Micah 2:8

8 But lately my people have attacked one another as if they were enemies. You strip the rich robes off those who happen to pass by. They thought they were as safe as men returning from a battle they had won.

Micah 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 2:8

Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy
Or "yesterday" F15; meaning a very little while before this prophecy, the people of Israel, those of the ten tribes, who were the people of God by profession, rose up as an enemy, not only to God and true religion, worshipping idols; but rather to their brethren, those of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin; as they did in the times of Pekah king of Israel, who slew a hundred and twenty thousand of them in one day, ( 2 Chronicles 28:6 ) ; and which is here mentioned as a reason why the Spirit of the Lord in his prophets threatened them with evil, and did not promise them good things: ye pull off the robe with the garment;
the upper and nether garment, and so stripped them naked: or, "they stripped the robe from off the garment", as some F16; they took the upper garment or cloak from them, and left them only the under garment: for them that pass by securely, as men averse from war:
who were travelling from place to place about their proper business, and thought themselves very safe; were peaceable men themselves, and suspected no harm from others: or, "returning from war" F17; such who escaped in the battle, and fled for their lives; and when they imagined they, were safe, and out of danger, fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped them of their garments. Gussetius F18 interprets it of such who were returning to the battle, and yet so used.


FOOTNOTES:

F15 (lwmta) "heri", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Burkius.
F16 (hmlv lwmm) "a veste togam spoliatis", Noldius; "a veste pallium exuitis", Burkius.
F17 (hmxlm ybwv) "revertentibus a bello", Piscator; "redeunt a bello", Cocceius; "et revertuntur a bello", De Dieu; "uti essetis reversi ex bello", Burkius.
F18 "Redeuntes in bellum", Comment. Ebr. p. 836.

Micah 2:8 In-Context

6 "Don't prophesy," the people's prophets say. "Don't prophesy about bad things. Nothing shameful is going to happen to us."
7 People of Jacob, should others say, "The LORD isn't angry with us. He doesn't do things like that"? The LORD replies, "What I promise brings good things to those who lead honest lives.
8 But lately my people have attacked one another as if they were enemies. You strip the rich robes off those who happen to pass by. They thought they were as safe as men returning from a battle they had won.
9 You drive the women among my people out of their pleasant homes. You take my blessing away from their children forever.
10 Get up! Leave this land! It is no longer your resting place. You have made it 'unclean.' You have completely destroyed it.
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