Micah 1

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Verse 1

• The inscription, or heading of the book, conveying the prophet's authority. The word of the Lord. The expression applies to the whole contents of the book, as in Hosea 1:1 and Zephaniah 1:1. It is often used for some particular message to a prophet, as Jeremiah 1:4, 11; Jeremiah 2:1; Ezekiel 3:16.
• "Micah the Morasthite"; i.e. Micah of Moresheth-Gath, a village in the lowland of Judaea, near Eleutheropolis, some twenty miles southwest of Jerusalem, on the border of the Philistine country; so called to distinguish it from Moresheth of Judah. Micah omits all mention of his father. His great predecessor was known as Micaiah son of Imlah. Micah, a villager, would be known only by the name of his native village.
• "Jotham": It is not stated in what year of Jotham's reign this prophet began his ministry, but it is probable that it was close to the beginning, A.M. 3190 . 2 Kings 15:34,35 states that Jotham did right in the eyes of the LORD, yet the high places were not removed. Religion was not wholly corrupted as in Israel, yet was it exceedingly abased with their own mixtures.
• "Kings of Judah": Micah dates his prophetic office from kings of Judah only, as the only kings of the line appointed by God. Kings of Israel are mentioned in addition, only by prophets of Israel. He names Samaria first, because, its iniquity being most nearly full, its punishment was the nearest.
• "Samaria and Jerusalem": in the vision of prophecy; Samaria was the metropolis of the ten tribes of Israel, and is put for them all; as Jerusalem was of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and is put for them Samaria is mentioned first, because it was the head of the greatest body of people; and as it was the first in transgression, it was the first in punishment.

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