Micah 1

Micah 1 introduces the prophet's vision concerning Samaria and Jerusalem, announcing the Lord's coming judgment. God declares He will descend to punish the transgressions of Jacob and the sins of Israel, particularly Samaria, which will be utterly destroyed. The prophet then laments the incurable wound that has reached Judah, foretelling the desolation and captivity of various towns.

The first chapter of Micah presents the divine word revealed to Micah the Morasthite, concerning the impending judgment upon both Samaria and Jerusalem during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The Lord calls all creation to witness His descent from His holy temple, where He will tread upon the earth's high places, causing mountains to melt and valleys to cleave. This severe judgment is explicitly attributed to the transgressions of Jacob, identified with Samaria, and the sins of the house of Israel, particularly the high places of Judah in Jerusalem. Consequently, Samaria is prophesied to be reduced to ruins, its foundations exposed, and its idols utterly destroyed, reflecting its spiritual harlotry. Micah expresses profound lamentation over this devastation, recognizing that the wound is incurable and has reached the very gate of Jerusalem. The chapter concludes with specific pronouncements of shame, destruction, and captivity upon various towns in Judah, emphasizing the widespread nature of the impending divine wrath.

Micah chapter one opens by establishing the prophet Micah the Morasthite as the recipient of the Lord's word, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem during the reigns of Judah's kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The divine message begins with a universal call for all people and the earth to hearken, as the Lord God prepares to act as a witness from His holy temple. A vivid depiction follows of the Lord's majestic and terrifying descent from His dwelling place, where He will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. Under His presence, the mountains will melt like wax, and the valleys will cleave open, akin to waters pouring down a steep place, illustrating the overwhelming power of His judgment. The core reason for this impending wrath is identified as the transgression of Jacob, specifically linked to Samaria, and the sins of the house of Israel, particularly the idolatrous high places found in Jerusalem. The Lord then declares a specific and severe judgment upon Samaria, stating He will reduce it to a heap in the field, like plantings of a vineyard, and its very stones will be cast into the valley, with its foundations laid bare. All its graven images are destined to be shattered, its idolatrous gains burned, and its idols utterly desolated, for they were gathered from the hire of a harlot and shall return to such. Following this pronouncement, Micah expresses deep personal lamentation, vowing to wail and howl, going stripped and naked, making a mourning like dragons and owls. His sorrow stems from the realization that Samaria's wound is incurable and has now reached Judah, even to the gate of Jerusalem, signifying the imminent threat to the southern kingdom. The chapter continues with a series of mournful pronouncements and judgments upon various towns in Judah. Gath is warned not to hear, Aphrah to roll in the dust, and the inhabitant of Saphir to pass away in naked shame. Zaanan is noted for not mourning Bethezel, while Maroth, despite waiting for good, receives evil from the Lord at Jerusalem's gate. Lachish is identified as the beginning of sin for Zion, with Israel's transgressions found within it. The chapter concludes with further specific judgments and the call for baldness and polling as a sign of mourning for delicate children who are destined for captivity.