Jeremiah 26:18

Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed [like] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Micah {H4320} the Morasthite {H4183} prophesied {H5012} in the days {H3117} of Hezekiah {H2396} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, and spake {H559} to all the people {H5971} of Judah {H3063}, saying {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}; Zion {H6726} shall be plowed {H2790} like a field {H7704}, and Jerusalem {H3389} shall become heaps {H5856}, and the mountain {H2022} of the house {H1004} as the high places {H1116} of a forest {H3293}.

"Back in the time of Hizkiyahu king of Y'hudah, Mikhah from Moreshet was a prophet. He told all the people of Y'hudah, 'ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, "Tziyon will be plowed under like a field, Yerushalayim will become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the house like a forested height."'

“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’

Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Commentary

Jeremiah 26:18 quotes the prophet Micah, specifically his powerful and sobering prophecy concerning the future destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. This verse is presented within the larger narrative of Jeremiah's trial, where elders cite Micah's earlier, similar prophecy as a precedent to defend Jeremiah from being put to death.

Context

This verse is crucial for understanding Jeremiah's prophetic ministry. In Jeremiah chapter 26, Jeremiah is on trial for prophesying that the Temple in Jerusalem would become like Shiloh and that the city would be laid waste (see Jeremiah 7:1-15). To defend him, certain elders recall the prophet Micah, who "prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah" (around 735-715 BC). Micah's message, as quoted here, was equally severe, yet King Hezekiah responded with humility and repentance (Jeremiah 26:19), thus averting immediate disaster. This historical precedent serves to validate Jeremiah's own unpopular message.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The primary theme is God's unwavering justice and the severe consequences of persistent sin. Even sacred places like Zion and the Temple are not exempt from judgment when people fail to turn from their wickedness.
  • Prophetic Continuity and Authenticity: The quotation of Micah demonstrates that God's message of warning and judgment was consistent across generations and prophets. It underscores the authenticity of Jeremiah's message by showing it was not new or unprecedented.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The imagery vividly portrays the complete desolation that would befall Jerusalem due to the people's rebellion and idolatry.

Linguistic Insights and Imagery

  • "Zion shall be plowed [like] a field": This powerful agricultural metaphor signifies complete leveling and desolation. Instead of a thriving city, the land would be stripped bare and prepared for planting, implying that all structures would be utterly destroyed. It speaks to a profound reversal of fortune and status.
  • "and Jerusalem shall become heaps": This imagery suggests the city reduced to piles of rubble and ruins, a stark contrast to its former glory and architectural splendor.
  • "and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest": "The mountain of the house" refers specifically to the Temple Mount, where Solomon's Temple stood. To compare it to "high places of a forest" implies it would become overgrown, wild, and desolate, losing its sacred and civilized character, much like ancient pagan worship sites found in remote, uncultivated areas.

Related Scriptures

The original prophecy quoted here can be found in Micah 3:12. This prophecy was ultimately fulfilled centuries later when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, as recorded in books like 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless reminder of God's justice and the importance of heeding His warnings. It teaches that no person or institution, no matter how sacred, is above God's judgment for sin. The example of King Hezekiah's humility in response to Micah's prophecy contrasts sharply with the later generations who ignored Jeremiah, highlighting the critical role of repentance in averting disaster. It calls believers to examine their own lives and ensure they are living in obedience to God's word, recognizing that the Lord is sovereign over all nations and their destinies.

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Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 4:2

    And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

  • Micah 1:1

    ¶ The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

  • Zechariah 8:3

    Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

  • Micah 3:12

    Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

  • Micah 4:1

    ¶ But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

  • Jeremiah 17:3

    O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance [and] all thy treasures to the spoil, [and] thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.

  • Psalms 79:1

    ¶ A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.