Micah
Chapter 2
First Denunciation
Woe to those who scheme wickedness and plot evil even in their beds! When morning arrives, they do it as soon as they can.
If they desire fields, they take them. Do they want houses? They seize them. They capture the owner and his household, along with both the man and his property.
This is why the Lord says: “I am plotting evil against this whole brood, from which your necks cannot escape. No longer will you walk with your head held high, for it will be an evil time.”
On that day, they will sing a mocking song against you; and a bitter lament will be heard: “We have been robbed of our property in our homeland. Who will save us from the wicked who seize our fields?”
Truly, no one will be found in the assembly of the Lord to defend your land.
The Prophets
What will you say about that? There is no answer. Disgrace will linger; these words will haunt the nation of Jacob.
They ask: “Is the power of the Lord weakened? Is this how he chooses to work? Has he not spoken good things for his people of Israel?”
But it is you who oppresses my people and are their enemies. You strip the garments off those who pass by confidently.
You drive the women of my peopleout of the homes they cherish; you take away my blessing from their children forever.
Get up! Away with you! There’s no place for you to rest here! Because of your uncleanness, you will be sent away, bound up.
If a deceiver were to come and say: “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be the prophet for this people.
The Gathered Flock: False Prophets
I will gather you, the nation of Jacob, and bring together the remnant of Israel. I will unite them, like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture.
They have a leader among them. See: their king goes before them; the Lord is leading them!
Commentaries
First Denunciation.
It is directed at the wealthy and influential landowners, whose greed causes them to seize the inheritance of peasants and oppress them by destroying their families (2:4). The “woe” (1) signifies a divine warning that Jesus himself will repeat (Lk 6:24-26).
The Prophets.
The false prophets accuse Micah of alarming the people in vain because, according to them, Israel is the blessed and chosen people of God, who is very patient and therefore will not act destructively as the prophet had announced. The true prophet does not compromise the word of God to proclaim what his audience wants to hear.
The Gathered Flock: False Prophets.
These verses are likely additions made later, as there is a break in the text. It seems that the Lord gathers “the survivors” before the calamity happens, as described in the prophet’s story. Restoration follows punishment, as shown in Jer 3:14-18. That’s why some think these verses are from false prophets. Crossing the gate and the Lord’s leading role in guiding the people seem to recall the experience of liberation from Babylonian exile (13). These two verses prophetically point to Jesus Christ, who came to gather the lost sheep of Israel (Mt 15:24) and walks ahead of his disciples toward his “Passover” (Mt 16:24).