Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryMicah 3

The Crimes of the Princes and Prophets This section addresses the sins of the leaders in Israel—both the princes and the prophets. Leaders are meant to protect and guide the people with justice and truth, but these leaders had betrayed their responsibilities. The prophet Micah, speaking for God, charges them with their crimes and declares the punishments they will face. This reminds us that all leaders are accountable to God and must act with fairness and compassion.v. 1: Micah calls out to the leaders of Israel, saying, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel . He reminds them that they are expected to know and do justice. Their position as rulers requires them to act fairly and protect the people. If they sin against this knowledge, their guilt is greater because they should know better.

v. 2-3: Instead of loving justice, the rulers hate the good and love the evil (Micah 3:2 ). They are cruel and greedy, taking advantage of the people they are supposed to protect. Micah uses vivid images to show their brutality: they tear the skin from off my people and break their bones, as if the people were animals to be butchered (Micah 3:3 ). Their actions show no compassion, only a desire to enrich themselves at the expense of others.

v. 4: Because they have been so unmerciful, the rulers will find no mercy from God. When they cry out to the Lord

v. 5: Micah also condemns the false prophets, who make my people err . These prophets lie to the people, promising peace when there is no peace. Their main goal is to fill their own bellies—they flatter those who feed them and threaten those who do not. They care more about their own comfort than about speaking God’s truth. This selfishness makes them dangerous to the people they deceive.

v. 6-7: God announces judgment on the false prophets. He will bring a night of confusion and trouble upon them, and their ability to prophesy will fail (Micah 3:6 ). Their lies will be exposed, and they will be ashamed. They will cover their lips, a sign of humiliation and defeat, because it will be clear that they were never truly speaking for God (Micah 3:7 ).

The Crimes of the Princes and Prophets In this part, Micah explains how he is able to speak so boldly—he is filled with the Spirit of the Lord

v. 9-10: Micah calls again for the leaders to listen: Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob (Micah 3:9 ). He accuses them of hating justice and twisting what is right. They build up Jerusalem with bloodshed and wrongdoing (Micah 3:10 ). This means that their power and success are based on violence and injustice, not on fairness or care for others.

v. 11: Micah points out that all the leaders—princes, priests, and prophets—are focused on money. The judges decide cases for bribes, the priests teach for a fee, and the prophets tell people what they want to hear if they are paid. Yet, they pretend to trust in God and say, Is not the Lord

v. 12: God’s judgment is clear: Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps (Micah 3:12 ). Because of the leaders’ sins, Jerusalem and the temple will be destroyed and left in ruins. Even the most holy places can be brought down if they are polluted by sin. This prophecy was so serious that it was remembered many years later (Jeremiah 26:18 ).