Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 1:4

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 .

If literally understood, we know it hath been so; when God will kindle that fire which shall burn up the Earth, and the works of it, as he will when he cometh finally to Judge the World, it shall be done again. But figuratively Mountains are mighty States and Kingdoms, flourishing with Prosperity, and which do think the foundation of this sure as Mountains. So chap. 6.1, 2. Hab. 3.6. Isa. 2.14. Or possibly these mountains may be by a Synecdoche put for those who dwell on them, Mountainers who were usually more fierce, secure, hardy and of difficult access, and therefore less regardful of Threats and Punishments.

Which way so ever you take Mountains, yet the effect of Gods powerful Anger and Justice shall be this, they shall be no more able to bear his Indignation, or withstand it, than that which like wax melts before a strong fire.

Which either are Emblems of the lower sort of men, or the men that dwell in the Valleys with their Cities built there, which might hope to escape the storm lying more under covert. But such shall be the sweeping, searching, and rapid storm of Gods Judgments, that no places, no persons shall either withstand or divert them.

Or rent in sunder, broken up, as the word Gen. 7.11. and slide away.

Which doth easily and speedily dissolve, and run before the fire.

Which immediately spreads it self and runs down the precipice, not able to keep together in one body, but scatter'd one part from other, loseth it self without remedy, so shall the glory and strength of Samaria melt away before the fire of Gods displeasure executed by Salmaneser, and by Sennacherib and Neb[illegible: 1 letter]chadnezzar on Judah.

Marginal references: Psal. 97.5. Isa. 64.1, 2. Amos. 9.5.; Heb. a descent.