40 Micah

3:8

II Jd 14: 10

11 2:14 A m 5: 15 G n 6:6 + J r 26:3

JO NAH

/496

mation was then promulgated thro ughout N ineveh, by decree of the king a nd his minister s, as follows: ' Men and beasts , her ds and flocks, are to taste nothing ; they must not ea t, they must not dr ink water. · AII' are to put on sackcloth and ca ll o n Go d with all their might ; and let eve ryone renounce his evil beha viour and the wicked things he has done. •Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath , so that we do not perish?'. God saw their efforts to reno unce their evil behavi our. And God relented: he did no t inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.

8

9

10

The grievance of the prophet and God's answer Lk 15:28

4

Jo nah was very ind ignant at th is; he fell into a rage . •He pra yed to Ya hweh and said, ' Ah ' Ya hweh. is not th is just as [ said wo uld happen when I was 1:3 still at home ? T hat was why [ went and fled to Tarshish: [ knew that yo u were ~~ 16~~;~it a G od of tenderness and co mpass ion, slow to anger , rich in grac iousness, relent ing 1 K 19:4 from evil. -So now Yahwe h, please take away my life, for [ migh t as well be dead Tb 3:6 as go on living.' • Ya hwe h replied, 'Are you right to be a ngry?' -J o nah the n went out of the city and sat down to t he east of the city . T here he made himself a she lter a nd sat under it in the shade, to see what would ha ppen to the city. Th en Yahweh God arranged that a castor-oil plant sho uld grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head and soo the his ill-humour ; Jo nah was del ighted with the castor-oil plant . -But at da wn the next day , G od arranged tha t a worm sho uld a ttack the castor-oil plant- and it withered. •Ne xt, when th e su n ro se, God arranged that th ere should be a scorching ea st wind ; th e sun bea t do wn I K 19:4 so hard o n Jo nah's head that he was overcome and begged for deat h, say ing, 'I might as well be dead as go on living' . · God sa id to Jo na h, 'Are you right to be angry a bo ut the casto r-o il plant?' He replied, 'I have every right to be a ngry , to the point of dea th' .• Ya hweh replied, 'You are only upset a bo ut a cas to r-oil plant which cos t yo u no lab our, which yo u did not mak e grow, which spro uted in a night a nd has perished in a night. •And am [ not to feel so rry for N ineveh, the grea t city, in which there are mor e than a hundred and twenty th ousand peo ple who ca nnot tell the ir right hand fro m thei r left, to say not hing of all the animalsj'«

MICAH l I T he wor d of Yahweh t hat was addressed to M icah of Mores heth in the time . of Jot ha m, A haz an d Hezekia h, kings of ludah. H is visions of Samaria and lerusalem.

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I. ISRAEL ON TRIA L

8

THREA T

AND C O N D E M N A T ION II.

9

10

II

The judgement of Samaria" Listen, you peo ples, all of you . Atte nd , earth, and everyt hing in it. Ya hweh" is going to give evidence against you , the Lo rd, as he sets out fro m his sacred pa lace. Fo r look, Ya hweh sets o ut from his holy place, he comes dow n, he treads t he heig hts of earth. T he moun tains melt as he goes, t he va lleys are torn a part, like wax before the fire, like wate r poured ou t on a stee p place.

Is 28: 1-4 Ps 49:! Is 1:2

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All this is because of th e crim e of lacob , th e sin of t he Ho use of Israel , What is th e crime of lacob? Is it not Samaria? What is the sin of the Hou se of J udah?" Is it not lerusalem? I mea n to ma ke Samaria a ruin in the op en country, a place wher e vines will be plant ed. I will set her sto nes ro lling into th e valley, I will lay her foundations bare. All her images ar e going to be sha tte red , all her earni ngs" consu med by fire, all her idols brok en in pieces, for t hey have been collected ' with pr ostitutes ' ea rn ings and prostitutes' earnings th ey will be again. Pro phets : it is furt herm ore fu ll of ph ras es characteristic his se lf-p ity; a nd now. of Jerem iah .

e . Hebr. adds 'a nd bea sts' , 4 a . Th is fina l chante r ends with (he no te of G od 's me rcy o n a ll his creatures. He has mercy on Jo na h in the sea . 2:7. on repe ntant Nineveh. on the p ro phet in

4:10~ 1 J,

he ex p lains with gen tle irony how he is th ou ght ful eve n for the brute crea tion. st ill mo re for men and lit t le child re n , ' who ca nno t te ll t hei r r-igh t ha nd from t heir left ' , T he wh ol e book t h us prepa res the way for th e reve lation of the gospel: God is love; cr; In troduc tion to the Pro phets.

I a . This oracle ag a inst Samaria. utter ed be fore th e ra il o f the ci ty in 721, has been sub sequ en tly a pp lied ro Jeru s alem . b . 'Ya hwe h' some Greek. MSS; ' T he Lord Yahweh ' Hcb r. c . ' the si n of th e Ho use o f Judah' G reek. Ta ra.: ' the h igh p laces o r J ud ah ' Hebr .

d. T he wages of th e sacred p ro stitutes in th e reli gion o f Sa maria. A m 2:7-8 : H o 4: 14. cr . D t 23: 19 + . To Mica h th e wh ol e of Sa m aria is a p ro sti tut e as Isr ael is for Hosea. J er emi a h a nd Ezek iel. cf . Ho 1:2 +. e , ' they ha ve bee n co llec ted ' Targ.• Syr .• v ule.: ' s he has co llect ed ' He br.

