Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, April 27th, 2025
Second Sunday after Easter
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Micah 1:13

Bind the chariot to the steed, O inhabitress of Lachish, - the beginning of sin, was she to the daughter of Zion, for, in thee, have been found the transgressions of Israel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Chariot;   Lachish;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Chariots;   Horse, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Lachish;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Horse;   Lachish;   Micah;   Mule;   Nahum (2);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Micah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Lachish;   Micah;   Micah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Paronomasia ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Lachish ;   Mule;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Beast;   Horse;   Judah, Kingdom of;   Lachish;   Micah (2);   Names, Proper;   Shaphir;   Swift Beasts;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Alliteration and Kindred Figures;   High Place;   Horse;   Micah, Book of;   Moresheth-Gath;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Harness the horses to the chariot,you residents of Lachish.This was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zionbecause Israel’s acts of rebellion can be traced to you.
Hebrew Names Version
Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lakhish. She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Tziyon; For the transgressions of Yisra'el were found in you.
King James Version (1611)
O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the charet to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sinne to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
King James Version
O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
English Standard Version
Harness the steeds to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish; it was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel.
New American Standard Bible
Harness the chariot to the team of horses, You inhabitant of Lachish— She was the beginning of sin To the daughter of Zion— Because in you were found The rebellious acts of Israel.
New Century Version
You people living in Lachish, harness the fastest horse to the chariot. Jerusalem's sins started in you; yes, Israel's sins were found in you.
Amplified Bible
Harness the chariot to the team of horses [to escape the invasion], O inhabitant of Lachish— She was the beginning of sin To the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem)— Because in you were found The rebellious acts of Israel.
Geneva Bible (1587)
O thou inhabitant of Lachish, binde the charet to the beastes of price: she is the beginning of the sinne to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Harness the chariot to the team of horses, O inhabitant of Lachish— She was the beginning of sin To the daughter of Zion— Because in you were found The rebellious acts of Israel.
Legacy Standard Bible
Harness the chariot to the team of horses,O inhabitant of Lachish—She was the beginning of sinTo the daughter of Zion—Because in you were foundThe transgressions of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
Harness the horses to the chariot, O inhabitant of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
Contemporary English Version
Get the war chariots ready, you people of Lachish. You led Jerusalem into sin, just as Israel did.
Complete Jewish Bible
Harness the chariots to the fastest horses, inhabitants of Lakhish; she was the beginning of sin for the daughter of Tziyon; for the crimes of Isra'el are traceable to you.
Darby Translation
Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitress of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for in thee were found the transgressions of Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
You people living in Lachish, get the horses ready for your chariots. You are guilty of the same sins Israel committed, and you brought those sins to Jerusalem.
George Lamsa Translation
You have harnessed horses to the chariots, O you inhabitants of Lachish; you were the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for in you were found the transgressions of Israel.
Good News Translation
You that live in Lachish, hitch the horses to the chariots. You imitated the sins of Israel and so caused Jerusalem to sin.
Lexham English Bible
Harness the chariot to the team of horses, O inhabitants of Lachish; it is the beginning of sin for the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
Literal Translation
One living in Lachish, tie the chariot to the stallion; she is the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
American Standard Version
Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitant of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
Bible in Basic English
Let the war-carriage be yoked to the quick-running horse, you who are living in Lachish: she was the first cause of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the wrongdoings of Israel were seen in you.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Bind the chariots to the swift steeds, O inhabitant of Lachish; she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel are found in thee.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
O thou inhabitaunt of Lachis, binde the charette to the swiftest beast, she is the beginning of the sinne of the daughter of Sion: for the transgressions of Israel were founde in thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
even a sound of chariots and horsemen: the inhabitants of Lachis, she is the leader of sin to the daughter of Sion: for in thee were found the transgressions of Israel.
English Revised Version
Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitant of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
World English Bible
Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish. She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; For the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
of drede to the puple dwellynge at Lachis. It is the bigynnyng of synne of the douyter of Sion, for the grete trespassis of Israel ben foundun in thee.
Update Bible Version
Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitant of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
Webster's Bible Translation
O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she [is] the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
New English Translation
Residents of Lachish, hitch the horses to the chariots! You influenced Daughter Zion to sin, for Israel's rebellious deeds can be traced back to you!
New King James Version
O inhabitant of Lachish, Harness the chariot to the swift steeds (She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion), For the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
New Living Translation
Harness your chariot horses and flee, you people of Lachish. You were the first city in Judah to follow Israel in her rebellion, and you led Jerusalem into sin.
New Life Bible
Tie the war-wagons to the horses, you people of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the people of Zion, for the sins of Israel were found in you.
New Revised Standard
Harness the steeds to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish; it was the beginning of sin to daughter Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel.
Douay-Rheims Bible
A tumult of chariots hath astonished the inhabitants of Lachis: it is the beginning of sin to the daughter of Sion for in thee were found the crimes of Israel.
Revised Standard Version
Harness the steeds to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish; you were the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
Bind the chariot to a swift beast, O inhabitant of Lachish, The beginning of sin [is] she to the daughter of Zion, For in thee have been found the transgressions of Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The greate noyse off the charettes shall feare them, that dwell at Lachis, which is an occasion of ye synne of ye doughter of Sion, for in the came vp the wickednesses of Israel.

