Micah 7:13

13 Then the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the fruit of their deeds.

Micah 7:13 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 7:13

Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate
Not the land of Chaldea, as some; or the land of the nations, as Jarchi and Kimchi; but the land of Israel. That part of it, which was possessed by the ten tribes, was made desolate by Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and that which was inhabited by the two tribes, by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and this desolation was to be, "notwithstanding" the above prophecies, and prior to the fulfilment of them. So some render the words, as in the margin of our Bibles "after the land hath been desolate" ^F7; and it is observed, partly to prevent wicked men promising themselves impunity from the above prophecies; and partly to prevent despair in good men, when such a desolation should be made. And then again it was made desolate by the Romans, previous to the spread and establishment of the church of Christ, by the success of the Gospel in the Gentile world, in the first times of it; and by the conversion of the Jews, and bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles, in, he last times of it; because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings:
because of the sins of the inhabitants of the land of Israel: the desolation made by the kings of Assyria and Babylon was for the idolatry of Israel and Judah, and other sins; and the desolation made by the Romans for the Jews rejection of the Messiah.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (hmmvl Urah htyhw) "postquam fuerit haec terra desolationi", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Tarnovius, Drusius.

Micah 7:13 In-Context

11 The day for rebuilding your walls will come— the day for extending your boundary.

12 On that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates, from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.

13 Then the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the fruit of their deeds.

14 Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock of Your inheritance. They live alone in a woodland, surrounded by pastures. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

15 As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show My wonders.