In this passage, the vision of Micah gets personal. He speaks to a series of towns and relates the calamity that is about to occur to the name of their town. For example,
the lamentation of Beth-ezelshall take away from you its standing place.
Beth-ezel contains the Greek word that means proximity ('ēṣel). This town was a suburb of Jerusalem. The Septuagint translation speaks of their coming grief -- the loss of those that have been beside them. In the vision that Micah sees, they will lose their longtime standing and source of importance.
We often build our self-worth up from the circumstances and people that surround us. The loss of a parent, a friend, or even a promotion, can be crushing. But it need not be.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
It need not be, because God is with us (ʿimmānû'ēl)! There is much in a name.
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