Contextual Overview

8 For this cause, will I lament and howl, I will go stript and bare, - I will make a lamentation, like the wild dogs, and a mourning, like ostriches. 9 For dangerous are her wounds, - for she hath come as far as Judah, she hath reached as far as the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem. 10 In Gath, do not tell, in Accho, do not weep, - in Beth-l'aphrah, roll yourselves in dust. 11 Pass thou over (for you), thou inhabitress of Shaphir, of disgraceful disclosure, - the inhabitress of Zaanan, hath not gone forth, at the lamentation of Beth-ezel, shall he take from you his station, 12 Though the inhabitress of Maroth waited for blessing, - yet there came down calamity from Yahweh, to the gate of Jerusalem. 13 Bind the chariot to the steed, O inhabitress of Lachish, - the beginning of sin, was she to the daughter of Zion, for, in thee, have been found the transgressions of Israel. 14 Therefore, shalt thou give a dismission, against Moresheth-gath, - The houses of Achzib, served for a deception to the kings of Israel. 15 The time shall yet be when, the heir, I will bring unto thee, O inhabitress of Mareshah, - as far as Adullam, shall enter the glory of Israel. 16 Make thee bald, and cut off thy hair, for the children of thy pleasures, - enlarge thy baldness, like a vulture, for they are exiled from thee.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Lachish: Joshua 15:39, 2 Kings 18:13, 2 Kings 18:14, 2 Kings 18:17, 2 Chronicles 11:9, 2 Chronicles 32:9, Isaiah 37:8

bind: Genesis 19:17, Isaiah 10:31, Jeremiah 4:29

she: Exodus 32:21, 1 Kings 13:33, 1 Kings 13:34, 1 Kings 14:16, 1 Kings 16:31, Revelation 2:14, Revelation 2:20, Revelation 18:1-5

for: 2 Kings 8:18, 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 16:4, Jeremiah 3:8, Ezekiel 23:11

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:3 - Lachish Joshua 10:31 - Lachish 1 Kings 4:28 - dromedaries 1 Kings 18:44 - Prepare 2 Kings 9:21 - Make ready 2 Kings 14:19 - fled to Lachish 2 Kings 19:8 - Lachish Job 39:10 - General Isaiah 30:16 - for we will Jeremiah 34:7 - Lachish Hosea 10:8 - the sin

Gill's Notes on the Bible

O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast,.... Horses, camels, dromedaries, or mules. Some u render the word swift horse or horses, post horses; others dromedaries w; and some mules x the two latter seem more especially to be meant, either dromedaries, as the word is translated in 1 Kings 4:28; which is a very swift creature: Isidore says y the dromedary is one sort of camels, of a lesser stature, yet swifter, from whence it has its name, and is used to go more than a hundred miles a day; this is thought to be what the Jews z call a flying camel; which the gloss says is a sort of camels that are as swift in running as a bird that flies; they are lighter made than a camel, and go at a much greater rate; whereas a camel goes at the rate of thirty miles a day, the dromedary will perform a journey of one hundred and twenty miles in a day; they make use of them in the Indies for going post, and expresses frequently perform a journey of eight hundred miles upon them in the space of a week a: this may serve the better to illustrate Jeremiah 2:23; and improve the note there: but whether these were used in chariots I do not find; only Bochart b takes notice of a kind of camel, that has, like the dromedary, two humps on its back, which the Arabians call "bochet", and put to chariots: or else mules are meant, for by comparing the above text in 1 Kings 4:28 with 2 Chronicles 9:24, it looks as if "mules" were there intended; and so the word here used is rendered in Esther 8:10; and by their being there said to be used for posts to ride on expresses, it up pears to be a swift creature. Aelianus c makes mention of mules in India of a red colour, very famous for running; and mules were used in the Olympic games, and many riders of them got the victory; and that these were used in chariots, there is no doubt to be made of it: Homer d speaks of mules drawing a four wheeled chariot; so Pausanias e of mules yoked together, and drawing a chariot, instead of horses; and the Septuagint version of Isaiah 66:20; instead of "in litters and on mules", renders it, "in litters" or carriages "of mules": but, be they one or the other that are here meant, they were creatures well known, and being swift were used in chariots, to which they were bound and fastened in order to draw them, and which we call "putting to"; this the inhabitants of Lachish f are bid to do, in order to make their escape, and flee as fast as they could from the enemy, advancing to besiege them; as they were besieged by the army of Sennacherib, before he came to Jerusalem,