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3: 12

Ez k 6:6

1:8

2 S 15:30 Is 20:2-4 Ezk 24: 17-23

Do not announce it in Gath, h in .. . i shed no tears. In Beth-lea phrah ro ll in the du st. So und the horn , you who live in Shaphir. She has not left her city, she who lives in Za ana n. Beth-ezel is torn from its fou nda tions, fro m its strong supports.' What hope has she - of happiness, she who lives in Maroth? F or doom has come down from Yahweh to the very gate of Je rusalem. Ha rness the horse to the chariot, you who live in Lachish. (Th is was the beginn ing of sin for the daughter of Zion, for Israe l's cr imes were to be found in you .) So you must prov ide a dowry for More shet h-gat h. Bet h-achzib' will prove a snar e for the kings of Israel. The plunderer will come> to you again, you who live in Ma reshah . .. . to Adullarn will go the glo ry of Israe l. n

Jr 25 :34

Jos 15:37

R l l :20

1'1

Jos 15:39 2 K 14:19

Jos 15:44

Jos 15:44 1 S 22: 1 2 S 23:1 3 Jr 7:29

Off with your hair, shave your head , for th e sons that were yo ur joy . Ma ke yourse lves bald like the vulture, for they have go ne fro m you into exile.

Is 22: 12

Zc 7:10 Ps 36:4 ; 58:2

Is 5:8

IIAm 5: 13

Against the tyranny of the rich Woe to those who plot evil, who lie in bed plann ing misch ief! No sooner is it da wn than they do it -their hands have the stre ngth for it. Seizing the fields that the y covet, they ta ke over houses as well, owner and house they co nfiscate" together, taking bot h ma n and inherita nce. So Ya hweh says this: Now it is I who plot such mischief aga inst th is breed as yo ur necks will not escape; nor will you be able to walk pro ud ly, so evil will t he time be.

2

MICAH

/499

/ 498

Lame nt for the lowland cities! This is why I am going to mourn and lament, go bar efoot a nd na ked, how l like the jacka ls, wail like the ostriche s. For there is no healing for the blow Ya hweh strikes;" it reaches int o J uda h, it knocks at the very doo r of my peop le, reac hes even int o Je rusalem.

2 S 1:20 Is 10:27

1,

MICA H

4

2 :1 0

On that day they will make a satire on you, sing a dirge and say, 'We are stripped of everything; my people 's portion is measured out and shared, no one will give it back to them , b our fields are awarded to our despoiler' .'

Ho b 2:6

DI28:30-33

Therefore you will have no one to measure ou t a shar e in the communi ty of Yahwe h." 10

The prophet of misfortune '

II

12

13

14

10

'D o not ra ve,' they rave 'do no t rave like t his. No sha me is going to overtak e us.! Ca n the Ho use of Jaco b be accursed? Has Yahweh lost patienc e? Is that his way of going to work? Surely his words are words of kindness for his people Israel ?'" It is you who play the enemy to my peop le. From the innocent man you snatch his cloa k, on the man who thinks himself safe you inflict the da mage of war. h The women of my peop le you dr ive out fro m the homes they loved ; their' ch ildren you rob for ever of the hon our I gave the m, ' ' Get up! Be off! T here is no restin g here.' For a worth less th ing, you exact a n extortionate pledge."

Is 30:10 Am 2:12

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f. F o retelling d isas ter for twelve ci ties to th e S, W . 2

a . Con fisc at io n for debt : th e cred ito rs th us take ( 0 enlarge t hei r es tates,

of Jud ah. SCVt;l1 o f t hese ar e k no w n:
16

cf. Jos 15:35-44 : the nam e of o ne cirv has been lost. y. IO; the re m ain ing fo ur m us t ha ve been in the sa me re gio n . The ge ne ra l meanin g is dea r: a n in va sio n affc ct tng th e pr oph et 's nat ive p lace se rves here as a warnin g for Je r usa lem . T he re fere nce is evid ently to Se nnacheri b' s invasion of P h ilist ia and J ud ah in 70 1. g. ' the blo w o f Ya hweh str ike s ' co r r. : 'the b lo ws sh e has received ' Heb r. h. As in Is 10 :28- 32, t he text plays on the na mes o f t he t welve cit ies. T he assona nce s a re: Ga th and ta etddu 'a n no u nce' , Beth -Iea nhrah a nd anha r 'd ust' , (p oss ib ly Sha n hir a .1,j shon har ' ho rn ' ). Z a ana n a nd ya zeah ' she has go ne o u t' . Lachish a nd rechesh 's teed', Ma rot h mean s ' bitt er ness' . T he na me Mo resheth (the prop he t's ho me , 1: 1) su ggests the betrot hed, meorashah; th e ci ty wit h its m ar ria ge gifts is to be handed over to it s new m as ter . Ac hz ib p lay s o n a ch zab 'dece pt ion ' ; Ma reshah on voresh ' he who ta kes po ssessio n ' . L T he Hebr ., her e corr u pt , must h ave give n the nam e (If a to wn . I. ' So und t he horn' te xt co r r. (by add ing shoohar ) : 'p ass o n for yo u n)" He br. ' is torn ' Greek, T ars . ' fr om it s found ati on s' cor r. : 'm ou rn ing ' Hebr. ' fro m u s sup po rts' corr . : 'fro m yOU ' Hebr. k . Carr. fo llow ing T a ra.: 'for she was sick' Hebr. I. 'B etb-ac hztb' co rr. : 'T he houses of Achzib ' Hebr . m, ' wi ll co me again' co rr . f ' l s ha ll bring ('?r Hebr. n. D a vid in fligh t took refu ge in Ad ullam . A co rr ect io n wo u ld give the read ing ' F o r ever from Ad u lla m t he gforv of Israel will depart' , i.e . Ya hweh wil l a ba ndo n th e very pla ce t hat saw the begin ning s o f th e Davidic d yn asty.

