Micah 3:5

Context

3:5 This is what the Lord says: “The prophets who mislead my people

are as good as dead.¹

If someone gives them enough to eat,

they offer an oracle of peace.²

But if someone does not give them food,

they are ready to declare war on him.³

Micah 5:6

Context

5:6 They will rule⁴ the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod⁵ with a drawn sword.⁶

Our king⁷ will rescue us from the Assyrians

should they attempt to invade our land

and try to set foot in our territory.

[3:5] ¹tn Heb “concerning the prophets, those who mislead my people.” The first person pronominal suffix is awkward in a quotation formula that introduces the words of the Lord. For this reason some prefer to begin the quotation after “the Lord says” (cf. NIV), but this leaves “concerning the prophets” hanging very awkwardly at the beginning of the quotation. It is preferable to add הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) at the beginning of the quotation, right after the graphically similar יְהוָה (yÿhvah; see D. R. Hillers, Micah [Hermeneia], 44). The phrase הוֹי עַל (hoy ’al, “woe upon”) occurs in Jer 50:27 and Ezek 13:3 (with “the prophets” following the preposition in the latter instance).

[3:5] ²tn Heb “those who bite with their teeth and cry out, ‘peace.’” The phrase “bite with the teeth” is taken here as idiomatic for eating. Apparently these prophets were driven by mercenary motives. If they were paid well, they gave positive oracles to their clients, but if someone could not afford to pay them, they were hostile and delivered oracles of doom.

[3:5] ³tn Heb “but [as for the one] who does not place [food] in their mouths, they prepare for war against him.”

[5:6] ⁴tn Or perhaps “break”; or “defeat.”

[5:6] ⁵sn According to Gen 10:8-12, Nimrod, who was famous as a warrior and hunter, founded Assyria.

[5:6] ⁶tc The MT reads “in her gates,” but the text should be emended to בַּפְּתִיחָה (baptikhah, “with a drawn sword”).

[5:6] ⁷tn Heb “he”; the referent (the coming king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.