1:7 All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces;
all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire. 1
I will make a waste heap 2 of all her images.
Since 3 she gathered the metal 4 as a prostitute collects her wages,
the idols will become a prostitute’s wages again.” 5
6:14 You will eat, but not be satisfied.
Even if you have the strength 6 to overtake some prey, 7
you will not be able to carry it away; 8
if you do happen to carry away something,
I will deliver it over to the sword.
6:16 You implement the regulations of Omri,
and all the practices of Ahab’s dynasty; 9
you follow their policies. 10
Therefore I will make you an appalling sight, 11
the city’s 12 inhabitants will be taunted derisively, 13
and nations will mock all of you.” 14
1 tn Heb “and all her prostitute’s wages will be burned with fire.”
sn The precious metal used by Samaria’s pagan worship centers to make idols are here compared to a prostitute’s wages because Samaria had been unfaithful to the
2 tn Heb “I will make desolate” (so NASB).
3 tn Or “for” (KJV, NASB, NRSV).
4 tn No object is specified in the Hebrew text; the words “the metal” are supplied from the context.
5 tn Heb “for from a prostitute’s wages she gathered, and to a prostitute’s wages they will return.” When the metal was first collected it was comparable to the coins a prostitute would receive for her services. The metal was then formed into idols, but now the
6 tc The first Hebrew term in the line (וְיֶשְׁחֲךָ, vÿyeshkhakha) is obscure. HALOT 446 s.v. יֶשַׁח understands a noun meaning “filth,” which would yield the translation, “and your filth is inside you.” The translation assumes an emendation to כֹּחַ-וְיֶשׁ (vÿyesh-koakh, “and [if] there is strength inside you”).
7 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term וְתַסֵּג (vÿtasseg) is unclear. The translation assumes it is a Hiphal imperfect from נָסַג/נָשַׂג (nasag/nasag, “reach; overtake”) and that hunting imagery is employed. (Note the reference to hunger in the first line of the verse.) See D. R. Hillers, Micah (Hermeneia), 80.
8 tn The Hiphal of פָּלַט (palat) is used in Isa 5:29 of an animal carrying its prey to a secure place.
9 tn Heb “the edicts of Omri are kept, and all the deeds of the house of Ahab.”
10 tn Heb “and you walk in their plans.”
sn The Omride dynasty, of which Ahab was the most infamous king, had a reputation for implementing unjust and oppressive measures. See 1 Kgs 21.
11 tn The Hebrew term שַׁמָּה (shammah) can refer to “destruction; ruin,” or to the reaction it produces in those who witness the destruction.
12 tn Heb “her”; the referent (the city) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
13 tn Heb “[an object] of hissing,” which was a way of taunting someone.
14 tc The translation assumes an emendation of the MT’s עַמִּי (’ammi, “my people”) to עַמִּים (’ammim, “nations”).
tn Heb “and the reproach of my people you will bear.” The second person verb is plural here, in contrast to the singular forms used in vv. 13-15.