b. ' jdve it ba ck to th em OiL 'h im') co m. : ' he ta kes h from me' He b r. c . Text cor r., cf. Greek . T he pun ishmen t, infli ct ed by a fo reign in va der , affects t he who le na tio n . T here is assonance be twee n ' o ur fields' t sadenu t, ' o ur despoiler ' t shobe nu I , a nd 'we are str ipped' t neshadunu t , d . ' YOU' (p lura l) co r r. ; ' yo u ' (s ing ular) He br , The m o no poli sts will be ex cl uded from th e d ivisio n of the la nd i n t he rest o red ki ng do m . e . T he p rophe t's lis tene rs object , o n t he st re ng th of th e cov e na n t , to hi s t hrea ts, vv , 6- 7 , M ica h re torts, vv , 8- 10, t hat this co vena nt has bee n vio la ted by t he very o nes who h ypocrit ica lly a ppea l to it a nd who ask th eir prop he ts to prom ise them eart hly prospertry , v, I I. r. T he verb her e rendered ' ra ve ', a nd , in v. I I , ' p ro p hes y' , m eans liter ally ' to ca use to flo w, to fo am a t t he m ou t h ' , and is usu a lly em ployed in a da magi ng sen se, ' N o sha me is go ing to o ver ta ke us' corr . g. ' acc ursed ' corr. : 'sa id' He br . ' h is wo rds ' G reek ; 'my word s' Hebr. ' his peo ple Israel' corr. : ' wit h th e upri gh t m an wh o wa lks' Heb r. h . Te xt ca rr.. cf. G reek; Hebr. ' A nd yesterday my peo ple played the ene my ; fro m in fr ont , you to o k the p re ciou s gar me nt from those re turned from batt le who pa ss by tru st ing ly' . I. ' they", ' their ': Greek; He br. h as 's he ' , ' her ' , J. I.e . of be in g free men in Israel. k , 'a wo rt hless t hin g (a not hin g)' co rr.: ' u nclea nness' Hebr, ' YOU exact a p ledge ' co er. of G ree k ; 'Y OU (si ngu la r) d estroy and grief' Hebr.

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1:8

2 S 15:30 Is 20:2 -4 Ezk 24: 17-23

Do nol announce it in Galli, h in . . . i shed no tears . In Beth-leaphra h roll in the dust. Sound the horn , you who live in Sha phir. She has not left her city, she who lives in Zaana n. Beth-ezel is torn from its foundat ions, from its str ong supports.' What hope has she- of happiness, she who lives in Maroth? Fo r doom has come do wn from Yahweh to the very gate of Jerusalem . Harness the horse to the chariot, you who live in Lachis h. (Thi s was th e beginni ng of sin for the da ughter of Zion , for Israe l's crimes were to be foun d in you .) So you must provide a dowr y for Mores hcth-ga th. Beth-ac hzib' will prove a snare for the kings of Israel. The plunderer will co me > to you again , you who live in Ma resha h. . . . to Aduliam will go the glory of Israe I. n

Jr 25:34

J os 15:37

j R t 1:20

los 15:39 2 K 14:19

Jos 15:44

Jos 15:44 I S 22:1 2 S 23:13

J r 7:29

Off with your hai r, shave your head , for the so ns tha t were yo ur joy. Ma ke yourselves bald like the vult ure, for they have go ne fro m you into exile.

Is 22:12

Zc7: 10 Ps 36:4 : 58:2

Is 5:8

ltAmS :IJ

/ 49 8

Against the tyranny of the rich Woe to those who plot evil, who lie in bed planning mischief! No soo ner is it dawn tha n they do it -their hands have the strength for it. Seizing the fields that they covet, they take over hou ses as well, owner and house they confiscate a together, taking bot h man and inheritance. So Yahweh says th is: Now it is I who plot such mischief against thi s breed as you r necks will not escape ; nor will you be able to walk pro udly, so evil will the time be.

2

MICA H

/499

La ment for the lowland cities! This is why I am going to mou rn and lament, go barefoot and naked, howl like the jackals, wail like the ostriches. For there is no healing for the blow Yahw eh strikes; « it reaches into J uda h, it knocks at the very doo r of my people, reaches even into Jerusalem.

2 S 1:20 Is 10:27

)

MI C A H

4

2 :10

On that day they will ma ke a satire on you , sing a dirge and say, 'We are stripped of everything ; my peop le's portion is measure d out and share d, no one will give it back to them , b our fields are awarded to our despoiler'. C

Ha b 2:6

DI 28: 30-33

Therefore you will have no one to measure ou t a share in the commu nity of Yahweh." 10

The prophet of misfortun e'

