Micah 3:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Micah 3:1-7

Princes and prophets, when they faithfully discharge the duty of their office, are to be highly honoured above other men; but when they betray their trust, and act contrary to it, they should hear of their faults as well as others, and shall be made to know that there is a God above them, to whom they are accountable; at his bar the prophet here, in his name, arraigns them. I. Let the princes hear their charge and their doom. The heads of Jacob, and the princes of the house of Israel, are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 3:1

And I said, hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel ,.... This seems to be a new sermon or discourse, delivered at another time and to another people than the preceding for, as that chiefly concerns the ten tribes, this the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and was spoken to them in the times of Hezekiah, as appears from Jeremiah 26:18 ; for though Jacob and Israel generally design the ten tribes, yet here the other two, as is manifest from the above cited... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 3:1

Hear - O heads of Jacob - The metaphor of the flock is still carried on. The chiefs of Jacob, and the princes of Israel, instead of taking care of the flocks, defending them, and finding them pasture, oppressed them in various ways. They are like wolves, who tear the skin of the sheep, and the flesh off their bones. This applies to all unjust and oppressive rulers. Suetonius tells us, in his Life of Tiberius, that when the governors of provinces wrote to the emperor, entreating him to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 3:1

Verse 1 The Prophet in this chapter assails and severely reproves the chief men as well as the teachers; for both were given to avarice and cruelty, to plunder, and, in short, to all other vices. And he begins with the magistrates, who exercised authority among the people; and briefly relates the words in which he inveighed against them. We have said elsewhere, that the Prophets did not record all that they had spoken, but only touched shortly on the heads or chief points: and this was done by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 3:1

The prophet denounces the sins of the rulers, false prophets, and priests; and begins with the injustice and oppression practised by the great men. And I said. The new address is thus introduced as being analogous to the denunciations in the preceding chapter, which were interrupted by the promise of deliverance, to which there is no reference here. O heads of Jacob; synonymous with princes of the house of Israel (comp. Micah 3:8 ; Micah 1:5 ). Micah addresses the heads of families and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 3:1-4

§ 1. Sins of the rulers, and their punishment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 3:1-6

Civil rulers. "And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? Who hate the good and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones," etc. The punishment threatened in this chapter is against the authorities of Israel, against the princes who turn right into wrong and slay the people, against false prophets who lead the people astray and confirm them in their sin, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 3:1-12

The abuse of influence. God has imparted to all men the power of influencing others. We daily exert an influence either for good or for evil. They who know us, and who come into contact with us, are the better or the worse as the result of such knowledge and association. The nature of our influence depends upon our own character. Whether this subtle power we all possess is to result in good or ill depends altogether upon what we are ourselves. Let the life be pure and holy, fed and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 3:1-12

Avarice. There is nothing wrong in a man's seeking to acquire fiches. Money is good. Its possession is to be desired, since it carries with it the means of surrounding its possessor with the comforts of life, and at the same time gives him the ability to impart good to those who are less favoured and in circumstances of need. The very endeavour also to secure this calls into exercise such qualities as industry and thrift, which are truly commendable. It is rather the love of money, and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Micah 3:1

And I said - God’s love for us is the great incitement, constrainer, vivifier of His creature’s love. Micah had just spoken of God’s love of Israel; how He would gather them into one fold under One Shepherd, guard them, lead them, remove all difficulties before them, be Himself their Head and enable them to follow Him. He turns then to them. These are God’s doings; this, God has in store for you hereafter. Even when mercy itself shall require chastisement, He doth not cast off forever. The... read more

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