Micah 1:15

Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.

Yet will I bring {H935} an heir {H3423} unto thee, O inhabitant {H3427} of Mareshah {H4762}: he shall come {H935} unto Adullam {H5725} the glory {H3519} of Israel {H3478}.

Inhabitants of Mareshah, I have yet to bring you the one who will [invade and] possess you. The glory of Isra'el will come to 'Adulam.

I will again bring a conqueror against you, O dweller of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

I will yet bring unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.

Micah 1:15 KJV is a prophetic lament within a passage describing God's impending judgment upon Judah and Israel through the Assyrian invasion. This verse specifically addresses the town of Mareshah and the symbolic destination of Adullam, highlighting the shame and loss that will befall the nation.

Context of Micah 1:15

The prophet Micah delivers messages of warning and judgment during a tumultuous period, specifically the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, when both the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) were steeped in idolatry and social injustice. Chapter 1 details the coming judgment that will begin in Samaria and extend to Judah, specifically focusing on towns in the Shephelah region. Verses 10-16 contain a series of mournful wordplays on the names of these towns, foretelling their devastation. The judgment is described as reaching even to the gate of Jerusalem, underscoring the severity of God's wrath against His disobedient people.

Key Themes

  • Judgment and Dispossession: The "heir" brought to Mareshah is not a rightful inheritor but a conqueror or dispossessor. This signifies the violent seizure of land and property from its rightful inhabitants, a direct consequence of their sin.
  • Loss of Glory and Humiliation: The phrase "the glory of Israel" refers to its wealth, leaders, and prestige. Their being brought to Adullam, a cave known as a refuge for outcasts and debtors (as seen with David's flight to the cave of Adullam), is a stark symbol of their utter humiliation and reduction to a state of destitution and shame.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Despite the human agents (the Assyrians), God is ultimately the one bringing about these consequences, demonstrating His justice and control over historical events.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation of "heir" for the Hebrew word yoresh (ירש) can be misleading without context. While it can mean "inheritor," in this prophetic context, it carries the strong sense of a "possessor" or "dispossessor" – a conqueror who takes what is not rightfully theirs by force. This aligns with the common Hebrew root yarash, meaning "to take possession of," often through conquest. Furthermore, there is a subtle wordplay; the name "Mareshah" (מָרֵשָׁה) itself is related to this root, implying that the "possession" will now be possessed by another.

Practical Application

Micah's prophecy serves as a powerful reminder that there are consequences for national and individual disobedience to God's commands. The "glory" of any nation or person—their pride, wealth, or perceived strength—can be brought low when they turn away from righteousness. This verse calls for humility and a recognition of God's ultimate authority and justice. It encourages believers to prioritize God's will over worldly possessions and pride, understanding that true security and glory come only from Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Samuel 22:1

    ¶ David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard [it], they went down thither to him.

  • Joshua 15:44

    And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:

  • Joshua 15:35

    Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,

  • Isaiah 10:3

    And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

  • 2 Chronicles 11:7

    And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

  • Jeremiah 49:1

    ¶ Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why [then] doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?

  • Isaiah 10:5

    ¶ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

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