Micah 2:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Social Injustice and its Penalty. The prophet denounces those for whom might is right (Psalms 36:4; and work evil seems a thoughtless scribal addition), who acquire property by illegal or inequitable process (Isaiah 5:8). Against such plans Yahweh declares His own to bring this family (i.e. Israel as a whole, Amos 3:1) under the foreign yoke (Jeremiah 27:12). A lament shall be made over Israel, whose land shall be given to the heathen (Micah 2:4, mg. 1; but text is doubtful here, and often to end of Micah 2:8). The unjust shall no longer acquire land in Israel (so, perhaps, Micah 2:5, where by lot should be upon an allotment; cf. Psalms 16:5 f.). Those who are rebuked sneer at the prophetic message: Talk not, so they talk, they shall not talk of these things (BDB; cf. Isaiah 30:10; Amos 2:12; Amos 5:10), their reproaches are unceasing (Micah 2:6, mg. 2). In Micah 2:7 a, these evildoers appear to express their (false) confidence in Yahweh's patience; in Micah 2:7 b, Micah 2:8, they are answered that Yahweh is with the upright, not with the oppressors of the innocent; but the text is corrupt and obscure, and requires considerable emendation to make it even plausible (see, e.g. Smith, ICC). These men evict widows (cf. Isaiah 10:2), and rob their children of their share in Yahweh's land and worship (my glory). Now, they must themselves go forth, the land no longer being their resting-place; because they have defied it (cf. Zechariah 13:2), they shall be destroyed (Micah 2:10 mg.).

Micah 2:11 (connecting with Micah 2:6, rather than with its own context, and probably a gloss) declares that the false prophets (mg.) who promise prosperity have the popular ear (rather than Micah, who denounces the evil-doer).

Related Commentaries of Micah 2:1

Micah 2:1-11

1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppressa a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

3 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

4 In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a dolefulb lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.

5 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.

6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

8 Even of latec my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.

9 The womend of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.

10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

11 If a man walkinge in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.