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).

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