The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Minor Prophets by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: prophets;assyrians;kings;zechariah;repentance;four craftsment;symbolic visions;rimmon
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2018-02-12T23:22:54+00:00

III. Third Message: An Indictment of Sin and a Promise of Blessing (chaps. 6-7)

This third main section of the book summarizes what has gone before and adds a plea from God’s prophet on behalf of His people. The section focuses on the blessings that will come to the people because of God’s goodness.

A. An indictment by the Lord (6:1-5)

6:1. Again (cf. 1:2) the LORD called on witnesses to listen to His case (r îḇ, “lawsuit or litigation”; trans. “accusation” in 6:2a and “case” in v. 2b) against His covenant people. He then challenged Israel to stand up ... before the mountains and give her side of the dispute with God. He was calling for outside witnesses to confirm that He had been just and righteous with His people and that Israel had been wrong in its attitudes and actions before God. The witnesses He appealed to were people everywhere, represented by “the mountains” (cf. v. 2) and the hills.

6:2. The LORD then began to set forth His case against His people. He repeated His call to the mountains (cf. v. 1) to listen to His accusation (r îḇ?; cf. comments on v. 1) and “case” (r îḇ ) against His people Israel.

6:3-4. In setting forth His case the Lord addressed the nation as My people (cf. v. 5). By a question (What have I done to you?) the Lord affirmed His innocence (cf. “What have I done?” in 1 Sam. 17:29; 20:1; 26:18; 29:8). He also asked the people to answer Him by naming some way in which He had burdened (lit., “wearied”) them. Though the Israelites had often complained against God, they had no grounds for such complaints. For that reason they could not answer God’s accusation.

God reminded the people of His goodness in leading them out of Egypt into the Promised Land. The prophets often reminded the people of their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. The Exodus was a great focal event in the life of Israel because by it God had delivered them from foreign domination and also because it was followed by the Lord’s giving the Law to them through Moses. The word redeemed (p āḏâ h, “to ransom”; cf. Deut. 7:8; 9:26; 13:5; 15:15; 24:18) would remind them of the slaying of the Passover lambs so that the oldest son of each Israelite family would not be killed (Ex. 12:3, 7, 12-13). God’s mention of Moses would remind the people of the Law, and the name of Aaron would bring to mind the priesthood. Perhaps Miriam is mentioned because her name would bring to mind her song to the Lord (Ex. 15:21) and her role as a prophetess (Ex. 15:20). Because Moses represented God to man and Aaron represented man to God, the people had a unique relationship with the Lord.

6:5. Micah next reminded God’s people (cf. “My people” in v. 3) of their forefathers’ experience in the wilderness when Balak ... of Moab tried to get Balaam to prophesy against the covenant people (Num.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.