Micah 3:12

12. The inevitable results of such criminal folly must be severe judgment.

Zion… Jerusalem… mountain of the house The three names might denote three distinct sections of the capital: Zion, the southeast spur of Mount Ophel, the ancient Jebusite stronghold, including the royal palaces; the mountain of the house, the temple area; Jerusalem, the city proper; or they might be understood as synonymous expressions, each denoting the entire city, the three expressions being used to make possible the use of several verbs; such usage would emphasize the completeness of the destruction. Whichever of these two interpretations one may accept, there can be no doubt that the prophet means to foretell the utter destruction of Jerusalem. It will fall into ruin and will be plowed like a field; even the temple mount will be forsaken and will be turned into jungle. Concerning the fulfillment of this prophecy, Stanley says: “The destruction which was then threatened has never been completely fulfilled. Part of the southeast portion of the city has for several centuries been arable land, but the rest has always been within the walls. In the Maccabean wars ( 1Ma 4:38 ) the temple courts were overgrown with shrubs, but this has never been the case since.” With this prophecy compare Isaiah 32:13-14. The utterance of Micah is quoted in Jeremiah 26:18, in defense of Jeremiah, who was accused of blasphemy because he predicted a similar destruction of Jerusalem.