Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

• Balaam's seven oracles chs. 23-24
  "Chapters 23 and 24 are two of the brightest chapters in the book of Numbers. Scores of wonderful things are said about Israel, mainly prophetical. The dark sins of the past were forgotten; only happy deliverance from Egypt w...
• Jehu's assassination of Joram 9:14-26
  Israel had evidently retaken Ramoth-gilead after Ben-Hadad I had defeated Ahab there 12 years earlier. Israel was now defending it against the attacking Arameans (v. 14). The horsemen and Joram who asked Jehu, "Is it peace?"w...
• The cause of the problem: self-sufficiency 2:6-9
  Several facets of Israel's national life, all evidences of self-sufficiency rather than trust in Yahweh, invited judgment (cf. Mic. 5:10-14).2:6 Israel must walk in Yahweh's light because God had forsaken her in her present c...
• The mission of the Anointed One 61:1-3
  These two chapters begin with an introduction of the Servant (Messiah) and His mission. That the Servant of the Servant Songs is the same person as the Anointed One (Messiah) of chapter 11 is clear from what Isaiah wrote abou...
• 10. A lament for the kings of Israel ch. 19
  This prophecy shows that there were no more rulers left in Judah who could restore the nation to its former glory. Evidently the exiles hoped that some Davidic descendant would prove successful in overcoming the Babylonians a...
• Unity
  Critics of the book have tried to prove that it is the product of several writers or editors (redactors). The reason for this view is its lack of apparent coherence. Chapters 4-7 have become the target of most critical attack...
• Structure and Emphases
  The Book of Micah consists of three messages. In each one the theme of judgment is prominent, but there is also mention of restoration and a remnant (2:12; 4:7; 5:7-8; 7:18). Eventually God would restore the Israelites to a p...
• Distinctive characteristics
  The main aspects of God that Micah emphasized were His sovereignty, self-consistency, and His leadership of all events and His people toward His ultimate plans and purposes for them.Like the other eighth-century prophets, Mic...
• Outline
  I. Heading 1:1II. The first oracle: Israel's impending judgment and future restoration 1:2-2:13A. The judgment coming on Israel 1:2-7B. Lamentation over the coming judgment 1:8-161. Micah's personal response 1:8-92. Micah's c...
• II. The first oracle: Israel's impending judgment and future restoration 1:2--2:13
  This is the first of three messages that compose the Book of Micah (cf. chs. 3-5; 6-7). In each one, promises of restoration follow predictions of ruin....
• A. The judgment coming on Israel 1:2-7
  This opening pericope sets the tone and forms the backdrop for the rest of the book. All people were to hear God's indictment against His people (v. 2). Punishment was coming (vv. 3-4) that would be both reasonable (v. 5) and...
• III. The second oracle: the guilt of Israel's leaders and her future hope chs. 3--5
  In the first oracle, only the last two verses dealt with Israel's future blessings (2:12-13) while everything preceding exposed her sins and guilt. In this second oracle, the balance of emphasis is different. About one-third ...
• 3. The King of Zion 5:2-5a
  This section introduces another ruler of Israel who, in contrast to Zedekiah, his foil, would effectively lead God's people."This royal oracle is obviously intended to be the central peak of the range of oracles in chs. 4 and...
• 5. The vindication of Zion 5:7-9
  5:7 In that day the remnant of Jacob will live all over the world scattered among the other nations. "The remnant of Jacob"is one of Micah's favorite terms for the believing Jews living in the "last days"(cf. 2:12; 4:7; 5:8; ...
• 6. The purification of Zion 5:10-15
  5:10-11 In that future eschatological day the Lord also promised to remove the vain sources of security that had always tempted the Israelites represented by horses, chariots, cities, and fortifications (cf. Deut. 17:16).5:12...
• The advent of Zion's King 9:9-10
  "This text is one of the most messianically significant passages of all the Bible, in both the Jewish and Christian traditions. Judaism sees in it a basis for a royal messianic expectation, whereas the NT and Christianity see...
• The survivors' response 9:20-21
  9:20 These three severe judgments (fire, smoke, and brimstone, vv. 17-18) will not move the remaining unbelievers as a whole to repent (cf. Exod. 7:13, 23; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20; 11:10)."In all cases in the apocaly...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

• Balaam Was A Prophet:
  (A) He Knew Something Of The Divine Character.(B) He Knew What Righteousness Was (Micah 5:8).(C) He Knew Of A Future State, And Longed For The Last End Of The Righteous.'He would not break the law of God, and curse by word of...