Charles Ellicott Commentary Micah 6:5

"O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him; [remember] from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteous acts of Jehovah." — Micah 6:5 (ASV)

What Balaam the son of Beor answered. This incident is cited in the “pleading” as a clear instance of the controlling power of God, exercised in an unmistakable manner on behalf of the Israelites. Balaam was compelled to bless when he had the highest conceivable motive to curse the Israelites. He apologized for this involuntary action on his part to Balak. There is no more conclusive existing instance of the will of man being controlled to do the exact opposite of his intended action in the history of mankind.

It is better to place a period after “answered him.” The next sentence records an independent instance of the intervention of God on behalf of Israel: “Remember also the incidents which happened from Shittim to Gilgal.” Shittim was the name of a valley in the plains of Moab (Joel 3:18), from where Joshua sent two spies to view Jericho immediately before the passage of the Jordan to Gilgal was accomplished, under the circumstances mentioned in Joshua 4.

Righteousness. The word here rather means liberality, beneficence.