11

12

13

14

IS

16

10

' Do not rave,' they rave ' do not rave like this. No shame is going to overta ke us.! Ca n the Ho use of Jacob be accursed? Has Yahweh lost patience? Is that his way of going to work? Surely his words a re words of kindness fo r his peop le Israel?' Y It is you who play the enemy to my people. From the innocent man you sna tch his cloak , on the ma n who think s himself safe you inflict the damage of war." The women of my people you drive out from the homes they loved ; their ' children you rob for ever of the honou r I gave them/ 'Get up ! Be off! T here is no resting here.' For a wort hless thing, you exact a n extortionate pledge." f. Fore te llin g d isaster for twelv e citie s 10 th e S,W . of Jud a h . Seve n of th ese ar e k no wn: Ga rb. Morc shct hga th, C aa na n . La chish , Ac hzib. Maresha h. Adulluru. cr. Jos 15:35· 44 ; th e na me o f one city h as bee n lost , v. IO: the rema inin g fo u r mu st ha ve been in the same regio n . Th e genera l meani ng is d ear: an invasio n affecu nk th e p rophet 's nati ve p lace se r ves h er e a s a war ni ng for Jeru salem . T he refere nce is ev iden tly to Sen nacher ib' s invasio n o f Pnt listt a a nd Ju dah in 701. g . ' the b low o f Ya hwe h st r ike s' corr. : ' the blows she has recei ved ' Heb r. h. As in Is 10:28-32 , th e text pla ys on th e na mes o f t he twel ve cl ues . T he assona nce s a re: Gatb and toetddu 'a nnounce ' , Berh-le an hrah and anhar 'd us t' , (p o ssib ly Shaphir a ,1J sho phar ' ho rn ' ), Za an a n and ya zea h 's he has Kane out' . La chtsh a nd rechesh ' s teed'. M aro t h mean s ' b itte rne ss' . The name Mores he th (t he pro nhe r's home, 1: 1) s ug gest s th e be tro thed , me orashan: t he c ity with its ma rriage gift s is to be handed ov er to it s ne w ma ster. Ac hz ib plays on ac n zab ' c eceo u o n ": Mareshah o n voresn ' he w ho ta kes po sse ssion ' . I, T he Heb r., he re co rr u pt, mu st have given th e name o f a to wn . j , ' So u nd th e horn ' text corr. ( by ad d ing shon har) : ' pass o n for yo u (? )' He b r. ' is torn ' Gre ek , Ta ra . 'from its fou nda ti on s ' corr. : 'mourn ing ' Hebr. 'from it s s uppor ts ' cor r.: ' fro m yOU' Hebr. k. Co rr . followt na Ta rR.: 'fo r s he was sick ' Hebr . I. ' Be th-ac h zlb' corr. vThe houses of Achzib ' Heb r. m, ' will co me again ' corr. : ' J shall b r ing (1)' Heb r . n . Da vid in l1igh l took refuge in Ad ullam. A cor rect io n would give th e rea di ng ' Fo r ever from Ad ullam th e glory o f Israe l wi ll dep art ' , i.e . Ya h weh will a ba ndo n t he very p lace t h at saw the begi nnings of t he Davidl c d yn asty,

2 a . C o n flsc a t lo n fo r debt: th e cre dit o rs thu s la ke adva n tage to cnl ar xc th ei r esuues.

Is 30:10 Am 2: 12

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Were there a ma n of insp irat ion wh o wo uld invent ' t his lie, ' I pro phesy yo u wine a nd strong dr ink' , m he would be t he prophet for a peo ple like th is.

Is 5: 11 J r 5:3 1

10

11

Yes, I a m going to gather all Jaco b to gether , I will gat her the remn ant of Israel, bring them toge ther like shee p in the fold; like a flock in its pastu re they will fear no man . 0 He who walks at their head will lead the way in front of them ; he will walk at their head, " they will pass th rou gh the gate a nd go out by it ; their kin g will go o n in front of them, Yahweh at their head.

1s 4 :3 + 0 13 0:3-5 Ez k 34:1 + : 37:15 -28

I n 10:4

12

13

12

Is 5:20. 23 Is 9: 11

I S 8: 18 Jr t r.t r }

IIII

0 13 1: 17 Is 1:15

T hen I said: Listen now , you prince s of th e Ho use of Jacob," rule rs of t he H o use of Israel. Are you not the ones who should know what is right, you, enem ies of good and friends of evil?" When the y have devoured t he flesh of my people a nd torn off their sk in a nd cru shed their bone s ; when they ha ve shredded them like flesh' in a po t a nd like meat in a cau ldr o n, t hen they will cry o ut to Ya hweh. But he will not an swer them . He will hid e his face at th at time because of a ll the crimes they have co mmitted.

Against vena l prophets-

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Ezk 7:26

Yahweh says this agai nst the prophets who lead my people astray: So long as t hey have something to eat they cry 'Peace'. But on anyo ne who puts no th ing into their mo uths they declare war. And so the night will co me to you : an end of vision; darkness for you: an end of divina tio n. T he sun will set for the prophets, the day will go black for them. T hen th e seers will be covered with shame, the divi ners with confusion ; t hey will all cover th eir lips, beca use no answer comes fro m G od. N ot so with me, I am full of stre ngt h (o f the breat h of Yahweh), of justice and co urage to decl are Jacob's crime to his face and Israel's to his. To the guilty ones : prophecy of the ruin of Zion

Now listen to this, you pr inces of the House of Jaco b, rulers of the House of Israel ,

A m 5:7 Hg2:12

Is 1:23

I S 9:7+

Jr 7:3-4

1:6 .l' J r 26:18

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Aga inst the rulers who oppress the people

3

4:5

you who loathe jus tice and perve rt ' all th at is right , you who build! Zion wit h blood, Jerusalem with crim e. g Her princes pronounce their verdict for bribes, her pr iests take a fee for their rulin gs," her prophets mak e divinations fo r mo ney. And yet they rely o n Yahweh. T hey say, 'Is not Yahweh in o ur midst? No evil is going to overtake us.' Beca use of this , since the fault is you rs, Zion will become plough land, Jerusalem a heap of rubble , and the mountain of the Temple a wooded height.

II

Promises of restora tion" Jr 3: 18 +

M ICAH

z«

II. PROMI S E S T O Z I O N T he future reign of Ya hweh in Z ion-

14

4

In the days to com e t he mou ntain of the Temple of Ya hweh will be put o n top of the mou nt ain s a nd be lifted higher than the hills. T he peo ples will stream to it, nat ions withou t number will come to it; and th ey will say , ' Co me, let us go up to the moun tain of Ya hweh, to the Tem ple of the God of Jacob so that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths ; since from Zio n the Law will go o ut , and the oracle of Ya hweh from Jerusalem.' He will wield author ity over man y peopl es and arbitrat e for mighty nation s; I, they will ha mmer their swords into plo ughshares , their spea rs into sickles. Na tion will not lift sword aga inst nation, th ere will be no more tra ining for war. Each ma n will sit under his vine and his fig tree, with no one to trouble him. Th e mou th of Ya hweh Sa bao th has spoken it. Fo r all th e peo ples go forwa rd, each in the name of its god ; but we, we go forward in the nam e of Ya hweh, our God, for ever and eve rmo re.'

