Micah 6:1-5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 6:5

Remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted - He sent for Balaam to curse your fathers; but by my influence he was obliged to bless them. See Numbers 22 (note) and Numbers 23 (note), and the notes there, where this subject is largely considered. From Shittim unto Gilgal - From the encampment at Shittim, Numbers 25:1 , on the way to that of Gilgal, Joshua 4:19 . Balaam gave different answers in the interval between these places. We may suppose that the encampments of Israel... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 6:1

Verse 1 Here the Prophet avowedly assumes that the people were sufficiently proved guilty; and yet they resisted through a hardiness the most obdurate, and rejected all admonitions without shame, and without any discretion. He is therefore commanded to direct his discourse to the mountains and to the hills; for his labor had now for a long time been useless as to men. The meaning then is that when the Prophet had spent much labor on the people and derived no fruit, he is at length bidden to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 6:2

Verse 2 Hear, ye mountains, the controversy of Jehovah, (161) how? and ye strong foundations of the earth, he says. He speaks here no more of hills, but summons the whole world; as though he said, “There is not one of the elements which is not to bear witness respecting the obstinacy of this people; for the voice of God will penetrate to the farthest roots of the earth, it will reach the lowest depths: these men will at the same time continue deaf.” And he says not, the Lord threatens you, or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 6:3

Verse 3 Here God, in the first place, offers to give a reason, if he was accused of any thing. It seems indeed unbecoming the character of God, that he should be thus ready as one guilty to clear himself: but this is said by way of concession; for the Prophet could not otherwise express, that nothing that deserved blame could be found in God. It is a personification, by which a character; not his own, is ascribed to God. It ought not therefore to appear inconsistent, that the Lord stands forth... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 6:4

Verse 4 God, having testified that he had in nothing been troublesome to the people, now states with how great and with how many benefits he had bound them to himself. But we may prefer taking the words as explanatory and somewhat ironical that he records his benefits in the place of trouble or vexation; though, in my judgment, it is better to read the two clauses apart. I have brought thee, he says, from the land of Egypt, from that miserable bondage; and then he says, I have redeemed thee... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 6:5

Verse 5 God briefly records here what happened in the desert, — that the people had need of some extraordinary help in addition to the many benefits which he had conferred on them. For though the people lived safely in the desert as to the Egyptians, though they were fed by manna and water from the rock flowed for them, though the cloud by day protected them from the heat of the sun, and the pillar of fire shone on them during the night, yet the stream of God’s mercy seemed to have been stopped... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 6:1

Hear ye now. The whole nation is addressed and bidden to give heed to God's pleading. Arise, contend thou. These are God's words to Micah, bidding him put himself in his people's place, and plead as advocate before the great inanimate tribunal. Before the mountains; i.e. in the presence of the everlasting hills, which have as it were witnessed God's gracious dealings with his people from old time and Israel's long ingratitude (comp. Micah 1:2 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 6:1-5

1. God ' s controversy with his people for their ingratitude. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 6:1-5

The memories of the way. Truly affecting are those portions of Scripture in which God is represented as expostulating and pleading with erring men ( Hosea 6:4 ; Hosea 11:8 ; Isaiah 1:16-20 ; Jeremiah 2:1-14 ). The opening verses of this chapter are of the same character. God testifies, and in so doing calls upon the mountains and hills and strong foundations of the earth which have stood from age to age to bear him witness and confirm his testimony ( Micah 6:2 ). "O my people,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 6:1-5

A protest and a retrospect. The serious state of the cue between Jehovah and his people is shown by this appeal to the hills and mountains. As though among all the nations none could be found impartial enough to be umpires, or even witnesses, inanimate nature must supply its testimony. (Illustrate from Job 12:7 , Job 12:8 ; Isaiah 1:2 , Isaiah 1:3 ; Luke 19:40 ; 2 Peter 2:16 .) The mountains hays stability; not so the favoured nation. They have survived many generations of... read more

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