Micah 2

7. O thou . . . named the house of Jacob--priding thyself on the name, though having naught of the spirit, of thy progenitor. Also, bearing the name which ought to remind thee of God's favors granted to thee because of His covenant with Jacob.
is the Spirit of the Lord straitened?--Is His compassion contracted within narrower limits now than formerly, so that He should delight in your destruction (compare Psalms 77:7-9 Isaiah 59:1 Isaiah 59:2 )?
are these his doings?--that is, Are such threatenings His delight? Ye dislike the prophets' threatenings ( Micah 2:6 ):but who is to blame? Not God, for He delights in blessing, rather than threatening; but yourselves ( Micah 2:8 ) who provoke His threatenings [GROTIUS]. CALVIN translates, "Are your doings such as are prescribed by Him?" Ye boast of being God's peculiar people: Do ye then conform your lives to God's law?
do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly--Are not My words good to the upright? If your ways were upright, My words would not be threatening (compare Psalms 18:26 , Matthew 11:19 , John 7:17 ).

8. Your ways are not such that I can deal with you as I would with the upright.
Even of late--literally, "yesterday," "long ago." So "of old." Hebrew, "yesterday" ( Isaiah 30:33 ); "heretofore," Hebrew, "since yesterday" ( Joshua 3:4 ).
my people is risen up as an enemy--that is, has rebelled against My precepts; also has become an enemy to the unoffending passers-by.
robe with the garment--Not content with the outer "garment," ye greedily rob passers-by of the ornamental "robe" fitting the body closely and flowing down to the feet [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU] ( Matthew 5:40 ).
as men averse from war--in antithesis to (My people) "as an enemy." Israel treats the innocent passers-by, though "averse from war," as an enemy" would treat captives in his power, stripping them of their habiliments as lawful spoils. GROTIUS translates, "as men returning from war," that is, as captives over whom the right of war gives the victors an absolute power. English Version is supported by the antithesis.

9. The women of my people--that is, the widows of the men slain by you ( Micah 2:2 ) ye cast out from their homes which had been their delight, and seize on them for yourselves.
from their children--that is, from the orphans of the widows.
taken away my glory--namely, their substance and raiment, which, being the fruit of God's blessing on the young, reflected God's glory. Thus Israel's crime was not merely robbery, but sacrilege. Their sex did not save the women, nor their age the children from violence.
for ever--There was no repentance. They persevered in sin. The pledged garment was to be restored to the poor before sunset ( Exodus 22:26 Exodus 22:27 ); but these never restored their unlawful booty.

10. Arise ye, and depart--not an exhortation to the children of God to depart out of an ungodly world, as it is often applied; though that sentiment is a scriptural one. This world is doubtless not our "rest," being "polluted" with sin: it is our passage, not our portion; our aim, not our home ( 2 Corinthians 6:17 , Hebrews 13:14 ). The imperatives express the certainty of the future event predicted. "Since such are your doings (compare Micah 2:7 Micah 2:8 , &c.), My sentence on you is irrevocable ( Micah 2:4 Micah 2:5 ), however distasteful to you ( Micah 2:6 ); ye who have cast out others from their homes and possessions ( Micah 2:2 Micah 2:8 Micah 2:9 ) must arise, depart, and be cast out of your own ( Micah 2:4 Micah 2:5 ): for this is not your rest" ( Numbers 10:33 , Deuteronomy 12:9 , Psalms 95:11 ). Canaan was designed to be a rest to them after their wilderness fatigues. But it is to be so no longer. Thus God refutes the people's self-confidence, as if God were bound to them inseparably. The promise ( Psalms 132:14 ) is quite consistent with temporary withdrawal of God from Israel for their sins.
it shall destroy you--The land shall spew you out, because of the defilements wherewith ye "polluted" it ( Leviticus 18:25 Leviticus 18:28 , Jeremiah 3:2 , Ezekiel 36:12-14 ).

11. walking in the spirit--The Hebrew means also "wind." "If a man professing to have the 'spirit' of inspiration ( Ezekiel 13:3 ; so 'man of the spirit,' that is, one claiming inspiration, Hosea 9:7 ), but really walking in 'wind' (prophecy void of nutriment for the soul, and unsubstantial as the wind) and falsehood, do lie, saying (that which ye like to hear), I will prophesy," &c., even such a one, however false his prophecies, since he flatters your wishes, shall be your prophet (compare Micah 2:6 , Jeremiah 5:31 ).
prophesy . . . of wine--that is, of an abundant supply of wine.

12. A sudden transition from threats to the promise of a glorious restoration. Compare a similar transition in Hosea 1:9 Hosea 1:10 . Jehovah, too, prophesies of good things to come, but not like the false prophets, "of wine and strong drink" ( Micah 2:11 ). After I have sent you into captivity as I have just threatened, I will thence assemble you again (compare Micah 4:6 Micah 4:7 ).
all of thee--The restoration from Babylon was partial. Therefore that here meant must be still future, when "all Israel shall be saved" ( Romans 11:26 ). The restoration from "Babylon" (specified ( Micah 4:10 ) is the type of the future one.
Jacob . . . Israel--the ten tribes' kingdom ( Hosea 12:2 ) and Judah ( 2 Chronicles 19:8 , 2 Chronicles 21:2 2 Chronicles 21:4 ).
remnant--the elect remnant, which shall survive the previous calamities of Judah, and from which the nation is to spring into new life ( Isaiah 6:13 , 10:20-22 ).
as the sheep of Bozrah--a region famed for its rich pastures (compare 2 Kings 3:4 ). GESENIUS for Bozrah translates, "sheepfold." But thus there will be tautology unless the next clause be translated, "in the midst of their pasture." English Version is more favored by the Hebrew.

13. The breaker--Jehovah-Messiah, who breaks through every obstacle in the way of their restoration: not as formerly breaking forth to destroy them for transgression ( Exodus 19:22 , Judges 21:15 ), but breaking a way for them through their enemies.
they--the returning Israelites and Jews.
passed through the gate--that is, through the gate of the foe's city in which they had been captives. So the image of the resurrection ( Hosea 13:14 ) represents Israel's restoration.
their king--"the Breaker," peculiarly "their king" ( Hosea 3:5 , Matthew 27:37 ).
pass before them--as He did when they went up out of Egypt ( Exodus 13:21 , Deuteronomy 1:30 Deuteronomy 1:33 ).
the Lord on the head of them--Jehovah at their head ( Isaiah 52:12 ). Messiah, the second person, is meant (compare Exodus 23:20 , 33:14 , Isaiah 63:9 ).