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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Micah 3:8-12

Here, I. The prophet experiences a divine power going along with him in his work, and he makes a solemn profession and protestation of it, as that which would justify him, and bear him out, in his plain dealing with the princes and rulers. He would not, he durst not, make thus bold with the great men, but that he was carried out to do it by a prophetical impulse and impression. It was not he that said it, but God by him, and he could not but speak the word that God put into his mouth. It comes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 3:9

Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel ,.... As an instance of his boldness, courage, and impartiality, he begins with the principal men of the land, and charges them with sins, and reproves for them, and denounces judgments on account of them; See Gill on Micah 3:1 ; that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity ; a sad character of princes, rulers, and judges, who not only ought to know but to love judgment, justice, and equity, and do... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 3:10

They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. Or, "O thou that buildest up" F7 בונה "aedificans", Montanus, Munster, Burkius. , &c.; or "everyone of them that buildeth up" F8 "Quisque eorum aedificat", Vatablus, Piscator, Drusius. , &c.; for the word is in the singular number; but, be fire words rendered either of these ways, they respect the heads and princes of the people; who either repaired the temple on Zion, or ornamented the king's palace, or built... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 3:11

The heads thereof judge for reward ,.... That is, the heads or principal men of Zion and Jerusalem; the kings, or sanhedrim, according to Kimchi; but as this prophecy was delivered in the times of Hezekiah, Jeremiah 26:18 , be who was so good a king must be excepted from this charge; perhaps it was delivered in the beginning of his reign, before a reformation was made, and might be the occasion of it: the former reign was a very wicked one; and very likely the public officers, judges, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 3:12

Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field ,.... That is, for your sins, as the Targum; for the bloodshed, injustice, and avarice of the princes, priests, and prophets; not that the common people were free from crimes; but these are particularly mentioned, as being ringleaders into sin, and who ought to have set better examples; as also to take off their vain confidence in themselves, who thought that Zion and Jerusalem would be built up and established by them, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 3:9

Hear this - An appeal similar to that in Micah 3:1 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 3:10

They build up Zion with blood - They might cry out loudly against that butchery practiced by Pekah, king of Israel, and Pul coadjutor of Rezie, against the Jews. See on Micah 2:9 ; (note). But these were by no means clear themselves; for if they strengthened the city, or decorated the temple, it was by the produce of their exactions and oppressions of the people. I do not know a text more applicable than this to slave-dealers; or to any who have made their fortunes by such wrongs as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 3:11

The heads thereof judge for reward - This does not apply to the regular law officers, who have their proper salaries for giving up their whole time and attention to the conscientious discharge of the duties of their office; but to those who take a reward, who take Bribes, for the perversion of justice; who will decide in favor of those from whom they get the greatest reward. The prophets - divine for money - These are evidently the false prophets; for none, professing to be sent by God,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 3:12

Therefore shall Zion - be ploughed as a field - It shall undergo a variety of reverses and sackages, till at last there shall not be one stone left on the top of another, that shall not be pulled down; and then a plough shall be drawn along the site of the walls, to signify an irreparable and endless destruction. Of this ancient custom Horace speaks, Odar. lib. i., Od. 16, ver. 18. Altis urbibus ultimae Stetere causae cur perirent Funditus, imprimeretque muris Hostile aratrum... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 3:9

Verse 9 The Prophet begins really to prove what he had stated, — that he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: and it was, as they say, an actual proof, when the Prophet dreaded no worldly power, but boldly addressed the princes and provoked their rage against him, Hear, he says,ye heads, ye rulers of the house of Jacob, ye men who are cruel, bloody, and iniquitous. We then see that the Prophet had not boasted of what he did not without delay really confirm. But he began with saying,... read more

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