2 Chronicles 32:1. Or these words may be spoken in an ironical and sarcastic way, that whereas they had abounded in horses and chariots, and frequently rode about their streets in them, now let them make use of them, and get away if they could; and may suggest, that, instead of riding in these, they should be obliged to walk on foot into captivity. Lachish was a city in the tribe of Judah, in the times of Jerom g; it was a village seven miles from Eleutheropolis, as you go to Daroma or the south;

she [is] the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion; lying upon the borders of the ten tribes, as Lachish did, it was the first of the cities of Judah that gave into the idolatry of Jeroboam, the worshipping of the calves; and from thence it spread itself to Zion and Jerusalem; and, being a ringleader in this sin, should be punished for it: though some think this refers to their conspiracy with the citizens of Jerusalem against King Amaziah, and the murder of him in this place, now punished for it, 2 Kings 14:18;

for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee; not only their idolatry, but all other sins, with which it abounded; it was a very wicked place, and therefore no wonder it was given up to destruction. The Targum is,

"for the transgressors of Israel were found in thee.''

u לרכש "ad equos velocissimos", Pagninus; "equo veloci", Montanus; "angariis sc. equis", Junius Tremellius, Piscator. w "Dromadibus", Vatablus. So Elias. x "Mulis", so some in Piscator "ad mulum celerem", Burkius. y Origin. l. 12. c. 1. p. 102. z T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 5. 1. a See Harris's Voyages and Travels, vol. 1. p. 469. b Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 4. col. 87. c De Animal. l. 16. c. 9. d Iliad. 24. l. 324. e Eliac. prior, sive l. 5. p. 302. So Suetonius in Vit. Jul. Caesar. c. 31. "mulis ad vehiculum junctis". f There is a likeness in sound between לכיש and רכש. g De locis Hebr. fol. 92. M.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast - (steed.) Lachish was always a strong city, as its name probably denoted, (probably “compact.” It was one of the royal cities of the Amorites, and its king one of the five, who went out to battle with Joshua Joshua 10:3. It lay in the low country, Shephelah, of Judah Joshua 15:33, Joshua 15:39, between Adoraim and Azekah 2 Chronicles 11:9, 2 Chronicles 11:7 Roman miles south of Eleutheropolis (Onomasticon), and so, probably, close to the hill-country, although on the plain; partaking perhaps of the advantages of both. Rehoboam fortified it. Amaziah fled to it from the conspiracy at Jerusalem 2 Kings 14:19, as a place of strength. It, with Azekah, alone remained, when Nebuchadnezzar had taken the rest, just before the capture of Jerusalem Jeremiah 34:7. When Sennacherib took all the defensed cities of Judah, it seems to have been his last and proudest conquest, for from it he sent his contemptuous message to Hezekiah Isaiah 36:1-2.

The whole power of the great king seems to have been called forth to take this stronghold. The Assyrian bas-reliefs, the record of the conquests of Sennacherib, if (as the accompanying inscription is deciphered), they represent the taking of Lachish, exhibit it as “a city of great extent and importance, defended by double walls with battlements and towers, and by fortified riggings. In no other sculptures were so many armed warriors drawn up in array against a besieged city. Against the fortifications had been thrown up as many as ten banks or mounts compactly built - and seven battering-rams had already been rolled up against the walls.” Its situation, on the extremity probably of the plain, fitted it for a depot of cavalry. The swift steeds, to which it was bidden to bind the chariot, are mentioned as part of the magnificence of Solomon, as distinct from his ordinary horses (1 Kings 4:28, English (1 Kings 5:8 in Hebrew)). They were used by the posts of the king of Persia Esther 8:10, Esther 8:14.

They were doubtless part of the strength of the kings of Judah, the cavalry in which their statesmen trusted, instead of God. Now, its swift horses in which it prided itself should avail but to flee. Probably, it is an ideal picture. Lachish is bidden to bind its chariots to horses of the utmost speed, which should carry them far away, if their strength were equal to their swiftness. It had great need; for it was subjected under Sennacherib to the consequences of Assyrian conquest. If the Assyrian accounts relate to its capture, impalement and flaying alive were among the tortures of the captive-people; and awfully did Sennacherib, in his pride, avenge the sins against God whom he disbelieved.

She is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion - Jerome: “She was at the gate through which the transgressions of Israel flooded Judah.” How she came first to apostatise and to be the infectress of Judah, Scripture does not tell us . She scarcely bordered on Philistia; Jerusalem lay between her and Israel. But the course of sin follows no geographical lines. It was the greater sin to Lachish that she, locally so far removed from Israel’s sin, was the first to import into Judah the idolatries of Israel. Scripture does not say, what seduced Lachish herself, whether the pride of military strength, or her importance, or commercial intercourse, for her swift steeds; with Egypt, the common parent of Israel’s and her sin. Scripture does not give the genealogy of her sin, but stamps her as the heresiarch of Judah. We know the fact from this place only, that she, apparently so removed from the occasion of sin, became, like the propagators of heresy, the authoress of evil, the cause of countless loss of souls. Beginning of sin to - , what a world of evil lies in the three words!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Micah 1:13. Inhabitant of Lachish — This city was in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:39, and was taken by Sennacherib when he was coming against Jerusalem, 2 Kings 18:13, &c., and it is supposed that he wished to reduce this city first, that, possessing it, he might prevent Hezekiah's receiving any help from Egypt.

She is the beginning of the sin — This seems to intimate that Lachish was the first city in Judah which received the idolatrous worship of Israel.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile