Micah 2:8-9

Micah 2:8-9 contain a picture of the corruption and oppression found on every hand.

Of late Literally, yesterday. This is certainly not equivalent to “long ago,” but points to the recent past. The prosperity growing out of the efficient reign of Uzziah was largely responsible for the corruption that met the prophet’s eye (see pp. 357ff.).

My people This expression is used sometimes of the whole people, sometimes primarily of the poor and needy who suffer oppression and whose only defender is Jehovah (Isaiah 3:12; Isaiah 3:15). A comparison of Micah 2:8 with Micah 2:9 shows that in the former the reference is primarily to the oppressing nobles, in the latter to the oppressed poor.

As an enemy The nobles prove themselves enemies of Jehovah, whose property is to have mercy, by the cruel treatment they accord to the poor and needy, who are under the special care of Jehovah (Exodus 22:21 ff.; Deuteronomy 27:19).

Pass by securely… averse from war They pounce upon their victims without provocation; as they pass by peaceably, attending to their own business, they fall upon them.

Pull off the robe with the garment R.V., “strip the robe from off the garment.” A very obscure clause; A.V. evidently means that they take both the robe and the garment, though it may be difficult to distinguish between the two pieces of clothing named. The accusation clearly implies highway robbery; there may also be an allusion to the crime condemned in Amos 2:8. However, it is practically impossible to justify the translation of A.V.; R.V. is more accurate, but what does it mean to “strip the robe from off the garment”? The difficulty is generally recognized, and various emendations have been proposed, affecting also other parts of Micah 2:8. With a few changes, justified in part by LXX., Micah 2:8 might be read, “But ye are the foes of my people, rising against those who are peaceful; the garment ye strip from them that pass by quietly, averse to war.”

9. Women The prophet has in mind widows, who, being without defenders, fall an easy prey to the greedy nobles; they are driven from their possessions.

Their children Who were unable to defend themselves.

Have ye taken away my glory forever This glory was their citizenship in the nation of Jehovah. When they were sold as slaves they were cut off from the nation, and thus they lost a privilege and glory belonging to them. Special care for the fatherless and the widows is enjoined in Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 27:19; compare Isaiah 1:17; and the neglect of this duty is condemned again and again by the prophets (compare Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 10:2).

Wellhausen and others propose a slight alteration of the text, which, though not necessary, emphasizes even more the heartless cruelty. They change “from their pleasant houses” into “from their pleasant children”; literally, f rom the children of their pleasure. This would add the thought that they tear the mother from the children by selling them to different masters.