National stability. I. THE ENDEAVOUR TO SECURE NATIONAL STABILITY IS LAUDABLE AND TO BE COMMENDED . Princes, nobles, leaders of the people of all classes, ought to seek to build up Zion and Jerusalem; and earnest, enthusiastic effort directed to this end is honourable and worthy of all praise. II. THIS RESULT CAN ALONE BE GAINED BY RIGHTEOUS MEANS . National strength and stability has its very foundations in truth, rectitude, justice, and... read more
They build up - (literally, building, sing.) Zion with blood This may be taken literally on both sides, that, the rich built their palaces, “with wealth gotten by bloodshed , by rapine of the poor, by slaughter of the saints,” as Ezekiel says, ‘her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves, to shed blood, to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain’ Ezekiel 22:27. Or by blood he may mean that they indirectly took away life, in that, through wrong judgments, extortion, usury, fraud, oppression,... read more
Micah 3:9-11. Hear this, ye heads of the house of Jacob, &c. This address to the great men, shows the prophet’s courage and impartiality. That abhor judgment, &c. Who do not love to pass a right judgment in matters that come before you, because you make no advantage to yourselves by so doing; but covet to have large bribes given you, to pervert equity, and make wrong decisions. They build up Zion with blood, &c. Who build houses with the riches gotten by violence, and by the... read more
Corrupt leaders (3:1-12)The nation’s civil leaders are the first to be condemned, because they have reversed the standards of justice. Greedy officials cooperate with corrupt judges to exploit the people for their own benefit. Because of the cruel oppression that they have practised, God will not save them from the fury of the enemy, no matter how much they cry for his help (3:1-4).Religious leaders are also condemned. Prophets preach words of comfort and approval to those who give them food... read more
iniquity = deceit. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . Not the same word as in Micah 2:1 . read more
"They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity."The charge here is that the whole capital of the southern Israel was founded upon injustice, violence, trickery, fraud and blood. "Cases like Ahab's judicial murder of Naboth (1 Kings 21) may have become a pattern for building up estates."[16] In the light of the character of Israel's kings, it must be accounted as certain that that is so; as a matter of fact, that is exactly what Micah was saying here."Their whole society was built... read more
10. They—change of person from "ye" (Micah 3:9); the third person puts them to a greater distance as estranged from Him. It is, literally, "Whosoever builds," singular. build up Zion with blood—build on it stately mansions with wealth obtained by the condemnation and murder of the innocent (Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 22:27; Habakkuk 2:12). read more
3. The indictment of Israel’s leaders 3:9-12 read more
He further described his audience of leaders as those who built Jerusalem by sacrificing the lives of innocent people. Micah used "Zion" and "Jerusalem" as synonyms to describe the same place (cf. Micah 3:12; Micah 4:2; Micah 4:8; Psalms 149:2; Isaiah 4:3; Isaiah 40:9; Amos 6:1). However sometimes, as here, Zion carries theological overtones meaning not just the city but what the city represented, namely, the kingdom of God on earth.The judges gave favorable verdicts to those who bribed them... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 3:10
They build up Zion with blood. Blood is, as it were, the cement that binds the building together. They raise palaces with money gained by extortion, rapine, and judicial murders like that of Naboth ( 1 Kings 21:1-29 .; comp. Jeremiah 22:13 , etc.; Ezekiel 22:27 ; Habakkuk 2:12 ). Cheyne thinks this to be a too dark view of the state of public morals, and would therefore consider "blood" to be used for violent conduct leading to ruin of others, comparing Isaiah 1:15 ; Isaiah 59:3 ... read more