10Don’t tell it in Gath.
Don’t weep at all.
At Beth Ophrah I have rolled myself in the dust.
11Pass on, inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame.
The inhabitant of Zaanan won’t come out.
The wailing of Beth Ezel will take from you his protection.
12For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good,
because evil has come down from Yahweh to the gate of Jerusalem.
13Harness 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.
14Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath.
The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel.
15I will yet bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah.
The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
16Shave your heads,
and cut off your hair for the children of your delight.
Enlarge your baldness like the vulture,
for they have gone into captivity from you!
In these verses each town is called out and reproached and judgement is pronounced. Unless, however, we are familiar with the Hebrew words for each town we miss out a little in the translation. Micah’s words here are so smart and memorable for the people of the day, no one would ever forget them as they heard him preach. Let’s go through each town to get a fuller understanding.
- Beth-leaphrah meaning ‘dust’ in times of mourning the people sprinkled themselves with ash dust and tear their clothes . Micah is telling them a sprinkling won’t be enough you will have to roll in it.
- Shaphir meaning ‘pleasant’ will be left naked and ashamed.
- Zaanan meaning ‘come out’ will be shut in.
- Beth-ezel which means ‘adjoining house’ will be left unsupported.
- Maroth which is the Hebrew term for ‘bitter’ will know only bitterness.
- To Lachish which means ‘horse’ he says you will need those horses to flee
- Moresheth meaning ‘gift’ the only present you will be receiving is a farewell one.
- Aczib ‘deception’ they will be punished for lying to Israel.
- Mareshah ‘the conqueror’ you will be captured.
What he was really saying in a very smart way was; you placed your hope in what you were well known for, but all those things will count for nothing compared to trusting God. Let’s be careful to place our hope and trust in God alone and not in our own abilities, gifts and possessions.