Catholic Commentary on Micah 2

“They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance.” (Micah 2:2)

Woe to the Oppressors

Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. Do not prophesy, their prophets say. Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us. Should it be said, house of Jacob: is the Spirit of the LORD angry? Does he do such things? Do not my words do good to the one whose ways are upright? But you drive the women of my people from their pleasant homes.

The Catechism identifies the coveting and seizing of the fields as the violation of the seventh commandment applied to structural injustice: the theft of inherited land is the theft of identity, family, and future (CCC 2409).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, they plan evil on their beds and carry it out at morning's light because it is in their power to do it. Power used against the powerless is the oldest sin in civilised society. The people who can take the fields take them. The people who cannot protect their homes lose them. God addresses this as the first item of his case against Israel. The abuse of power is not a political issue; it is a theological one.

Prayer

Lord God, restrain every hand that plans in the night to seize the inheritance of the poor by morning. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2
Woe to Oppressors
1 Woe to those who devise iniquity
and plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they accomplish it
because the power is in their hands.
2 They covet fields and seize them;
they take away houses.
They deprive a man of his home,
a fellow man of his inheritance.
 
3 Therefore this is what the LORD says:
 
“I am planning against this nation a disaster
from which you cannot free your necks.
Then you will not walk so proudly,
for it will be a time of calamity.
4 In that day they will take up a proverb against you
and taunt you with this bitter lamentation:
‘We are utterly ruined!
He has changed the portion of my people.
How He has removed it from me!
He has allotted our fields to traitors.’ ”
 
5 Therefore, you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD
to divide the land by lot.
Reproof of False Prophets
(Ezekiel 13:1-16)
 
6 “Do not preach,” they preach.
“Do not preach these things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
7 Should it be said, O house of Jacob,
“Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient?
Are these the things He does?”
 
Do not My words bring good
to him who walks uprightly?
8 But of late My people have risen up
like an enemy:
You strip off the splendid robe
from unsuspecting passersby
like men returning from battle.
9 You drive the women of My people
from their pleasant homes.
You take away My blessing
from their children forever.
 
10 Arise and depart,
for this is not your place of rest,
because its defilement brings destruction-
a grievous destruction!
11 If a man of wind were to come
and say falsely,
“I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”* 2:11 Or “I will prophesy to you for wine and strong drink”
he would be just the preacher for this people!
The Remnant of Israel
(Micah 5:7-15)
 
12 I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob;
I will collect the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in the midst of its pasture-
a noisy throng.
13 One who breaks open the way
will go up before them;
they will break through the gate,
and go out by it.
Their King will pass through before them,
the LORD as their leader.

*2:11 2:11 Or “I will prophesy to you for wine and strong drink”

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