I. ' who wou ld in vent ' corr. : ' he has in vent ed ' Heb r. m , The oracle of the ly ing prophet pl ay s o n th e double m ea n in g o f t he verb : ' p r op hesy' a nd 'c a use t o fl o w ' , cf. 2:6 + . n . T he attribut ion to M ica h of thes e promises o f reu n ion a nd re tu rn is de ba ted . u , ' a ll Ja cob toget her ' G re ek ; ' all of you . 0 Jacob ' Hebr ; ' t hey will fear ' car r. p . ' he will walk a t th eir head ' co rr. : Hebr . has plu ra l. 3 a . ' t he House o f Jacob' Greek a nd v , 9 : 'J a cob ' He b r. b. He br. add s 'tear in g the sk in o ff t hem a nd the fles h off th eir bo ne s' , a gloss o n v. 3. c. ' li ke flesh ' Greek , Syr .: ' like' He br . d, On gifts ro prophets, cr. Is 9:7- 8 : I K 14:3 ;

2 K 4 :4 2: 5: 15.22: 8:8-9 : A m 7: 12 . c . ' (Yo u) pervert ' co rr .: ' t he y p ervert ' He b r. f. ' YOU wh o b u ild' ver sions : ' b u il d ' H ebr. e . T he p ro p he t's firs t t hou g ht as he su rveys th e imp o si ng b uil din gs of th e ca pi ta l is of a ll t he extor tion that paid fo r them (so , too, A m 3: 10, 15 ; 5: 11; 6:8: Jr 22:1 3- 15). h . Refer ri ng to Ihe deci sion s of th e pr iests t torotnt , cr. Ex 22 :8 : r» 17:8-13: Jr 18:1 8 ; Ezk 7:26 : H g 2: 11-14 ; M I 2:7. 4 a . T he so u rce of t h is o racle . whi ch recurs in Is 2:2-4, is doubtful. Like Is 60 it spe a ks of the co m ing o f the co nver ted heathen to Zio n , cf. Is 45: 14 + . b. H ebr. ad ds 'far off' . c . A lit u r gical addi tion (a s in Is 2:5).

Ill s 2:2-4 +

III

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I K 8:4 lf T b 13:11

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4:6

MICAH

15° 2

15°3

The gathering of the scattered flock in Zion" Ezk 34: 1 +

T hat day- it is Yahweh who spea ksI will fina lly gather in the lame, a nd br ing together those that have been led as tray an d tho se that have suffered at my hand . Out of the lame I will make a remnant , and out of the weary' a mighty nation. T hen will Yahweh reign over them on the mountain of Zion from now and for ever.

Z p 3: 19

Is 4:3 +

O b 21

3

4

4. 5a

5b 6b

And yo u, Tower of the Flock, Op hel of the daughter of Zio n,! to yo u sha ll be given back yo u r fo rmer sovere ignty, a nd royal po wer over the Ho use o f Israel. "

I n 16:21 Rv 12:2

5. 6a

10

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Is 55:8-9

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Go 49:10 R t 1:2 » M t 2:6 /~ J n 7:42

Is 9 :5

5

Is 7:14

12

13

14 )

I 2

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A m 1:3 +

Ps

2:9LX~

z

III


The future role of the rem nan t a mong the na tions"

II

T he distress and glory of the Davidic dynastyNow look to yo ur fo rtificat ions, Fortress.' T hey have la id siege agai nst us ; wit h a rod they strike o n the cheek the judge of Israel. But yo u, (Be thle hem) Ephratha h, the least" of the clans of J uda h, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his o rig in goes back to the d istant past, to the days of old. b

As fo r Assyria, sho uld it invade our country, sho uld it set foot on our soi l,! we will ra ise seven shep herds agains t it, eight lea de rs o f men; t hey will sh epherd Assy ria with the sword, an d the land of N im ro d wit h the sword blad e. 9

Then among th e man y peopl es, the remnant of Jacob wi ll be like a dew from Ya hweh, like raindrops on the grass , p utt ing no hope in men , ex pecting nothing fro m mankind. T he n a mo ng the man y peoples, the re mna nt o f J acob will be' like a lion a mong beasts of the forest,

The pagans crushed on the threshing-ftoor in Zion) Now ma ny na tions a re mustered a ga inst you. 'Let her be de secrated,' they say ' let our eyes feast on the r uin s o f Zion.' Bu t th ey do not kn ow Yahweh' s th oughts, they ha ve fa iled to u nde rstand his purpose, he has co llected the m like sheaves o n th e t hreshing floor. Up, da ug hte r o f Zio n, a nd thres h ; for I will give yo u horns of iron , hoo fs of bro nze, for yo u to tramp le down man y peoples. Y ou will dedicate thei r plu nd er to Y a hweh, their treasures to the Lo rd of the who le earth.

5:7

Y ahweh is there fore go ing to a band o n them till t he t ime when she who is to give birth - gives birth . T he n t he remnan t o f hi s bro thers will come back to t he sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of Yahweh, with the majesty of the name of his God." They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his pow er to the end s of the la nd . H e himself will be peace. He will de liver us from Assyria should it inva de our country, should it set foot insi de our fro nt iers. T he confidence of the people of Judah'

4b

ss

T he siege, exile, and liberation of Zion" W hy are yo u cry ing a loud? Is the re no king wit hin you? A re yo ur cou nse llo rs los t t ha t pains sho u ld grip yo u lik e a woman in labour? Wr ithe, cry out, ' da ughter o f Zio n, like a wo ma n in lab our, for now yo u hav e to lea ve the city a nd live in th e open co unt ry. To Babylo n yo u mu st go a nd t here yo u will be rescued; there Ya hwe h will ran som you o ut o f the power of yo ur ene m ies.

