Mic 6:1-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mic 6:1-16: 6:1-16 The Lord presented, argued, and decided the case against his rebellious people, Israel. This section is formally presented as a legal court case (cp. Isa 1:2-4 ; Jer 2:4-9 ; Hos 4 ). Using the scenario of the courtroom, the Lord challenged his people to state their case against him, for he had a case against them (Mic 6:1-5 )—they had not fulfilled his requirements (6:6-8 ), so they were guilty (6:9-12 ). The guilty verdict is followed by Israel’s sentencing (6:13-16 ). Summary for Mic 6:1-2: 6:1-2 mountains and hills: All creation is called as a witness (cp. Josh 24:27 ); in other ancient Near Eastern treaties, the gods of the respective countries were called as witnesses.

Summary for Mic 6:1-16: 6:1-16 ^a The Lord presented, argued, and decided the case against his rebellious people, Israel. This section is formally presented as a legal court case (cp. Isa 1:2-4 ^b; Jer 2:4-9 ^c; Hos 4 ^d). Using the scenario of the courtroom, the Lord challenged his people to state their case against him, for he had a case against them (Mic 6:1-5 ^e)—they had not fulfilled his requirements (6:6-8 ^f), so they were guilty (6:9-12 ^g). The guilty verdict is followed by Israel’s sentencing (6:13-16 ^h).
Summary for Mic 6:1-2: 6:1-2 ⁱ mountains and hills: All creation is called as a witness (cp. Josh 24:27 ^j); in other ancient Near Eastern treaties, the gods of the respective countries were called as witnesses.
6:3 ^k tired of me: The Lord asks rhetorically if he has done something to turn Israel away from him. But their contempt for God arose from their own ingratitude (6:4-5 ^l).
Summary for Mic 6:4-5: 6:4-5 ^m The Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt and had preserved them and blessed them throughout their journey to the Promised Land. God encouraged and warned Israel always to remember what he had done for them from Sinai onward (Exod 3:15 ⁿ; Deut 5:15 ^o; Pss 77:11 ^p; 111:4 ^q; see also Pss 78 ^r, 136 ^s).

• Balak ... Balaam: (see Num 22–24 ^t).

• Acacia Grove, located on the east of the Jordan River, was Israel’s base camp before entering the Promised Land (see Num 25:1 ^u; Josh 2:1 ^v; 3:1 ^w). The trip from there to Gilgal (west of the Jordan River) bears witness to God’s covenant faithfulness. God’s saving acts brought the Israelites into the Promised Land.