Mikha 6:5

6:5 My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, ¹ 

how Balaam son of Beor responded to him.

Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal,

so you might acknowledge that the Lord has treated you fairly.” ² 

Mikha 6:16

6:16 You implement the regulations of Omri,

and all the practices of Ahab’s dynasty; ³ 

you follow their policies. ⁴ 

Therefore I will make you an appalling sight, ⁵ 

the city’s ⁶  inhabitants will be taunted derisively, ⁷ 

and nations will mock all of you.” ⁸ 

[6:5]  ¹ tn Heb “remember what Balak…planned.”

[6:5]  ² tn Heb “From Shittim to Gilgal, in order to know the just acts of the Lord.” Something appears to be missing at the beginning of the line. The present translation supplies the words, “Recall how you went.” This apparently refers to how Israel crossed the Jordan River (see Josh 3:1; 4:19-24).

[6:16]  ³ tn Heb “the edicts of Omri are kept, and all the deeds of the house of Ahab.”

[6:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “and you walk in their plans.”

[6:16]  sn The Omride dynasty, of which Ahab was the most infamous king, had a reputation for implementing unjust and oppressive measures. See 1 Kgs 21.

[6:16]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term שַׁמָּה (shammah) can refer to “destruction; ruin,” or to the reaction it produces in those who witness the destruction.

[6:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “her”; the referent (the city) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[6:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “[an object] of hissing,” which was a way of taunting someone.

[6:16]  ⁸ tc The translation assumes an emendation of the MT’s עַמִּי (’ammi, “my people”) to עַמִּים (’ammim, “nations”).

[6:16]  tn Heb “and the reproach of my people you will bear.” The second person verb is plural here, in contrast to the singular forms used in vv. 13-15.