1:5 All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion
and 1 the sins of the nation 2 of Israel.
How has Jacob rebelled, you ask? 3
Samaria epitomizes their rebellion! 4
Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask? 5
They are right in Jerusalem! 6
5:4 He will assume his post 7 and shepherd the people 8 by the Lord’s strength,
by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God. 9
They will live securely, 10 for at that time he will be honored 11
even in the distant regions of 12 the earth.
5:7 Those survivors from 13 Jacob will live 14
in the midst of many nations. 15
They will be like the dew the Lord sends,
like the rain on the grass,
that does not hope for men to come
or wait around for humans to arrive. 16
5:8 Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,
which attacks when it passes through;
it rips its prey 17 and there is no one to stop it. 18
7:14 Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod, 19
the flock that belongs to you, 20
the one that lives alone in a thicket,
in the midst of a pastureland. 21
Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead, 22
as they did in the old days. 23
1 tn Heb “and because of.” This was simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “house.”
3 tn Heb “What is the rebellion of Jacob?”
4 tn Heb “Is it not Samaria?” The negated rhetorical question expects the answer, “It certainly is!” To make this clear the question has been translated as a strong affirmative statement.
5 tn Heb “What are Judah’s high places?”
6 tn Heb “Is it not Jerusalem?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “It certainly is!”
sn In vv. 2-5 Micah narrows the scope of God’s judgment from the nations (vv. 2-4) to his covenant people (v. 5). Universal judgment is coming, but ironically Israel is the focal point of God’s anger. In v. 5c the prophet includes Judah within the scope of divine judgment, for it has followed in the pagan steps of the northern kingdom. He accomplishes this with rhetorical skill. In v. 5b he develops the first assertion of v. 5a (“All of this is because of Jacob’s rebellion”). One expects in v. 5c an elaboration of the second assertion in v. 5a (“and the sins of the nation of Israel”), which one assumes, in light of v. 5b, pertains to the northern kingdom. But the prophet specifies the “sins” as “high places” and makes it clear that “the nation of Israel” includes Judah. Verses 6-7 further develop v. 5b (judgment on the northern kingdom), while vv. 8-16 expand on v. 5c (judgment on Judah).
map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
7 tn Heb “stand up”; NAB “stand firm”; NASB “will arise.”
8 tn The words “the people” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
9 tn Heb “by the majesty of the name of the
10 tn The words “in peace” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Perhaps וְיָשָׁבוּ (vÿyashavu, “and they will live”) should be emended to וְשָׁבוּ (vÿshavu, “and they will return”).
11 tn Heb “be great.”
12 tn Or “to the ends of.”
13 tn Heb “the remnant of” (also in v. 8).
14 tn Heb “will be.”
15 tn This could mean “(scattered) among the nations” (cf. CEV, NLT) or “surrounded by many nations” (cf. NRSV).
16 tn Heb “that does not hope for man, and does not wait for the sons of men.”
sn Men wait eagerly for the dew and the rain, not vice versa. Just as the dew and rain are subject to the
17 tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
18 tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”
19 tn Or “with your scepter” (the Hebrew term can mean either “rod” or “scepter”).
20 tn Heb “the flock of your inheritance.”
21 tn Or “in the midst of Carmel.” The Hebrew term translated “pastureland” may be a place name.
sn The point seems to be that Israel is in a vulnerable position, like sheep in a thicket populated by predators, while rich pastureland (their homeland and God’s blessings) is in view.
22 sn The regions of Bashan and Gilead, located in Transjordan, were noted for their rich grazing lands.
23 tn Heb “as in the days of antiquity.”