Violence
and shameless oppression the moral causes of God's
judgment
In chapter 2 the prophet
points out the moral causes of the judgment of
God—violence and shameless oppression. They formed
plans of violence to gratify their covetousness, and
Jehovah formed also plans of judgment upon them (v. 1-5).
They refused the word of testimony. It shall be taken
from them accompanied by this terrible judgment, that the
spirit of error and drunkenness should be prophecy for
them. [1] They rose up as an enemy: their
wickedness spared neither women nor children (v. 8, 9).
Jehovah calls on all who have ears to hear, to arise and
separate themselves from all this iniquity. A state of
things like this could not be the rest of God's people.
How could the saints of Jehovah rest amid pollution? (v.
10, 11). Nevertheless Jehovah in no wise renounced His
settled purpose of blessing with respect to Israel. He
would gather them all together, the numerous flock of His
protection. The breaker, He who would clear the way and
overthrow every obstacle, should go before them. They
should go forth from the place of their captivity. Their
king should pass on before them, and Jehovah at their
head (v. 12, 13).
[1] Verse 6 is
exceedingly obscure. I doubt that the Authorised Version
is correct. 'Take shame' is to be ashamed: The Hebrew has
hardly this sense. It is literally, Prophesy (Drop) not.
They prophesy. They shall not prophesy to them; it shall
not depart shame (literally shames). That is, I suppose,
Shame shall not depart. Chapter 3: 7 explains it perhaps.
Micah 2 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
In chapter 2 the prophet points out the moral causes of the judgment of God—violence and shameless oppression. They formed plans of violence to gratify their covetousness, and Jehovah formed also plans of judgment upon them (v. 1-5). They refused the word of testimony. It shall be taken from them accompanied by this terrible judgment, that the spirit of error and drunkenness should be prophecy for them. [1] They rose up as an enemy: their wickedness spared neither women nor children (v. 8, 9). Jehovah calls on all who have ears to hear, to arise and separate themselves from all this iniquity. A state of things like this could not be the rest of God's people. How could the saints of Jehovah rest amid pollution? (v. 10, 11). Nevertheless Jehovah in no wise renounced His settled purpose of blessing with respect to Israel. He would gather them all together, the numerous flock of His protection. The breaker, He who would clear the way and overthrow every obstacle, should go before them. They should go forth from the place of their captivity. Their king should pass on before them, and Jehovah at their head (v. 12, 13).
[1] Verse 6 is exceedingly obscure. I doubt that the Authorised Version is correct. 'Take shame' is to be ashamed: The Hebrew has hardly this sense. It is literally, Prophesy (Drop) not. They prophesy. They shall not prophesy to them; it shall not depart shame (literally shames). That is, I suppose, Shame shall not depart. Chapter 3: 7 explains it perhaps.