( 2 Kings 17:31 ) ; and was afterwards done by a king of Moab, ( 2 Kings 3:26 2 Kings 3:27 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Nmv ylxn twbbrb) "in decem millibus vallium pinguium", Munster.

Micah 6:7 In-Context

5 My people, remember the evil plans of Balak king of Moab and what Balaam son of Beor told Balak. so that you will know the Lord does what is right!"
6 You say, "What can I bring with me when I come before the Lord, when I bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand male sheep? Will he be pleased with ten thousand rivers of oil? Should I give my first child for the evil I have done? Should I give my very own child for my sin?"
8 The Lord has told you, human, what is good; he has told you what he wants from you: to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God.
9 The voice of the Lord calls to the city, and the wise person honors him. So pay attention to the rod of punishment; pay attention to the One who threatens to punish.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.