MICAH

Is 4:3 +

11. W

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Ho 14:6

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N. 2:12

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d. U nde r the image of the Rood she p herd . cr. Ez k 34 : 1 +. th e prom ise is made t h a t Israel will be res to red to Z io n wh en t he pu nis hment is o ve r. c. ' we a ry' Vu IR.; ' o u tc as ts ' Hebr . f. 'Tower o f th e F loc k', in Hc br. M igd al-ede r : th is a ncie nt place-n ame. ct. Gn 35:2 1, he re ind ic at es Je r usa le m. co mpari ng it to a s heepfo ld. Oo net is the dist ric t whe re th e king lived . g . ' o ve r the House of Israel' c o r r . : ' [0 t he da ug h te r of Je ru sal e m ' Hebr. h. T h is oracle fo ret e lls t he d eporta tio n. The mention o f Ba bylon , v, 10. m ust be a lat er e lu cida tion . I. 'c ry o ut' co rr .; ' gus h fo rth ' He br. j . T h is oracle, un like th e pr eceding . des cr ibes the libe ra tio n of Z io n it se lf , besieged by the na ti o ns. Isaiah, the prophe t's co nte mporary . ma de si m ila r prophecies , Is 10:24- 27,32- 34 : 14:24-27 ; 29 : 1-8 ; 30:27-33 ; 31:4-9 . In all th ese or a cle s t he reference is pr o ba bl y to Se nnac her ib's in va si on in 70 1 a n d it s m yst er iou s fa ilur e . A t a la ter date t he nat ions' assault o n Jerusal em (and th e ir fina l de fea t) will become a notabl e fea ture of esc ha toloaica t Itter arure, E zk 38- 39: J 14 : Zc 14. k. The o rac le co nt rasts th e king, ' th e ju d ge of Israe l' . now humili a ted (b y Se nnacherib: 2 K 18:13. (6) , wit h t he mes sianic king whose b irt h ina ug u ra tes the new e ra o f glo ry a nd pe a ce (as in Is 9:5) . Mica h , in t he wa y tr adit ion all y favo ur ed by t he p ro p he ts of Juda h, sees thi s Mess ia h as a victo r io us kin g in Zion. so a lso Gn 49 : 1O· 12;Nb24:15 -19; Ps II O;Is9: 1-6 :11 : 1-9 ;32:1'. I, ' loo k to yo ur fortificat ions , Fo rt ress ' fo llowing Greek: 'cut yo u rse lf deep , daugh ter o f t he t roop' Hebr . 'Fort ress' , Hebr. Be t h-ga de r (l it, ' ho use o f t he rampar t'), a pp lied to Z io n , is a na me sim ilar to 'T o we r o f th e F lock' in v, 8. Th e p rophet co n tras ts t he p ride o f

t he fortifie d ca p ita l with th e humb le s la te o f Ep hr u th a h from whi c h sa lva ti o n is to co me. 5 a . ' the le as t' G reek : 's ma ll' Hebr. : He br. and G reek ad d ' to be ' , b. Ep h ra tha h (to whic h M ica h a p pa re nt ly a n a che s t he e'ty mo logi ca l meanin g o f ' fr u itful' , co n nec t ing it with th e bi rt h o f th e Mes s ia h) o r igi na lly in d icated a c la n re la ted to C a leb , 1 Ch 2: 19.24 ,50 , a nd se tt led in t he d is tric t o f Be th le hem , 1 S 17: 12 ; R t 1:2 : the na me lat er came to be used of th e to wn itself, G n 35 :19; 48 :7 : Jos 15:59 : Rt 4:1 J. he nce the gloss in th e te xt. Micah is thi n kin g of th e a ncie nt origin of th e d yna sty o f D av id. 1 S 17:12 : Rt 4:11. 17,18-22: in '(Beth lehe m) Ep hra tha h' th e eva ngeli s ts will rec o gn ise a n ind ic at io n of t he Mess iah ' s bi rth pla ce . c . Re fere nce to th e m o the r of th e M essiah . M icah is pe r ha ps t hink i ng o f th e famous oracle of the alma , Is 7: 14 +, de livered by Isa ia h a bo ut 30 ye ar s earlie r. d. ' his God ' ; Heb r . ' Yahweh h is God' . c. T his brief pas sage per ha ps expresses the presu m p tuo us self -a ss ura nce of the p ro p he t's contempora ri es in c o n tra st to the a u the nt ic me ssian ic ho pe . f. ' o ur so il' G ree k , Sy r .; ' o ur pa lace s ' Hebr. 10: . 'Assy ri a ' Gree k: ' the la nd o f Assyr ia' Hebr. 'w ith th e s w ord blade ' one G reek MS, Lar.: ' in its e nt ra nces ' Hebr , h . Passage co nsist ing o f tw o sym me tr ica l st ro phes. Th e seco nd de scribes the tr ium ph of th e ' r em na n t' over th e na tio ns : the flrs t'fs eit her a pro m ise of blessin g to these sa me nat ion s or e lse. m or e proba bl y. a p ro ph ec y of b lessi ng fo r Isr a e l a lo ne (i n wh ic h case Jsrael is no t the ' de w' bu t t he ' grass' ). L H e br , adds 'among the nat io ns' .

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MI CAH

15°5

15° 4

like a young lion am ong flocks of sheep trampling as he goes, man gling his prey which no o ne takes fro m him .

Ho l :7 : 14:4 Zc 9: 10

Ir

Ex 23:24 + : 34 :13 +

Ii

III.

9

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12 10 II

10 II

II

t: a 13

13 15 12b

14

14

I S R A E L ON TR I A L 16

D E N U N C IA TIO N

A ND THR EA T

puts his people on tr ial" N ow listen to wha t Ya hweh is saying: Sta nd up and let th e case begin in th e hearing of the mountain s and let the hills hear what you say . " Listen, you mou nta ins, to Yahweh's accusation , give ear, c you fou nda tio ns of th e ear th, for Yahweh is acc using his people, plead ing agai nst Israe l: My peo ple, wha t have I done to you , how have I been a burde n to yo u? Answer me." 1 brou ght yo u o ut of the land of Egypt, I rescued you from th e ho use of slavery ; I sent Moses to lead you, with Aa ro n a nd M iriam . My peo ple, rem emb er: what did Balak plot, t hat king of Moab ? Wh at did Balaam answer, t hat son of Beor?

