Micah 1:7
"And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces,.... By the Assyrian army, for the sake of the gold and silver of which they were, made, or with which they were adorned, as was usually done by conquerors to the gods of the nations they conquered; these were the calf of Samaria, and other idols; and not only those in the city of Samaria, but in all the other cities of Israel which fell into the hands of the Assyrian monarch; see Isa 10:11 ; and all the hires thereof shall be burnt with fire; this the Targum also interprets of idols; such as escaped the plunder of the soldiers should be burnt with fire: Kimchi, by "hires", understands the beautiful garments, and other ornaments, with which they adorned their idols, which were gifts unto them; and they committing spiritual adultery with them, these are compared to the hire of a harlot: or it may design their fine houses, and the furniture of them, all their substance and riches, which they looked upon as obtained by entering into alliances with idolatrous nations, and as the hire and reward of their idolatry; all these should be consumed by fire when the city was taken: and all the

idols thereof will I lay desolate; such as were not broke to pieces, nor burnt, should be thrown down, and trampled upon, and made no account of, or carried away with other spoil. The Targum interprets it of the houses or temples of their idols, which should be demolished. By this and the preceding clause it appears, that, besides the golden calf, there were other idols worshipped in Samaria. In the times of Ahab was the image of Baal, with others, for which he built an altar and a temple in Samaria, and a grove, Kg1 16:31 ; and at the time it was taken by Shalmaneser there were idols in it, as appears from Isa 10:10 ; and there were still more after a colony of the Babylonians and others were introduced into it; the names of which were Succothbenoth, Nergal, Ashima, Nibhaz, Tartak, Adrammelech, and Anammelech. The first of these is thought, by Selden (e) to be Venus; and the two last, both by him and Braunius (f), to be the same with Mo, having the signification of a king in them, as that word signifies, and children being burnt unto them: they are all difficult to be understood. The account the Jews (g) give of them is, that "Succothbenoth" were images of a hen and chickens; "Nergal", a cock; "Ashima", a goat without hair; "Nibhaz", or "Nibchan", as sometimes read, a dog; and "Tartak", an ass; "Adrammelech", a mule, or a peacock; and "Anammelech", a horse, or a pheasant. And it was not unusual for some of these creatures to be worshipped by the Heathens, as a cock by the Syrians, and others; a goat by the Mendesians; and the dog Anubis, perhaps the same with Nibhaz, by the Egyptians (h). And though the inhabitants of Samaria might be better instructed, after Manasseh and other Jews came to reside among them in later times, still they retained idolatrous practices; and, even in the times of our Lord, they were ignorant of the true object of religious worship, Joh 4:22 ; and they are charged by the Jewish writers (i) with worshipping the image of a dove on Mount Gerizim, and also such strange gods, the teraphim, which Jacob hid under the oak at Sichem; however, let their idols be what they will they worshipped, they are now utterly destroyed, according to this prophecy; for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot; as all the riches of Samaria and its inhabitants were gathered together as the reward of their idolatry, as they imagined, so they should return to idolaters, the Assyrians; to Nineveh, called the well favoured harlot, Nah 3:4 ; the metropolis of the Assyrian empire; and to the house or temple of those that worshipped idols, as the Targum; with which they should adorn their idols, or use them in idolatrous worship: or the sense in general is, that as their riches were ill gotten, as the hire of a harlot, and which never prospers, so theirs should come to nothing; as it came, so it should go: according to our proverb, "lightly come, lightly go". The allusion seems to be to harlots prostituting themselves in the temples of idols, which was common among the Heathens, as at Comana and Corinth, as Strabo (k) relates; and particularly among the Babylonians and Assyrians, which may be here referred to: for Herodotus (l) says, it was a law with the Babylonians that every woman of that country should once in her life sit in the temple of Venus, and lie with a strange man: here women used to sit with a crown upon their heads: nor might they return home until some stranger threw money into their laps, and took them out of the temple, and lay with them; and he that cast it must say, I implore the goddess Mylitta for thee; the name by which the Assyrians call Venus; nor was it lawful to reject the price or the money, be it what it would, for it was converted to holy uses, and Strabo (m) affirms much the same. So the Phoenician women used to prostitute themselves in the temples of their idols, and dedicate there the hire of their bodies to their gods, thinking thereby to appease their deities, and obtain good things for themselves (n). (e) De Dis Syris Syntagm. 2. c. 7. p. 309. (f) Selecta Sacra, l. 4. c. 8. sect. 117. p. 465. (g) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 63. 2. Vid. etiam T. Hieros. Avoda Zara, fol. 42. 3, 4. (h) Vid. Godwin's Moses and Aaron, l. 4. c. 7. (i) Maimon. in Misn. Beracot, c. 8. sect. 11. & Bartenora in ib. c. 7. sect. 1. & in Nidda, c. 4. sect. 1. Shalshelet Hakabala, fol. 15. 2. (k) Geograph. l. 12. p. 385. (l) Clio, sive l. 1. c. 199. (m) Ibid. l. 16. p. 513. (n) Athanasius contra Gentes, p. 21.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (19 words)

