Albert Barnes Commentary Micah 6:1

"Hear ye now what Jehovah saith: Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice." — Micah 6:1 (ASV)

Hear now what the Lord says - If you will not hear the rebuke of man, hear now at last the word of God. “Arise, you, Micah.” The prophet was not willing to be the herald of woe to his people, but had to arise at the bidding of God, so that he might not be rebellious like that rebellious house (Ezekiel 2:8). Stand up; as one having all authority to rebuke, and daunted by none. He makes the hearer ponder, showing it to be a very grave, urgent matter, to be done promptly, urgently, without delay.

“You contend before (or better, as in the English margin, with) the mountains.” Since man, who had reason, would not use his reason, God calls the mountains and hills, who (Romans 8:20) unwillingly, as it were, had been the scenes of their idolatry.

It is as if He would say (as Lapide notes): “Insensate though you are, you are more sensible than Israel, whom I endowed with sense; for you feel the voice and command of God your Creator and obey Him; they do not. I cite you to represent your guilty inhabitants, so that, through you, they may hear My complaint to be just, and own themselves guilty, repent, and ask forgiveness.”

“The altars and idols, the blood of the sacrifices, the bones and ashes upon them, with unuttered yet clear voice, spoke of the idolatry and guilt of the Jews, and so pronounced God’s charge and expostulation to be just.

Ezekiel is commanded, in a similar way, to prophesy against “the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 6:2–5), “I will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places, and your altars shall be desolate.” For it is said: “Lifeless nature without voice tells the glory of God; without ears it hears what the Lord speaks” (Psalms 19:3; Luke 19:40).