The Prophet Micah

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- Chapter 2 -

Woe to you who devise useless things and who work evil in your beds. In the morning light, they undertake it, because their hand is against God.(a)

And they have desired fields and have taken them by violence, and they have stolen houses. And they have made false accusations against a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.(b)

For this reason, thus says the Lord: Behold, I devise an evil against this family, from which you will not steal away your necks. And you will not walk in arrogance, because this is a most wicked time.

In that day, a parable will be taken up about you, and a song will be sung with sweetness, saying: “We have been devastated by depopulation.” The fate of my people has been altered. How can he withdraw from me, when he might be turned back, he who might tear apart our country?(c)

(d)

(e)

Because of this, there will be for you no casting of the cord of fate in the assembly of the Lord.(f)

Reproof of False Prophets

(Ezekiel 13:1–16)

Do not speak by saying, “It will not drop on these ones; shame will not embrace them.”(g)

(h)

The house of Jacob says, “Has the Spirit of the Lord been weakened, or are such things his thoughts?” Are not my words good for him who walks uprightly?

But, to the contrary, my people have risen up in opposition. You have lifted the cover from the undergarment, and those who passed by harmlessly, you have converted into war.(i)

(j)

You have evicted the women among my people from their delicate houses. You have taken my praise forever from their little ones.(k)

Rise and depart, for there is no relief for you here. Because of its uncleanness, it will be corrupted with a most wicked decay.

I wish that I were not a man who has breath, and that I rather spoke a lie. I will drop it down to you in wine and in drunkenness. And it will be this people on whom it will rain down.(l)

The Remnant of Israel

(Micah 5:7–15)

I will gather together in a congregation all of you, Jacob. I will lead together as one, the remnant of Israel. I will set them together like a flock in the fold, like a sheep in the midst of the sheep pen. They will cause a tumult before the multitude of men.

For he will ascend, opening the way before them. They will separate, and they will cross the gate and enter through it. And their king will pass by, before their very eyes, and the Lord will be at their head.

Footnotes

(a)2:1 Or, ‘who think up harmful things.’(Conte)

(b)2:2 The phrase ‘rapuerunt domos’ could be translated as ‘they have robbed houses’ or ‘they have stolen houses.’ The first meaning seems more likely, until you consider the context of the first part of this verse, that they have desired land and have taken that land by violence. Houses are located on land; valuable land often has houses on it. They have not merely robbed the contents of houses, they have stolen both land and houses.(Conte)

(c)2:4 The word ‘depopulatione’ usually is translated as plundering, pillaging, sacking, marauding, ravaging, or laying waste. To the English reader, it would also seem to mean ‘depopulation,’ and this is a correct meaning of the word because it refers to plundering, pillaging, sacking, etc. that is so severe that the land is depopulated.(Conte)

(d)2:4 Notice that they sing sweetly about a time of terrible suffering that results in a large decrease in population. They are singing sweetly about this disaster because it is the disaster of the tribulation, which will have ended by the time of that song.(Conte)

(e)2:4 How shall he depart, etc:How do you pretend to say that the Assyrian is departing; when indeed he is coming to divide our lands amongst his subjects?(Challoner)

(f)2:5 You shall have none, etc:You shall have no longer any lot or inheritance in the land of the people of the Lord.(Challoner)

(g)2:6 Or, ‘confusion will not overtake them.’ This refers to the casting of the string (or cord) of fate (or lots), a practice analogous to the modern ‘drawing of straws’ or ‘rock, paper, scissors.’(Conte)

(h)2:6 It shall not drop, etc:That is, the prophecy shall not come upon these. Such were the sentiments of the people that were unwilling to believe the threats of the prophets.(Challoner)

(i)2:8 Since ‘tunica’ is contrasted with ‘pallium,’ one refers to the undergarment and the other to the outer garment. The translation ‘converted into war’ is a phrasing intended to capture both the metaphorical and literal meanings.(Conte)

(j)2:8 You have taken away, etc:You have even stripped people of their necessary garments: and have treated such as were innocently passing on the way, as if they were at war with you.(Challoner)

(k)2:9 You have cast out, etc:either by depriving them of their houses: or, by your crimes, given occasion to their being carried away captives, and their children, by that means, never learning to praise the Lord.(Challoner)

(l)2:11 Would God, etc:The prophet could have wished, out of his love to his people, that he might be deceived in denouncing to them these evils that were to fall upon them: but by conforming himself to the will of God, he declares to them, that he is sent to prophesy, literally to let drop upon them, the wine of God’s indignation, with which they should be made drunk; that is, stupified and cast down.(Challoner)

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

They covet fields and seize them, and houses, then take them away. They oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Therefore the LORD says: “Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily, for it is an evil time.

In that day they will take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, saying, ‘We are utterly ruined! My people’s possession is divided up. Indeed he takes it from me and assigns our fields to traitors!’”

Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the LORD’s assembly.

Reproof of False Prophets

(Ezekiel 13:1–16)

“Don’t prophesy!”—they prophesy— “Don’t prophesy about these things. Disgrace won’t overtake us.”

Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, “Is the LORD’s Spirit angry? Are these his doings? Don’t my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?”

But lately my people have risen up as an enemy. You strip the robe and clothing from those who pass by without a care, returning from battle.

You drive the women of my people out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my blessing forever.

Arise, and depart! For this is not your resting place, because of uncleanness that destroys, even with a grievous destruction.

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies, saying, “I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink,” he would be the prophet of this people.

The Remnant of Israel

(Micah 5:7–15)

I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob. I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the middle of their pasture. They will swarm with people.

He who breaks open the way goes up before them. They break through the gate, and go out. Their king passes on before them, with the LORD at their head.