H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H6456 פְסִיל
Definition:

25id.; — plural (מֶּ֫סֶלserving as singular)מְּסִילִיםJudges 3:19+;מְּסִלִיםHosea 11:2+; constructמְּסִילֵיJeremiah 51:47+; suffixמְּסִילֶיךָMicah 5:12, etc.; —idols,Hosea 11:2;Isaiah 10:1010t., + (of 25id.; — plural (מֶּ֫סֶלserving as singular)מְּסִילִיםJudges 3:19+;מְּסִלִיםHosea 11:2+; constructמְּסִילֵיJeremiah 51:47+; suffixמְּסִילֶיךָMicah 5:12, etc.; —idols,Hosea 11:2;Isaiah 10:1010t., + (of

H3807 כָּתַת
Definition:

24;Imperfect1singularוָאֶבֹּתDeuteronomy 9:21;Imperativemasculine pluralכֹּ֫תּוּJoel 4:10;Passive participleכָּתוּתIsaiah 30:14;Leviticus 22:24; —1beat or crush fine, of a potter's vesselIsaiah 30:14, 24;Imperfect1singularוָאֶבֹּתDeuteronomy 9:21;Imperativemasculine pluralכֹּ֫תּוּJoel 4:10;Passive participleכָּתוּתIsaiah 30:14;Leviticus 22:24; —1beat or crush fine, of a potter's vesselIsaiah 30:14,

Possible Meanings:
  • crush by beating (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H0868 אֶתְנַן
Definition:

18), safeguarding worship from the contamination of Canaanite rites and affirming that the LORD requires holiness in both source and substance of offerings.Canonical DistributionAppearing eleven times 18), safeguarding worship from the contamination of Canaanite rites and affirming that the LORD requires holiness in both source and substance of offerings.Canonical DistributionAppearing eleven times

Possible Meanings:
  • hire (semantic_range)
H8313 שָׂרַף
Definition:

9+, 3 feminine singular suffixשְׂרָפָ֫חַםIsaiah 47:14, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשְׂרֹףNumbers 19:52t., more oftenוַיִּשְׂרֹףExodus 32:20+, 2 masculine pluralתִּשְׂרְפוּןDeuteronomy 7:52t.;In 9+, 3 feminine singular suffixשְׂרָפָ֫חַםIsaiah 47:14, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשְׂרֹףNumbers 19:52t., more oftenוַיִּשְׂרֹףExodus 32:20+, 2 masculine pluralתִּשְׂרְפוּןDeuteronomy 7:52t.;In

Possible Meanings:
  • seraphim (semantic_range)
H0784 אֵשׂ
Definition:

23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p 23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p

