The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 21

rnthrr, to an aposfatc 'he divideth our field,. Should reproaches (against the true 'l'he llpostate is tlie King of Assyria or prophets) never cease ? " We /refer the ChaldcR ; nn,I he is so nllmod ae being 11, interpretations given above, an consider rebd ngninst Jehovah, whom he might hnve the prophet's reply to be given in the next known by the light of natlll'al religion verse. (<'0mp. eh. v. 15; Rom. i. 20). This was Ver, 7.-The prophet answers the inter- fnlfillcd later by the oolonization of Sama- dict of the speakers in the preceding verse rin hy a mixed popnllltion. by showing that God's attributes are un- Yer. 5.-Therefore thou. BeORnse thou, changed, but that the sins of the people the tyranniclll, oppressive grandee (vers. I, constrain him to punish. 0 thou that art 2), hast dc!llt with thy neighboar's le.ad named the house of Jaoob. Other renderings uniustlv, therefore thou sbalt have none of these words ere given, viz." Ah I who.ta that sh.all cast a cord (the line) by lot (for saying I" or, "Is this a thing to be said, 0 n lot): i.e. thou shalt have no more inheri- house of J aoob? " The versions of the LXX., tance in Israel. The" line" is the measuring- 'O J\{-yr,,11 ol,cos 'Ia.1<ili/3, 1<.T.J\., and of the lin~ used in dividing land, as Amos vii. 17. Vulgate, Dicit domUB Jacob, do not suit the The n-ference is to the original distribntfon Hebrew. If we adopt the rendering of the of the land by lot in Joshua'.s time (see Authorized Version, we must consider that ,Tesh. xiv. 2, eto.). In the congregation of the Micah addresses those who gloried in their Lord. The Lord's own people, whose polity privilege as the family of Jo.cob, though they was now about to be dissolved. Hitzig, had ceased to be what he was, believing and Reuss, and Orclli suppose that this verse obedient. "0 ye who are only in name and contains a threat against Micah himself on title the chosen nation" (comp.Isa. xlviii.1; the po.rt of the ungo<lly Jews, intimating John viii. 83, 89). Professor Driver (lh- thut they will punish him for presuming to positor, April, 1887) obtains the very suitnl.,le prophesy against them, and that he shall meaning, Num dicendum, "Shall it be said, die without leaving children. But this 0 house of Jacob, Is the ear of the Lord seems far-fetched and inadmissible. shortened?" etc., by the change of a vowel~ point. Somewhat similarly Orelli, "Is this- Vera. 6---11.-§ 7. The threat announced in the speech of the house of Jacob?" viz. 'l/er. 3 ie further vindicated and applied to -Should Jehovah be impatient (as these indfoidual sinners, with a glance at the threats declare him to be)? or were these his false prophets who taught the people w lo-oe doings? The following clause is Jehovah'& e.nswer to the objection. Is the Spirit of the lies. Lord straitened 1 or, shortened. Is he less long- Ver. 6.-Prophesy ye not; literally, drop suffering than J ehovnh of heretofore? Will ye not, as Amos vii. 16 (where see note). you accuse Jol,ovnh of impatience? "Short- The speakers are generally supposed to be ness" of spirit is opposed to longanimity (see the false prophets who wish to stop the Prov. xiv. 29). A.re these bis doings 1 Are mouths of Micah and those who are like- these judgments and chastisements his usual minded with him. This is probably correct; doings-that which he delights in? Is the bat these are not the only speakers ; the canse of them in him? le it not in you (Lam. people themselves, the oppressing grandees, iii. 88 ; Ezek. xxxiii. 11 ; eh. vii. 18)? Do who side with the popularity-hunting seers, not my words do good, etc. ? This may be are e.lso inclnde<l (see note on Ver. 12). Jehovah's answer to the previous questions, Say they to them that prophesy; rather, or Micah's refutation of the complaint. The thus they poplUllf!I (drop). Micah uses their Lord's word is good. his e.ction is a blessing, own word sarce.sticelly, "Do not be always but only to him who does his commandments rebuking;" "Thus they rebuke." The rest (Ps. xviii. 25, 26; xxv. 10; ciii. 17, etc.; of the verse belongs to the same speakers, Luke i. 50). and 1,hould be rendered, "They she.11 not Ver. 8.-Evan ofl&te; bufoflate; literally, prophesy of thp,ae things; reproaches never 11esterda11, implying an notion recent and re- cease." The great men and the false peated. Septuagint, fµ:1rpou8,11, "before;" prophets complain of the true prophets that Vulgate, e contrario. The prophet exempli- tl,ey e.re alway8 proclaiming misfortune and fies the iniquity which has Jed God to rc,ba.king the people, and they bid them punish. They are not old offences whicli leave snch denunciations a.lone for the future. the Lord is visiting, but sins of recent and 'l'he passage is very difficult, and its inter- daily oocurrencc. lily people is risen up a.a pretation has greatly exercised commenta- an enemy. A ree.ding, varying by a letter tore: the above is virtually the explanation or two, is rendered, "But against my people of Ewal<l, liilzig, Caspari, and Cheyne. one setteth himself." But there is no valid Ordli makc,s the two last clauses Micali'& reason for altering the received text; espe- answc,r to the interdict of tLe adversaries, cially as, e.ccording to Ewe.Id, the present "Sl10uld one not prophesy of these things? reading me.y be taken in a causative sense. OH, II, 1-18.] THE BOOK OF MIOAH. 19