Micah 7:1-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Micah 7:1-6

This is such a description of bad times as, some think, could scarcely agree to the times of Hezekiah, when this prophet prophesied; and therefore they rather take it as a prediction of what should be in the reign of Manasseh. But we may rather suppose it to be in the reign of Ahaz (and in that reign he prophesied, Mic. 1:1) or in the beginning of Hezekiah's time, before the reformation he was instrumental in; nay, in the best of his days, and when he had done his best to purge out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 7:1

Woe is me !.... Alas for me unhappy man that I am, to live in such an age, and among such a people, as I do! this the prophet says in his own name, or in the name of the church and people of God in his time; so Isaiah, who was contemporary with him, Isaiah 6:5 ; see also Psalm 120:5 ; for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage ; when there are only an apple or a pear or two, or such sort of fruit, and such a quantity of it left on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 7:2

The good man is perished out of the earth ,.... Here the prophet expresses in plain words what he had before delivered in figurative terms. The "good" or "godly" man, as in Psalm 12:1 ; is one that has received the grace of God, and blessings of grace from him, and lives a godly life and conversation; who has the good work of grace begun in him and is found in the performance of good works, and does his duty both to God and man from godly principles; and particularly is kind and merciful... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 7:3

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly ,.... Or "well" F20 להיטיב "bene", Drusius. , strenuously, diligently, to the utmost of their power, labouring at it with all their might and main; as wicked men generally are more industrious, and exert themselves more to do evil than good men do to do good; and even weary themselves to commit iniquity: or, "instead of doing good", as Marinus in Aben Ezra, take a great deal of pains to do evil; work with both hands at it, instead of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 7:4

The best of them is as a brier ,.... Good for nothing but for burning, very hurtful and mischievous, pricking and scratching those that have to do with them: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge ; which, if a man lays hold on to get over, or attempts to pass through, his hands will be pricked, his face scratched, and his clothes tore off his back; so the best of these princes, judges, and great inch, who put on a show of goodness, and pretended to do justice, yet fetched... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 7:5

Trust ye not in a friend ,.... This is not said to lessen the value of friendship; or to discourage the cultivation of it with agreeable persons; or to dissuade from a confidence in a real friend; or in the least to weaken it, and damp the pleasure of true friendship, which is one of the great blessings of life; but to set forth the sad degeneracy of the then present age, that men, who pretended to be friends, were so universally false and faithless, that there was no dependence to be had on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 7:6

For the son dishonoureth the father ,.... Speaks contemptibly of him; behaves rudely towards him; shows him no respect and reverence; exposes his failings, and makes him the object of his banter and ridicule; who ought to have honoured, reverenced, and obeyed him, being the instrument of his being, by whom he was brought up, fed, clothed, and provided for; base ingratitude! the daughter riseth up against her mother ; by whom she has been used in the most tender and affectionate manner;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 7:1

Wo is me! - This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. And here the prophet points out the small number of the upright to be found in the land. He himself seemed to be the only person who was on God's side; and he considers himself as a solitary grape, which had escaped the general gathering. The word קץ kayits , which is sometimes used for summer, and summer fruits in general, is here translated late figs; and may here, says Bishop Newcome, be opposed to the early ripe fig of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 7:2

The good man is perished out of the earth - A similar sentiment may be found, Psalm 12:1 ; Isaiah 57:1 . As the early fig of excellent flavor cannot be found in the advanced season of summer, or a choice cluster of grapes after vintage, so neither can the good and upright man be discovered by searching in Israel. This comparison, says Bp. Newcome, is beautifully implied. They hunt every man his brother with a net - This appears to be an allusion to the ancient mode of duel between... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 7:3

That they may do evil with both hands - That is, earnestly, greedily, to the uttermost of their power. The Vulgate translates: Malum manuum suarum dicunt bonum ; "The evil of their hands they call good." The prince asketh - A bribe, to forward claims in his court. The judge asketh for a reward - That he may decide the cause in favor of him who gives most money, whether the cause be good or evil. This was notoriously the case in our own country before the giving of Magna Charta; and... read more

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