Micah 6:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Nevertheless, each time he moved from site to site, such as from the region known as Shechinah to Mount Galgal, the blessings continued to flow (Num. 22:23, 24). Therefore, let us recall Balak's schemes and Balaam's responses. For I have thwarted the curses directed at you, and I have prevented the fowler from disparaging you, even through words; yet you, in your forgetfulness, have granted honor to lifeless idols, proclaiming to the golden calves, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt” (Ex. 32:4). Thus, if the Lord, in His boundless love, grants us blessings—driving away our adversaries and vanquishing their hosts—what should our response be in order to maintain a righteous spirit? Certainly, we must strive to embody a God-fearing disposition by obeying His commands, fulfilling what brings Him joy, and drawing near to Him in thought, echoing the words of the Psalmist: “My soul clings to You” (Psalm 62:9).

In the LXX, references to the ark of the covenant and the altar and tabernacle made of trees that do not decay correspond in the Hebrew to Septimus trees—akin to the plant commonly known as white thorn. Thus, I believe the LXX rendered scinon as mastic tree; however, due to the scribes' errors, scoinoi, which means ropes, emerged in place of scinoi, referring to mastic trees. Therefore, God speaks to His people, calling them to account, allowing them the opportunity to respond. My people, what have I done that I should not have done, or how have I caused you distress? Though the latter part is absent from the Greek text, a father grieves for a disciplined son, and the shepherd addresses the faults of the sheep with a staff. With what toil have I burdened you? Or, as the Hebrew more vividly expresses it: with what toil have I weighted you down? Will you not perceive My blessings as unfitting, and, longing for the melons and meats of Egypt, will you not lament that I liberated you by My power and brought you out of slavery? I gave you Moses, My beloved, Aaron, My priest, and Miriam, My prophetess, as your leaders. If that seems insignificant to you, recall how Balak, king of Moab, bribed Balaam against you; although the prophet intended to curse, he was compelled to pronounce a blessing instead (Num. 23). When he surveyed the army of Israel from Settim to Galgal, adjusting his vantage point three times as if I were unable to follow him, I did this to reveal My mercy and compassion for you. Despite the daily blasphemy from those who curse you, I have not allowed your enemy to bring you harm.

The Hebrews interpret the phrase "From Settim to Galgal," to highlight the righteous acts of the Lord (Num. 25) as the time from your unfaithfulness in Midian to the choosing of Saul as king in Galgal (1 Sam. 10). Remember all your transgressions along with My kindness, and you will understand the breadth of My mercy. Thus, speaks God to His people, reflecting upon historical events. For we, who seek to behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces and truly acknowledge Abraham as our Father, should humbly receive God's admonitions against us due to our sins. We were once laborers under Pharaoh, toiling in clay and brick for the Egyptians; yet, He who sacrificed Himself for the redemption of all has freed us—those redeemed by the Lord, who rescued us from our adversaries and gathered us from many nations, proclaiming, "For His mercy endures forever" (Psalms 106:1). He has also sent Moses, representing spiritual law, and Aaron, the Great High Priest, adorned not merely with the ephod, but with the divine holiness bestowed upon him by God the Father. Additionally, He sent Mary, promised by the prophets, not only delivering us from our foes. Let us remember the devices of the devil, our true Balak, who seeks to consume and destroy our community with slander. Balak signifies the one who eradicates, with Moab meaning native water, reflecting a deeper etymological understanding. Thus, when Balak turned against us through his deceiving allies, God shielded us from those curses, instead offering His blessings. The Gentile population, descended from the fleshly, voiced our defense, guided by the truth itself, for Beor signifies one clothed in flesh, fundamentally dedicated to worldly matters and the acts of death. This people, led by the one entangled in flesh, represents those who find themselves struggling in their sins. Such individuals remain ensnared by sin’s grasp (Proverbs 5:22), as Isaiah warns: “Woe to those who pull their iniquity like a cord behind them and their sin like a cart rope” (Isaiah 5:18). Thus, when one stands, they are ensnared by their own transgressions, surrounded by thorns; and should they wish to move, they find no solid ground. With unsteady feet, they arrive at Galgal, which translates to instability or murky places. If we ever witness those rising against us with greed for our destruction, and by the unfathomable Providence of God, adversaries come our way, let us declare: Balaam journeyed from bondage to Galgal so that the divine judgement of God might be revealed.