The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 86

which e.re but l.'<\neilory. The LXX. offers the mirncnloue poseage or the ,Jordan, the nn interpretation e., well e.e a tranele.tion, Al renewal of the covenant at Gilga\ (Josh.. <f,dpa.nu 9,,,_b..,a. ,-11 , '."'I•••• Ye ve.lleye, the v. 9). Shittim; th6 a,ca,,ia meadow (Abd,. founde.tione of the ee.rth." With his people. Shiltim), hod. Ghar-e3-Sei8(J,ban, was at the It le because Isre.el ie God's people the.t l,er eouth-eaet.cm corner of the Oiecar, or Plafo ein is eo heinous, e.nd the.t God condescends of Jordan, eorno seven miles from the Dead to plead with her. He would thus touch Bea. Gilgal(eee note on Amos iv. 4). That; her coneoienoe by rece.lling his benbnts. Bo ye may know the righteoumeBB (righteou in the followiDg verses. acts) of the Lord. All theae instances or Ver. 8.-0 my people. The controve~"Y God's interposition prove how faithful he ie takes the form of e. loving expostule.tion ; to hie promises, how he cares for his elect, and thUB in his wonderful condescension what nre his gracians counsels towa.rde them Jehovah opens the suit. What have I done (see the same ei:preBBion, Judg. v. 11; unto thee 1 What has occasioned thy fall I Sam. xii. 7). from me? He.et thou aught to accuse me Vere. 6-8.-§ 2. The people, awaken&!, fa of, that thou art wearied of me? He.ve my its ingratitude and need of atanement, asf,:,a requirements been too hard, or have I not kept my promises to thee (comp. laa. xliii. 28, how to pleaae God, and ia referred for eto. ; Jer. ii. 5)? Testify. A judicial term; anBtcer to the 1110Tal requirtrmenta of t1,,tJ Law. make a forme.l defence or reply to judicie.1 Ver. 6.-It is greatly doubted who ie tlie interroge.tories; depose (Numb. x.xxv. 80) speaker here. Bishop Butler, in his sermon (Pusey), "Upon tlie Character of Bala.am," adopts the Ver. 4.-God answers his own question view that Balak is the speaker of vers. 6 a.nd by recounting some. of his chief mercies to 7, and Balaam answers in ver. 8. Knaben- Israel He has not burdened the people, bauer conaiders Micah himself as the inter- but loaded them with benefits.. I brought locutor, speaking in the character of the thee up, eto. The Exodus was the most people; which makes the apparent chanre wonderful inste.nce of God's intervention ; of persone in ver. 8 very awkward. M~t and to it the prophets often refer (comp. lea. commentators, ancient and modern, hle thi, lxiii. 11, eto.; Jer. ii. 6; Amos ii. 10). Out questions in vers. 6 and 7 to be asked by of the house of se"ants; of bO'Tldage, quoting the people personified, though they a.re not the language of the Penta.tench, to show the agreed as to the spirit from which they pro- greatness of the benefit (Exod. xiii. 8, H; ceed, eome thin.king that they are uttered ill Deut. viii. 14, etc.). I sent before thee. As self-righteousne=~. as if the speakers had leaders of the Lord's flock (Ps. lxxvii. 20). done all that and more than could be re- lllloses, the inspired leader, teacher, and law- quired of t.!:em; others regarding the in- giver. Aaron, the priest, the director of quiries e.s representing a certain acknow- Divine worship. Miriam, the prophetess, who ledgment of sin and a desire for means of led the praises of the people at their great de- propitiation, thongh there is exhibited 11, liveranoe (Exod. xv. 20), and who probably want of apprecil\tion of the nature of God was oharged with some special mission to and of the service whioh alone is acceptable the women of Israel (see Numb. xii. I, 2). to him. The latter view is most rew,onahle, Ver. 11.-The Lord reminds the people of and in accordance with Miroh's mannei:. another great benefit subsequent to the Wherewith; i.e. with what offering? The Exodus, viz. the defeat of the designs of prophet represents the congregation as e.skin,.. Balak, and the sorceries of Balaam. Con- him to tell them how to propitiate tu~ sulted. United with the elders of Midian offended Lord, and obtain his favour. Come in a plot against thee (see Numb. uii. eto.). before; go to meet, appear in the presence Answered him. There ought to be a stop of the Lord. Septnagint, 1<arra.>..d.1Jw, "attni11 here. The answer of Balaam we.e the to." Bow mysalf before the high God; blessing which he was oonetrained to give, literally, God of the height, who has his instead of the curse which he was hired throne oil high (Isa. x.uiiL 5 ; lvii. 15 )~ to pronounce (oomp. Josh. uiv. 10). :From Vulgo.te, curvabo genu Deo e:i:celso; Septua- Bhittim unto Gilgal. Thie is a fresh con- gint, mna>..{,,j,0µ<>1 0Eoii µou ;,,i,lo·.-ou, "shall I eideration,referring to mercies under Joshua, lay hold of my God most high." Calve■ ot and may be made plainer by inserting "re- a year old. Suoh were deemed the choicest member" (whioh baa, perhaps, dropped out viotililll (comp. E:xod. :xii. 5; Lev. ix. 2, 8). of the text), as in the Revised Version. Ver. 7.-Thousandl of rams, as though. Shittim we.e the Israelites' last station before the quantity enhanced the value, and tended orossing the J ord1m, and Gil gal the first in to dispose the Lord to regard the offerer'a the land ot Canaan; and so God bicls them thoueu.ndfold sinfulness with greuter favour. remember all that huppened to them be- Ten thousands of rivers (tOTTe-nt.•, as in Jolt tween those plaoee-their sin in Shittim and x.x. 17) of oil. Oil was used in the daily the 1Deroy then shown them (Numb. uv.), me!'l offering, and iu thl\t which aocom-  88 THE BOOK OF MIO.All. [oB, VI, 1-16.