Micah 1:14 - Exposition

Therefore . Because Judah has adopted the evil practices of Israel. The prophet here addresses Judah, and continues to do so to the end of the chapter. Shalt thou give presents to Moreshsth-Gath. The "presents" intended are parting gifts, farewell presents. The word is used ( 1 Kings 9:16 ) for the dowry given to a daughter when she is married. The meaning, therefore, is that Judah must relinquish all claim to Moresheth. The paronomasia is explained in two ways. As Moresheth may mean "possession," the prophet may be understood to say, "Thou shalt give up possession of Gath's possession." Or the play of words may depend upon the similarity of sound between Moresheth and Meorasah, "Betrothed" ( Deuteronomy 22:29 ), "Thou shalt give dismissal (bill of divorcement) to the city once betrothed to thee." Moresheth-Gath, Micah's birthplace, is placed just south of Beit Jibrin, or Eleutheropolis, about twenty-five miles from Gaza (see Introduction, § II .). The addition of Gath to the name of the town is meant to mark its situation in the immediate neighbourhood of that well known city. So we have Bethlehem-Judah ( 17:7 ), Abel-Maim or Maachah ( 1 Kings 15:20 ; 2 Chronicles 16:4 ). Septuagint, δώσει ἐξαποστελλομένους ἕως κληρονομίας γέο , "He shall cause men to be sent forth even to the inheritance of Geth;" Vulgate, Dabit emissarios super heredidatem Geth. To give shilluchim the sense of "messengers" seems to be unprecedented. The houses of Achzib shall be a lie ( achzab ), a lying, deceiving brook, which disappoints the hope of the wayfarer, like " fundus mendax " (Horat; 'Carm.,' 3.1. 30). Septuagint, οἴκους ματαίους , "vain houses;" Vulgate, domus mendacii . The city shall be yielded to the enemy and lost to the Judaeans. Achzib ( Joshua 15:44 ), hod. Ain Kezbeh, eight miles north of Adullam, is probably the same as Chezib ( Genesis 38:5 ), where Shelah, Judah's son by Tamar, was born. The kings of Israel. "Israel" is here equivalent to Judah, having, according to the prediction of verses 6, 7, lost its political existence.