D n 3:39 Lv 18:21 J. 11:30-31

. . . from Shitti m to Gilgal, for you to know the rightness of the ways of Yahweh.' - 'With what gift shall I come into Yahweh's presence and bow down befor e God on high? Sha ll I com e wit h holoca usts, with ca lves o ne yea r old? Will he be pleased wit h ra ms by the tho usand , with libations of oil in to rre nts? Must I give my first-born for wha t I have do ne wrong ,

7: I

the fru it of my body for my own sin?'! -What is good has been explained to you,' man ; this is what Ya hweh asks of you: on ly this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.

Yahweh will withdraw the tem ptation to rely on men/ Let your han d be raise d against you r foes an d all your ene mies sha ll be cu t off. This is how it will be, th at da y - it is Ya hweh who spea ksI will tear away your hors es from you, a nd dest roy yo ur chari ot s ; tear the towns of yo ur country from you , br ing down all yo ur stro ngho lds; tear the cha rms from yo ur hands, and you will have no more soot hsaye rs ; tear fro m yo u your image s and you r pillars ; tear from you your sacred po les, and de molish your idols ; " and no lon ger will you bow down befo re th e wo rk of your hands. I will tak e reven ge in anger and fury on th e nat ion s that wou ld not obey .

MICAH

Against tricksters in the city T he vo ice of Ya hweh. He is calling to the city:" Listen, tr ibe, and asse mbly of t he city ' whose ric h men a re cramm ed wit h violence, who se citizens are liars .' Must I put up with frau d ulent meas ure , k or tha t a bomina tion the short-weight bu shel? Must I hold th e man ho nest who meas ures with false scales and a bag of faked weights?' I ha ve the refo re begun > to strike you down, to bri ng you to rui n for your sins. You will sow but never reap , press the olive but never rub yo urself with oil, press the grap e but never drink wine from it ; you will eat but never be satisfied ," sto re away but never preserveand what is preserved I shall give to the swor d." The example of Sa maria You keep the laws of Omr i and follow all the practices of the Ho use of A hab ;« you a re guided by their stand ards, and they force me to mak e a terrib le example of you, and to turn you r inhabit ants into a lau ghing-sto ck, to suffer the scorn of the peoples . q Universal injustice 1 am in tro uble! I have beco me like a ha rveste r in sum mer time,

17

l. T he oracle of vv. 9- 13 de cla res th at Ya hwe h will lea r (lit. 'CUI off') fro m his people a ll the ir s pu rio us hum a n su ppor ts «r. Ho 3:4 ; 8: 14 : 14 :4 ; Is 2:7-8: 30:1-3. 15· 16 ; 31:1-3) : mi litary Dower, apparat us of d ivina tio n and of the cu lt o n th e ' high places' . But th e threa t a lso impli es a n era of peace and of tru e fa ith . T his orac le is applied by vv, 8 a nd 14, to t he pagans , enemies of Ya h weh; it is a sub seq ue nt adju stm ent. k , ' yo ur idols' co rr, ; ' yo ur cit ies' Hebr. 6 a. A fter Ya hweh ' s accu sa tion in which he reca lls his good ness to Israel . vv, 3-5. his repe ntan t worshipper enq uires what his G o d demands of him . vv. 6-7. T he pro phet replies. v, 8. b. The mo un tains a re G od 's favourite pl ace of mee ting with his peop le (Sin ai . N ebo, Eb al and Gerizim, l ion, Carmel, etc.). T hey are cha nge less witnesse s, often personified , G n 49:26 ; 2 S 1:21; Ez k 35-3 6 ; I's 6R:15- 16, etc . c. ' give ea r' co rr. ; 'a nd t he deeps (7)' Hebr. d. ' ha ve I bee n a burden to you ' (h eleethika l a nd ' I bro ught yo u up ' ( hee tithika l a re simila r in so und . Yuhweh is a bo ut to rem ind th e peop le, who cla im t ha t he ha s aba ndo ned them. of his past ki ndn esses . The ICl(1 is used in the l mn rooe ria of the G ood Fr iday liturgy. e. T here is a lacun a in the Hebr. text. T he referen ce I. 10 th e crossing of the J or d an . ' YOU to know ' " I'u io ns : 'k now ledge of' He be. T he 'rightness of t he WIlYS '
A m5 :2 1;'

Am 5:24 Ho 2:21 + Ps 131:1 Is 7:9 . 30 :15

Dt 25:13-16 P r 11:1 Am 8:5

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co ve na n t itself was the iss ue of a divine lni n ative. (hi s ' u p r igh tne ss ' Cr ts tu eo us ness' . ' justice' ) is free ly given . f . In a nswe r to Yahw eh 's co mpla int agains t his peo ple, the wo rsh ipp er no w rep lies, whic h shows clear ly th e pe rso na l na ture of th e pr ophe t's religio n. Th e wo rshippe r suggests la wful a nd forbidden sac rifices. The pr ophe t re jects th em a ll. v. 8, repla cin g them with a religion of th e spiri t t he de mands of which ha ve alre ady been made kno wn to man , name ly, justice (Amos). lo ve ( Hosea) , h um ilit y before Go d (I sa iah) . 8 , ' has been exp lained ' G reek ; IHe ha s explained ' H ebe.: 'I will make k no wn' Syr.. Vulg, h. He br. adds ' wisdo m to fear yo ur nam e ( ?) '. I. 'a ssembly of the city' co ni. fo llowing Greek . I. Hebr. adds Itheir to ngue in their m o uth is deceit' , cr . Ps J20:2-3• k . Te xt co ni, resto red . I. ' M ust I hold the man hon est' Vu lg. ; ' Sha ll I be hone st' Hebr . V. 12 is tr ansp osed to fo llow v , 9. m . ' beg un' versio ns : ' mad e sick ' Heb r, n. Th e Heb e. adds tw o wo rds, the first not k nown . o. V. 15 is transposed to pre cede v, 14 . p. Re ferr ing eithe r to the wo rs hip of Baa l o r . more probably . to the luxury of th e upper class es. and soc ia l inju st ice. Q . ' Yo u keep' versio ns; 'he keeps himself' Heb r. ' YOU (sing ular) a re guided' ; Hebr. has p lural. ' yo ur (i nhabi ta nt s). co re. : ' his' Hebr. 'of the peoples' G reek ; ' of m ) ' seoete' He br.

