Bible Commentaries
Micah 3

Verses 1-4

Mic 3:1-4

Judgments Against the Rulers of the People (Micah 3:1-4)

“And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice? Ye who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron” (Micah 3:1-3).

The “heads of Jacob” were the princes or rulers of the people (i.e., head or ruler over a tribe of people). These men had the responsibility of knowing and practicing justice. There would be cases of the common people that would come before them and they would need to base their judgments upon the instructions of God’s laws. Rather than practicing justice these heads were unjust. These men “hate good and love evil.” The ruler’s love of evil was so base that Micah depicted them as those who would chop people in pieces, eat the flesh, and break the bones of their countrymen.

“Then shall they cry unto Jehovah, but he will not answer them; yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings” (Micah 3:4).

Israel and Judah’s “wounds are incurable” (cf. Micah 1:9). They have practiced idolatry (Micah 1:7), devised evil (Micah 2:1), taken necessities of life from the poor out of their greed (Micah 2:8-10), and loved the lies of false prophets hired for strong drink (Micah 2:11). Thereby God “will not answer them” but rather hide His face. Truly sin separates one from the. The Lord has nothing but judgment for the wicked because “they have wrought evil in their doings.”

Verses 5-8

Mic 3:5-8

Judgment against the false prophets (Micah 3:5-8)

“Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him: therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them” (Micah 3:5-6).

How did the prophets make God’s people “err”? They told them lies rather than truth (cf. Micah 2:11). Lies have the power to deceive and thereby we see the importance of exposing such teachings. The false prophets in Micah’s day would give the people all the smooth and positive messages they wanted to hear as long as the cash and food flow continued to come. Those who would not support the false prophets were told negative and harsh things. The determining factor for what was preached was the prophet’s monetary gain. Many preachers today approach gospel preaching the same way. While the financial support is there we shall preach smooth things.

“And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin” (Micah 3:7-8).

Those who speak of their own accord shall have their mouths stopped. Micah; however, spoke from divine revelation. Micah claimed to be full of power, judgment, and might by the Spirit of Jehovah that he may declare the sin of Judah and Israel. The words of condemnation from the prophet were of divine origin (i.e., “by the Spirit of Jehovah”). To have the “Spirit of Jehovah” is to prophecy words of truth from the mind of God (cf. Numbers 11:26-30; Numbers 12:6).

Verses 9-12

Mic 3:9-12

A Denouncing Statement Is Given for Israel’s

Priests, Prophets, Heads, and Rulers (Micah 3:9-12)

“Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor justice, and pervert all equity” (Micah 3:9).

The prophet earnestly calls upon the heads and rulers of Israel to consider their sinful ways. The heads and rulers “abhor justice and pervert all equity.” Their abhorrence of justice is found in their cheating, robbing, and lying to the common man. They perverted equity in that they were not fair in their dealings with the poor.

“They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity” (Micah 3:10).

The heads and rulers bore the responsibility of murdered men who sought justice and equity. The heads and rulers caused Jerusalem to become wealthy by cheating and lying to the common man.

“The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? No evil shall come upon us” (Micah 3:11).

Micah gives specifics as to how Zion is built up on blood and iniquity. The motivation for the heads, priests, and prophets is money. Money will be the determining factor, rather than truth, for the direction of judgments and truth. The heads and priests, while committing crimes against God’s laws, conclude that God is with them and no evil shall befall them. They have practice their sin for so long that it has become their standard of living rather than God’s laws. Delusion often rules the hearts of men today. When we believe a practice or teaching is right we may convince ourselves of its validity simply by use of human reason.

“Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest” (Micah 3:12).

Due to Judah and Israel’s sins that they refuse, through a spirit of delusion, to repent of they shall be “plowed as a field.” The Lord God Almighty is certainly patient and merciful to those who will repent (cf. Jonah 4:1 ff). God will not; however, overlook the sins of man. Those who will not change are destined to judgment. The only sin thereby man will not be forgiven of is the sin he refuses to repent of (cf. Numbers 15:30-31; Mark 3:28-30; 1 John 5:16-17).