Keraia
Micah 1

Micah 1:13

Weeping and Mourning · Micah 1:8–16
Read Micah 1

Translations

Modern
Harness your chariot horses, O dweller of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
Traditional
O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
Literal
Harness the chariot to the swift steed, O dweller of Lachish! She was the beginning of sin for the daughter of Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel.
Latin
Tumultus quadrigæ stuporis habitanti Lachis: principium peccati est filiæ Sion, quia in te inventa sunt scelera Israël.

Original

Hebrew
English
Harness your chariot horses, O dweller of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

Notes

Micah 1:13

Lachish was the second most important city in Judah, after Jerusalem. It served as Judah's main defense center against enemies. Today, a large tell (or mound) over 46 meters (150 feet) high still exists. Lachish fell in 701 BC after being besieged, terrified, starved, and destroyed by Sennacherib's war machines. Sennacherib celebrated the fall of Lachish as one of his greatest victories and featured the event in large carvings on his palace walls.

Micah 1:10–15

The cities listed were in the lowlands of southwestern Judah's coastal areas. This sequence might show the Assyrian army's march down the coastal plain and then into Judah's heartland in 703 to 701 BC.

Micah 1:8–16

  • In response to the Lord’s predicted judgment, Micah walked barefoot and naked to show mourning (see Isaiah 20:2; Lamentations 2:10; Ezekiel 24:17). This act vividly showed what would happen to Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem (Judah). They would lose their wealth, power, and population.

  • A jackal and an owl make sad sounds and live in deserted wilderness areas (see Isaiah 34:13; Jeremiah 50:39).

Micah 1:2–2:13

This message of judgment focuses on key themes in Micah's prophecies. It shows God's decision to judge his people and send them into exile (Micah 1:16; 2:4–5). However, it ends with the Lord's promise to save a small group from exile (Micah 2:12–13).

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions Lachish: A fortified city in Judah

Glossary

Book of Micah Daughter of Zion

Topics

Chariot: Drawn by Camels Chariots: Bound with Traces Lachish: Prophecy Concerning The Horse used for Drawing Chariots