1:5
God now makes it clear that the reason all this will happen is because of Israel and Judah’s sin. It is God’s judgement upon them. If we look at the events that actually happened they can be viewed in a purely historical/military fashion, and such a view is valuable, but it is not the whole story. Likewise, the events that happen in our own time all have political/economic interpretations and aspects to them, and these matter. But there is also God’s actions, His judgements. Micah singles out Samaria and Jerusalem as symbolic of the sins of Israel and Judah. In Samaria Israel set up alternate places of worship, contrary to God’s Law, and this led to idolatry. But then Jerusalem, God’s chosen place of worship, is called a high place. So Jerusalem too is called a place of idol worship. Ahaz, who is mentioned in verse 1 as being one of the kings during whose reign Micah operated, set up an additional altar in the temple area (2 Kings 16:10-16).
1:6,7
Samaria would be utterly destroyed. It was a place of many fine buildings, but would be reduced to a field. Samaria had become a very prosperous place, and archaeological excavations have supported this. But her wealth was gained through “prostitution”. Prostitution is often used by the prophets as a synonym for idolatry. But we also know from prophets like Amos, that this went hand in hand with economic exploitation, and sexual immorality. These things always go together, each feeding off the other.
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