The Book of Micah with Brit-Am/Hebrew Awareness Commentary
Contined from Micah ch.1
Chapter Two.
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Micah (ESV) 2:
1 Woe to those who devise wickedness
and work evil on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
because it is in the power of their hand.
The Sages (Midrash Breishit Rabah 28; 5, Shir HaShirim Rabah 1:26) commenting on this verse said that in some ways the Ten Tribes were worse than the Generation of the Deluge in the time of Noah. Nevertheless the Generation of the Deluge was entirely destroyed whereas the Ten Tribes were not. This was by virtue of the "Righteous men and women that were destined to come out of them."
2 They covet fields and seize them,
and houses, and take them away;
they oppress a man and his house,
a man and his inheritance.
Rabbi Huna (Midrash Psikta Rabati 28:4) said, Israel [i..e. the Ten Tribes] were not exiled until they transgressed the commandment, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house" (Exodus 20:17).
3 Therefore thus says the LORD:
behold, against this family I am devising disaster,
from which you cannot remove your necks,
and you shall not walk haughtily,
for it will be a time of disaster.
4 In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you
and moan bitterly,
and say, 'We are utterly ruined;
he changes the portion of my people;
how he removes it from me!
To an apostate he allots our fields.'
5 Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot
in the assembly of the LORD.
6 'Do not preach,' thus they preach,
,one should not preach of such things;
disgrace will not overtake us.
The Israelites did not want to hear the reproval of their spiritual leaders.
7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob?
Has the LORD grown impatient?
Are these his deeds?
Do not my words do good
to him who walks uprightly?
8 But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;
you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly
with no thought of war.
9 The women of my people you drive out
from their delightful houses;
from their young children you take away
my splendor forever.
The Sages said one should be extremely careful not to come between a husband and wife. Even they who in most matters are relatively easy-going should be strict on this issue.
10 Arise and go,
for this is no place to rest,
because of uncleanness that destroys
with a grievous destruction.
11 If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,
saying, 'I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,'
he would be the preacher for this people!
12 I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;
I will gather the remnant of Israel;
I will set them together
like sheep in a fold,
like a flock in its pasture,
a noisy multitude of men.
Rabbi Valley says this hints at the future re-union of the Children of Rachel (Joseph) with those of Leah, i.e. Judah. The Radak and others opine that it indicates a great trepidation of imminent disaster shall overcome the gatherning. Nevertheless, they shall all be saved.
13 He who opens the breach goes up before them;
they break through and pass the gate,
going out by it.
Their king passes on before them,
the LORD at their head.
"He who opens the breach," In Hebrew "HaPorets."
A tradition (Agadat Brieshit 63) says this refers to the Messiah son of David who is a descendants of Peretz son of Judah (Genesis 38:29).
Tamar bore to Judah twins, Zerach and Peretz. King David was descended from Peretz.
Genesies 38:
27 When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. 28 And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, 'This one came out first.' 29 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, 'What a breach you have made for yourself!' Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.
Continued at Michah ch.3.