Micah 3:11

“The heads thereof judge for reward, etc.] That is, the heads or principal men of Zion and Jerusalem; the kings, or sanhedrim, according to Kimchi; but as this prophecy was delivered in the times of Hezekiah, (<242618>Jeremiah 26:18), be who was so good a king must be excepted from this charge; perhaps it was delivered in the beginning of his reign, before a reformation was made, and might be the occasion of it: the former reign was a very wicked one; and very likely the public officers, judges, and civil magistrates, were as yet continued, and who went on in the same course of injustice, giving the cause not on the right side, but to them that gave them most money, or bribed highest,…”

“heads thereof--the princes of Jerusalem. judge for reward--take bribes as judges (Mic 7:3). priests teach for hire--It was their duty to teach the law and to decide controversies gratuitously (Lev 10:11; Deu 17:11; Mal 2:7; compare Jer 6:13; Jde 1:11). prophets . . . divine--that is, false prophets. Is not the Lord among us?--namely in the temple (Isa 48:2; Jer 7:4, Jer 7:8-11).”

“The heads thereof judge for reward - Every class was corrupted. One sin, the root of all evil 1 Timothy 6:10, covetousness, entered into all they did. It, not God, was their one end, and so their God. Her heads, the secular authority who Acts 23:3 sat to judge according to the law, judged, contrary to the law, “for rewards.” They sat as the representatives of the Majesty of God, in whose Name they judged, whose righteous Judgment and correcting Providence law exhibits and executes, and they profaned it. “To judge for rewards” was in itself sin, forbidden by the law Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19. To refuse justice, unless paid for it, was unjust, degrading to justice. The second sin followed…”

“Lean - Pretend to trust in him. Among us - As our God and our shield. Micah 3:12”

“3:11 the Lord is here among us: This expression indicates the Lord’s approval (see Exod 3:12, 14; 25:8; Mic 2:5; Zech 2:11) and his dwelling among his people. The false prophets wrongly claimed God’s presence.”

“heads: Mic 7:3; Num 16:15; Sa1 8:3, Sa1 12:3, Sa1 12:4; Isa 1:23; Eze 22:12, Eze 22:27; Hos 4:18; Zep 3:3 and the priests: Jer 6:13, Jer 8:10; Mal 1:10; Ti1 3:3; Tit 1:11; Pe1 5:2 and the prophets: Mic 3:5; Isa 56:11; Act 8:18-20; Pe2 2:1-3, Pe2 2:14, Pe2 2:15; Jde 1:11 yet: Sa1 4:3-6; Isa 48:2; Jer 7:4, Jer 7:8-12; Mat 3:9; Rom 2:17-29 and say: Heb. saying none evil can come: Amo 9:10 Micah 3:12”