Micah 2

Micah 2:1

THat devise iniquitie] Hosea 7:6.

upon their beds] Psalms 36:4.

morning] Assoon as they rise, they execute their wicked devices of the night, and according to their power hurt others.

because] Or, when.

Micah 2:2

fields] Isaiah 5:8.

oppresse] Or, defraud.

Micah 2:3

is evil] Or, will be evil.

Micah 2:4

shall one take up a parable] That is, whilest you shall weep, your enemies and ill-willers shall deride your miseries.

with a dolefull lamentation] Heb. with lamentation of lamentations.

he hath changed the portion of my people] Chap. 1. 15.

how hath he removed it from me] Thus the Jews lament and say that there is no hope of restitution, seeing their possessions are divided among the enemies.

turning away] Or, in stead of restoring.

Micah 2:5

Therefore thou shalt have none] By reason of the sinnes set down, vers. 1, 2. you shall be put out of all right and share in the Church and people of God: whereof the driving out of the holy land shall be a sign.

cast a cord by lot] Deuteronomy 32:8-9.

Micah 2:6

Prophesie ye not] Or, prophesie not as they prophesie. Heb. drop, &c. Isaiah 30:10. See concerning this manner of speaking, which is very frequent amongst the Prophets, Ezekiel 21:2. Amos 7:16. Now these are words of profane men, who would hinder the free exercise of the Prophets office. as Isaiah 30:12. Jeremiah 11:12. Amos 7:13. 16.

they shall not prophesie] Gods reply: that is to say, they shall preach in despite of you, and if it be not for you ye rebels, which wrong them, yet it shall be for the salvation of mine elect. as Isaiah 16:16.

Micah 2:7

O thou that art named the house of Jacob] Is not this an execrable boldnesse in you, to oppose your selves against my Prophets?

spirit of the LORD straitned] Or, shortned. The power and authoritie of my Spirit, which from time to time hath set my Prophets on to preach my word: is it now lessened or weakened, that it should yeeld to your desires? See Jeremiah 6:11. & Jeremiah 20:7. 9. Micah 3:8.

are these his doings] The cause of all these evils and threatnings, which are denounced against you by my Prophets, is in you, and not in me, and therefore you wrongfully complain of my Prophets, as if they were the authors of all the evill that befalleth you, Isaiah 28:21. Lamentations 3:33.

do not my words do good] If you will be good men, and beleeve, you shall heare nothing from my Prophets but promises and assurances of graces, and blessings: If you be sinners but corrigible and capable of repentance, you shall have by them healthfull means of conversion.

uprightly] Heb. upright.

Micah 2:8

of late my people is risen] Heb. yesterday. Whereas your forefathers shewed their valour in just warres, you use nothing but thefts and murthers.

with the garment] Heb. over against a garment.

Micah 2:9

women of my people] Or, wives. Namely, the poore women, out of those houses where they had lived all their time in ease, with their husbands and children.

ye taken away my glory] You bring them into such a state of misery and slavery, that the splendour and honour of being my children and members of my people, appears in them no more.

Micah 2:10

Arise ye and depart] Ye have thought to settle your selves in your countrey, in faire and magnificent houses, in rest but I will shortly drive you out into captivitie.

because it is polluted] Leviticus 18:25.

it shall destroy] The pollution of the countrey by publique and reigning sinnes, shall be a cause that ye shall not live in rest nor securitie: but that you shall be driven out and dispersed, as Lev. 18. 25. 28. & 20. 22. Jeremiah 9:19. & Jeremiah 10:18. Ezekiel 36:12.

Micah 2:11

If a man walking in the spirit and falshood] Or, walk with the wind and lie falsely. Namely, false prophets, who say they have divine inspirations, and dally with the people, promising them good, and plenty, are those which they accept of, and hearken unto. See Isaiah 30:10.

Micah 2:12

I will surely assemble] An Evangelicall promise, of gathering together the universall Church, under the kingdome of Christ, Jeremiah 31:10. Opposed to the precedent dispersion.

Bozrah] A place in the land of Moab, Jeremiah 48:24. abounding in cattel and pastures, 2 Kings 3:4.

Micah 2:13

The breaker is come up before them] I will take away all hindrances, which may hinder the spirituall deliverance of the Church, beating down, and laying plain all manner of oppositions, Isaiah 57:14. & Isaiah 62:10.

king shall passe before them] Namely, Jesus Christ, Hosea 1:11.