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MI CAH

by rea son of its inhab ita nts, in return fo r wha t they have do ne.' A pra yer for the confusion of the pagans With shep herd' s crook lead yo ur peop le to pasture, the floc k that is yo ur heritag e, living confined in a fo rest wit h meadow lan d all a ro und. m Let them pasture in Basha n and Gi lead as in the da ys of o ld . As in the da ys when yo u ca me out of Egypt grant us to see" wonders. T he pagans, seeing it, will be confounded for all their power ; they will lay th eir hands to their mouth s, the ir ears will be deafened by it. T hey will lick the du st like ser pents, like things t hat cra wl on the. ea rth. T hey will come trembling from the ir la irs, " in terror a nd fear before you.

Ps 23:1-2; 95 :7 Ezk 34:1 +

Is 26:11

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Ps 72:9


Z

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A plea for God 's forgiveness !' W hat god ca n co mpar e with yo u: ta kin g fau lt away, pa rdo ning crime, 'i not cher ishing a nge r for ever but de lighting in showin g mercy? Once mo re have pity o n us, tread dow n our faul ts, to the bo ttom of t he sea t hrow all ou r sins. r Gra nt Jaco b your faithfulness, an d A bra ham yo ur mercy, as you swo re to o ur fa ther s from th e days of long ago. "

P s 130:4 J r 50:20 0.. W

E x 34:6-7 Ps 103:9 T b 13:9

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/' L k 1:73 Gn2 2: 16-18; 28: 13- 15

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a . ' 3 ha rveser' G ree k : ' [he ha rves t' Hebr. 'a Je rusa lem an d the widenin g of fro ntiers to acco m " lea ner' co rr.; ' s tea ntnss' Hcbr. ' cluster' t eshk ol t a nd moda le a grea t numb er-ei ther of the dispe rsed of

' to eat' ( ekott: note the asso nance. b. Heb r . adds 'w i th a net' , c . Resto red. fo llowing G reek ; He br . ' A gai ns t ev il. ha nds to p rosper' .

d. 't he judge gives jud gement ' co rr . : 'the jud ge' Heb r. e . Hebt . adds 'h e a nd t hey weave n' . V. 4 is trans posed to foll o w v, 6. r. Lit. 't he mos t ho nes t like a hedge ' Sym machu s. ";J Ig,; 'an honest man outside a hedge' Hebr. ' a hed ge of thorn' t mesukah l a nd 'conf us io n ' ( mehuk ah) are s im ilar in sound , g. Text co rr.; 'O n the d ay o f yo u r wa tc hmen yo u r o rdea l co mes' H ebr. The nort h is the trad it ion al invasio n ro ut e, cf. J r 1:13- 14, e tc. 'ord ea l' , lit. 'v isit ' , cf. Is lO:3 +. h . Th is verse. in which the prop het pr ocla ims h is co n fidence in G od 's po wer to save. m ay hav e been t he co ncl us ion of his boo k ; it p resent ed a s uitab le o p oo r tu nity fo r t he ad d it ion o f th e poe ms of ho pe tha t fo llow ; th ese p ro ba bly da te fro m the tim e of t he Exile. i. T his e ne my wou ld seem to be Ed om ra th er th a n Bab ylo n . cr. Ez k J§ : 25: 12- 14: O b 10-1 5 ; Ps 137:7 ; Is 34:5·8 , etc . j, An o ra cle possibly da t in g fr om th e Pe rsian per iod (a fter 538 ); it fo ret ells the restoration of the wa lls of

Israel or co nverted paga ns. k , Tex t cor r ..

cr. G reek .

I. Th is ve rse. in isolatio n. may ha ve been d irec ted a ga inst J ud ah . I n its present co ntex t It is di rec ted a aat nst t he hea t hen peo ples , p r ima r ily (i t wo uld see m) the ' p eo p le of th e co u n try' , t he Jews' im m ed ia te netabbo ut s who were hostil e to the co mm uni ty ret urned from exile. m. Li t. ' in t he m id st of a Rard en ' , The n at io n is iso la ted in u nprodu ctive la nd - the s itu a tion of t he Jews in th e re sto n o f Jer usa lem aft er their ret u rn fr o m ex ile. n. ' gran t us to see ' corr. : ' I sha ll gra n t h im to see ' Heb r. o . T he Hebr. adds ' to Ya h we h o ur God' . p , T his praye r is a ps a lm o f w hic h sim ila r exa m p les o ccu r in the u rophc tlc collec tio ns. Q. T he Hcbr. adds ' fo r the remna nt o f h is inh ertum ce". r. In Heb r. the first two ve rbs of t h is verse a re in the t h ird pe rso n . 'o u r sins ' versions ; ' t he ir sins ' He br. s, T he sa lva tio n o f Isr ael is t he fu lfilme nt o f t he cove na nt a nd of t he Prom ise, th e fo un dat io ns of ho pe and th e focu s of fa ith fo r t he people of God.

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