Possible Meanings:
  • foundation (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H6091 עָצָב
Definition:

Hosea 4:17;Hosea 8:6(כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב),Hosea 13:2(כֶּסֶף), ""מַסֵּכָה),Hosea 14:9;Zechariah 13:2; 2Chronicles 24:18 (+אֲשֵׁרִים); constructעֲצַבֵּיPsalm 106:38;Psalm 135:15(כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב); suffixעֲצַבֶ Hosea 4:17;Hosea 8:6(כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב),Hosea 13:2(כֶּסֶף), ""מַסֵּכָה),Hosea 14:9;Zechariah 13:2; 2Chronicles 24:18 (+אֲשֵׁרִים); constructעֲצַבֵּיPsalm 106:38;Psalm 135:15(כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב); suffixעֲצַבֶ

Possible Meanings:
  • pain (semantic_range)
  • grieve (semantic_range)
H7760 שׂוּם
Definition:

582verbput, place, set(compare NöZMG xxxvii (1883), 532; Late HebrewסוּסPi`eldesignate, fix,שׂוםEcclus 45:5c; Ecclus 49:6; Phoenicianשם, Assyrianšâmu. fix, determine;Sabeanשׂיםset, set up, SabDenkmNo. 582verbput, place, set(compare NöZMG xxxvii (1883), 532; Late HebrewסוּסPi`eldesignate, fix,שׂוםEcclus 45:5c; Ecclus 49:6; Phoenicianשם, Assyrianšâmu. fix, determine;Sabeanשׂיםset, set up, SabDenkmNo.

Possible Meanings:
  • make (semantic_range)
  • make (semantic_range)
  • make (semantic_range)
  • appoint (semantic_range)
H8077 שְׁמָמָה
Definition:

29+; plural constructשִׁמְמוֺתJeremiah 51:26+; —waste, usually of land, city, house, etc.,Exodus 23:29(E),Isaiah 1:7(probably strike out, with words following StuJP Th. 1877, 714FBJBL (1890), 84),Levi 29+; plural constructשִׁמְמוֺתJeremiah 51:26+; —waste, usually of land, city, house, etc.,Exodus 23:29(E),Isaiah 1:7(probably strike out, with words following StuJP Th. 1877, 714FBJBL (1890), 84),Levi

Possible Meanings:
  • a devastation (semantic_range)
H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H0868 אֶתְנַן
Definition:

18), safeguarding worship from the contamination of Canaanite rites and affirming that the LORD requires holiness in both source and substance of offerings.Canonical DistributionAppearing eleven times 18), safeguarding worship from the contamination of Canaanite rites and affirming that the LORD requires holiness in both source and substance of offerings.Canonical DistributionAppearing eleven times

Possible Meanings:
  • hire (semantic_range)
H2181 זָנָה
Definition:

16,זָָֽנְתָהGenesis 38:343t., etc.;Imperfectיִזְנֶ֯ה(Kt)Ezekiel 23:43;תִּזְנֶהLeviticus 19:294t.;וַתִּ֫זֶןJeremiah 3:8;Ezekiel 23:5;תִּזְנִיHosea 3:3;וַתִּזְנִיJeremiah 3:6(but read probablyוַתִּזְנִי 16,זָָֽנְתָהGenesis 38:343t., etc.;Imperfectיִזְנֶ֯ה(Kt)Ezekiel 23:43;תִּזְנֶהLeviticus 19:294t.;וַתִּ֫זֶןJeremiah 3:8;Ezekiel 23:5;תִּזְנִיHosea 3:3;וַתִּזְנִיJeremiah 3:6(but read probablyוַתִּזְנִי

Possible Meanings:
  • commit fornication (semantic_range)
  • be a harlot (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • act as a harlot (semantic_range)
  • of improper intercourse with foreign nations (semantic_range)
H6908 קָבַץ
Definition:

