Micah 1 Study Notes

1:10-15 David lamented, Don’t announce it in Gath when Saul and Jonathan died in battle; for otherwise he knew the Philistines would gloat (2Sm 1:20). In the same spirit, Micah did not want the Assyrians to gloat in their success. Beth-leaphrah (lit “house of dust”) would roll in the dust as a sign of humiliating defeat (Gn 3:14; Ps 44:25). Those living in Shaphir (lit “pleasant”) would have the unpleasant experience of being stripped naked and led into exile. Neighboring Zaanan (wordplay with Hb yatsa’, “to go out”) would not go out to help, and Beth-ezel (lit “house of taking away”) would remove its support.

Maroth (sounds like Hb mara’; meaning “bitter”) wanted something sweet but would instead face the Lord’s disaster. This trouble would approach the gate of Jerusalem but would not enter it. Lachish, a major fortification and military garrison (2Ch 11:9), would need riding steeds (Hb rekesh; Est 8:10; cp. Is 2:7; Mc 5:10) to power chariots in a fast getaway. Reliance on military might was the beginning of sin leading to acts of rebellion among God’s people (Is 30:15-17). Like a father giving away his betrothed daughter, Judah would have to give away Moresheth-gath (sounds like Hb meorashah, “betrothed”) to Assyria. Though it promised help, Achzib (lit “deception”) would not come through. Mareshah (sounds like Hb hayyoresh, “the conqueror”) would be conquered. Israel’s leaders would flee to Adullam to hide like David had done (1Sm 22:1; 2Sm 23:13).

1:16 On baldness as a sign of grief and mourning see Jb 1:20; Jr 16:6; Ezk 27:31.