graven images. Hebrew. pesilim. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:4 ). App-92 . hires. The technical Pentateuchal word for a harlot's hire, to which idolatry is compared. Compare Hosea 8:9 , Hosea 8:10 ; Hosea 9:1 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:18 ). App-92 . they shall return, &c.: i.e. the wealth gained by idolatry shall be taken away by the Assyrian idolaters. read more
"And all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her hires shall be burned with fire, and all her idols will I lay desolate; for the hire of a harlot hath she gathered them, and unto the hire of a harlot shall they return."This verse pinpointed the great sin of Samaria. Like the old Canaanite pagans before them in their land, they had turned heart and soul unto the worship of their vile bull-gods, the baalim, reeking with its corruption and largely supported by its system of sacred... read more
Micah 1:7. And all the hires thereof— The love-presents, &c. The meaning is, "As your temples have been enriched with the presents offered by these shameless idol worshippers, to their riches shall return into the hands of the Assyrians, who shall make the like use of them in the temples of their gods." read more
7. all the hires—the wealth which Israel boasted of receiving from her idols as the "rewards" or "hire" for worshipping them (Hosea 2:5; Hosea 2:12). idols . . . will I . . . desolate—that is, give them up to the foe to strip off the silver and gold with which they are overlaid. she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot—Israel gathered (made for herself) her idols from the gold and silver received from false gods, as she thought, the "hire" of her... read more
A. The judgment coming on Israel 1:2-7This opening pericope sets the tone and forms the backdrop for the rest of the book. All people were to hear God’s indictment against His people (Micah 1:2). Punishment was coming (Micah 1:3-4) that would be both reasonable (Micah 1:5) and certain (Micah 1:6-7). read more
II. THE FIRST ORACLE: ISRAEL’S IMPENDING JUDGMENT AND FUTURE RESTORATION 1:2-2:13This is the first of three messages that compose the Book of Micah (cf. chs. 3-5; 6-7). Each of these messages gives evidence of containing other messages that Micah evidently preached and then compiled into the canonical form in which we have them. Each of the three main messages begins with the same imperative (Heb. shm’), translated "Hear" (cf. Deuteronomy 6:4). In each one, promises of restoration follow... read more
God would smash Samaria’s idols proving them incapable of defending themselves much less helping others. He would burn the luxurious ornaments that the people offered as temple gifts in the conflagration that would accompany Samaria’s overthrow. All the pagan images that the people had made would perish. The Lord viewed these physical treasures as the earnings of harlot Israel who had been unfaithful to Him (cf. Hosea). The Israelites had committed adultery with temple prostitutes, but the... read more
Judgment on Samaria and JudahSargon destroyed Samaria, the capital of North Israel, 722 or 721. Micah, about 720 b.c., declaring (Micah 1:6) that Samaria’s fall has been due to its sin, announces a like fate for Jerusalem, guilty of a like sin (Micah 1:9). To the prophet this ruin of the people is not like that of the other nations Assyria has destroyed. Since God is manifesting Himself in it, Micah summons the nations to witness the event (Micah 1:2-4). The scourge will fall most heavily on... read more
(7) And all the hires thereof.—The falling away of Israel from her loyalty to God is compared generally by the prophets to a wife deserting her husband; and these “hires” are the offerings made to the shrines of the idols to which the Israelites forsaking Jehovah had transferred their worship. All these treasures shall be destroyed; the Assyrians shall carry them off for the adornment of their temples. read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Micah 1:1-16
1:1-3:12 SAMARIA AND JERUSALEM DOOMEDA picture of coming destruction (1:1-16)The prophet Micah was from a country village in the Judean foothills between the central mountain range and the coastal plain. He was probably a farmer, and he directed his attacks at the upper class city dwellers who drove the farmers into poverty. They lived in luxury by exploiting the poor. As a Judean he was concerned mainly with conditions in his country’s capital, Jerusalem, but he also attacked the northern... read more