Study notes

Micah 2

Introducing MicahWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:1–3:12 Section

The towns and cities of the northern kingdom followed the example of Samaria. The towns and cities of the southern kingdom followed the example of Jerusalem.

In the same way, the people of each kingdom followed the example of their leaders. Their leaders included rulers, kings, prophets, judges and priests.

Samaria, Jerusalem, and the leaders taught God’s people to hate what is good. They taught them to love what is evil. They taught them to worship false gods instead of worshipping only God.

They taught God’s people to rob, cheat and drink too much alcohol. They taught them to treat needy people badly. Prophets cared more about making money than about speaking messages from God. Priests cared more about making money than about teaching people the Law of Moses.

Judges didn’t make their decisions based on what was right and fair. They made decisions based on who paid them money. All of these things went against how God wanted people to live. In the Mount Sinai covenant God had taught his people his ways for living.

The leaders and people knew that God had made a covenant with them. They knew that God is patient. But they used God’s patience as an excuse to keep sinning.

Micah spoke to the people and the leaders of the northern and southern kingdoms. He told them all the wrong things that they were doing. He shared God’s messages of judgement as poems. The Spirit of the Lord made him brave enough to speak against them. This is the Holy Spirit.

Micah announced what would happen because God’s people continued to sin. God would bring judgement against them. Samaria and the northern kingdom would be destroyed by Assyria. Jerusalem and the southern kingdom would be destroyed by Babylon.

1:2–2:13

This message of judgment focuses on key themes in Micah's prophecies. It shows God's decision to judge his people and send them into exile (Micah 1:16; 2:4–5). However, it ends with the Lord's promise to save a small group from exile (Micah 2:12–13).

2:1–2

  • Power had corrupted the wealthy, who should have been ready to help their fellow Israelites (compare Genesis 4:9; Joshua 1:14).

  • Thinking up evil plans because you have the power to do so shows a corrupt heart, mind, and character (Genesis 6:5).

  • They covet: They took others' property, which was like stealing and broke God's law against coveting (Exodus 20:17). A family's inheritance was a sacred gift from the Lord, meant to be a permanent possession (Leviticus 25:8–55; compare 1 Kings 21; Isaiah 5:8). God sought righteousness among his people, but instead, he found oppression (1 Kings 10:9; Isaiah 5:7; 2 Peter 2:13).

2:3–5

The Lord, acting as a judge, announces the sentence. He will repay his people's wicked hearts and actions with disaster. The prophet uses wordplay here. The Hebrew word for "evil" has many meanings. It can mean moral evil, as in the first case, or calamity or disaster, as in the second. The Lord will bring disaster on them because of their wickedness.

2:4

The leaders would lose their wealth when their enemies took their property. The land they had taken unfairly from other Israelites would be taken away from them in return (Micah 2:5).

2:6

  • There was a weak attempt to silence a true prophet.

  • they preach: They believed that exile and other disasters could not happen to them, but they were mistaken.

2:7–10

Mistreating their fellow Israelites was like attacking the Lord and his prophet. The people were at fault, not Micah's inspired and righteous message.

2:11

These wicked individuals enjoyed listening to lies from their favorite prophets who promised good times (compare Jeremiah 28:8–9). False prophets assured Israel and Judah that they could avoid judgment. When judgment arrived, they offered no comfort.

2:12–13

God demonstrated his love and care for his rebellious people by promising them hope, even while mentioning exile and despair. Although Israel would be scattered, they would return (compare Deuteronomy 4:26–29; 30:1–6).

2:13

The Lord led Israel out of exile, hinting at the greater freedom from slavery that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would later provide.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources