20160124 Sunday, January 24 2016
Micah 01: The Capital Of The Lost Ten Tribes Of Israel

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field ... And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate"

When the united kingdom of Israel (see How Many Kings Reigned In The United Kingdom? and the Fact Finder question below) split into two independent kingdoms, the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel and Judah), the northern ten tribes specifically rebelled against the Messianic throne of David (see How Did Israel Separate Itself From The Messianic King?).

"12:16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David.

So Israel departed unto their tents.

12:17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 12:18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 12:19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day." (1 Kings 12:16-19 KJV)

The capital of Judah remained at Jerusalem (see A History Of Jerusalem: The Capital Of Judah), while the northern Kingdom of Israel used three cities in the central-Israel region of Samaria, in succession - Shechem, then Tirzah, then the city of Samaria (see The Capitals Of Israel).

Samaria remained the capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel until their LORD-prescribed fall to the Assyrian Empire (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Lost Ten Tribes and Why Was Nineveh Saved From Destruction?). Samaria, their magnificent rebel capital, was rendered into a ruin, as it has remained to the present day.

The LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) did to Samaria exactly what He said that He would. The city remains today as a perpetual witness of the LORD's Judgment upon the corrupt, rebel nation who chose their idols over Him: "I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot" (see below).

Micah's ministry began with that historic and prophetic lesson of "Israel."

"1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

1:2 Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

1:3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. 1:4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. 1:5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?

1:6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. 1:7 And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

1:8 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls. 1:9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. 1:10 Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. 1:11 Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing. 1:12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem. 1:13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. 1:14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. 1:15 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel. 1:16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee." (Micah 1:1-16 KJV)

Fact Finder: When will Israel and Judah be reunited under a single king?
See When Will The United Kingdom Be Restored? and David Shall Be King Over Them