Micah 6:1-11

1 Listen now to what the LORD says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 Hear, you mountains, the LORD's controversy, And you enduring foundations of the eretz; For the LORD has a controversy with his people, And he will contend with Yisra'el.

3 My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!

4 For I brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim, And redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moshe, Aharon, and Miryam.

5 My people, remember now what Balak king of Mo'av devised, And what Bil`am the son of Be'or answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, That you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."

6 How shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

9 The LORD's voice calls to the city, And wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, And he who appointed it.

10 Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, And a short efah that is accursed?

11 Shall I be pure with dishonest scales, And with a bag of deceitful weights?

Micah 6:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 6

This chapter contains reproofs of the people of Israel for their sins, threatening them with punishment for them. The prophet is bid to tell them of the controversy the Lord had with them, which he did, Mic 6:1,2; and the Lord calls upon them to declare if they had any thing to object to his attitude towards them, Mic 6:3; and then puts them in mind of the favours they had received from him, in bringing them out of Egypt, and giving them such useful persons to go before them, lead and instruct them, as he had, Mic 6:4; and also reminds them of what passed between Balak, king of Moab, and Balaam the soothsayer; the questions of the one, and the answer of the other; whereby the designs of the former against them were frustrated, Mic 6:5-8; but since the voice of the Lord by his prophet was disregarded by them, they are called upon to hearken to the voice of his rod, Mic 6:9; which should be laid upon them for their fraudulent dealings, injustice, oppression, lies, and deceit, Mic 6:10-12; and therefore are threatened with sickness and desolation, and a deprivation of all good things, the fruit of their labours, Mic 6:13-15; and that because the statutes of Omri, the works of Ahab, and their counsels, were observed by them, Mic 6:16.