1;Imperfect3masculine singularיִקְבָּץֿPsalm 41:7,וַיִּקְכֹּץGenesis 41:48+, etc.;Imperativemasculine singularקְבֹץ1 Kings 18:19, masculine pluralקִבְצוּ1 Samuel 7:5+;Infinitive constructsuffixלְקָבְצ 1;Imperfect3masculine singularיִקְבָּץֿPsalm 41:7,וַיִּקְכֹּץGenesis 41:48+, etc.;Imperativemasculine singularקְבֹץ1 Kings 18:19, masculine pluralקִבְצוּ1 Samuel 7:5+;Infinitive constructsuffixלְקָבְצ

Possible Meanings:
  • gather (semantic_range)
  • collect (semantic_range)
  • gather (semantic_range)
  • collect (semantic_range)
  • assemble (semantic_range)
H5704 עַד
Definition:

20,24;Psalm 104:23;Psalm 147:6;Job 7:4;Job 20:5, and inעֲדֵי עַדIsaiah 26:4;Isaiah 65:18;Psalm 83:18;Psalm 92:8;Psalm 132:12;Psalm 132:14:compareאֱלֵי,עֲלֵי),prepositionas far as, even to, up to, unti 20,24;Psalm 104:23;Psalm 147:6;Job 7:4;Job 20:5, and inעֲדֵי עַדIsaiah 26:4;Isaiah 65:18;Psalm 83:18;Psalm 92:8;Psalm 132:12;Psalm 132:14:compareאֱלֵי,עֲלֵי),prepositionas far as, even to, up to, unti

Possible Meanings:
  • until (semantic_range)
H0868 אֶתְנַן
Definition:

18), safeguarding worship from the contamination of Canaanite rites and affirming that the LORD requires holiness in both source and substance of offerings.Canonical DistributionAppearing eleven times 18), safeguarding worship from the contamination of Canaanite rites and affirming that the LORD requires holiness in both source and substance of offerings.Canonical DistributionAppearing eleven times

Possible Meanings:
  • hire (semantic_range)
H2181 זָנָה
Definition:

16,זָָֽנְתָהGenesis 38:343t., etc.;Imperfectיִזְנֶ֯ה(Kt)Ezekiel 23:43;תִּזְנֶהLeviticus 19:294t.;וַתִּ֫זֶןJeremiah 3:8;Ezekiel 23:5;תִּזְנִיHosea 3:3;וַתִּזְנִיJeremiah 3:6(but read probablyוַתִּזְנִי 16,זָָֽנְתָהGenesis 38:343t., etc.;Imperfectיִזְנֶ֯ה(Kt)Ezekiel 23:43;תִּזְנֶהLeviticus 19:294t.;וַתִּ֫זֶןJeremiah 3:8;Ezekiel 23:5;תִּזְנִיHosea 3:3;וַתִּזְנִיJeremiah 3:6(but read probablyוַתִּזְנִי

Possible Meanings:
  • commit fornication (semantic_range)
  • be a harlot (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • act as a harlot (semantic_range)
  • of improper intercourse with foreign nations (semantic_range)
H7725 שׁוּב
Definition:

33+, 3 feminine singularשָׁ֫בָהRuth 1:15+,וְשָׁבַתconsecutiveEzekiel 46:17(Ges§ 72o, but Co Toy Kraeוְשֶׁבָה), 2 masculine singularשַׁבְתָּPsalm 85:2, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיָשׁוּבHosea 11: 33+, 3 feminine singularשָׁ֫בָהRuth 1:15+,וְשָׁבַתconsecutiveEzekiel 46:17(Ges§ 72o, but Co Toy Kraeוְשֶׁבָה), 2 masculine singularשַׁבְתָּPsalm 85:2, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיָשׁוּבHosea 11:

Possible Meanings:
  • turn back (semantic_range)
  • return (semantic_range)
  • turn back (semantic_range)
  • return (semantic_range)
  • turn back (semantic_range)

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