“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.”
Evil. Septuagint, “labours.” Hebrew, “vanity, or an idol.” (Haydock) — That is called unprofitable, which is very detrimental. (Worthington) — Morning, suddenly and with zeal. (Calmet) — Is. Hebrew, “has power,” (Chaldean) “they have not raised their hands to God.” (Septuagint; Arabic)
“And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. oppress: or, defraud”
Oppressed. Literally, “calumniated,” (Haydock) as Jezabel did Naboth, 3 Kings xxi. 13.
“Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.”
Time. It was very near. Micheas saw the ruin of Samaria, under Theglathphalassar and Salmanasar.
“In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields. a doleful: Heb. a lamentation of lamentations turning: or, instead of restoring”
Say. The Israelites sing this mournful canticle to ver. 7., which the prophet composes for them, to shew the certainty of the event. It is very difficult. (Calmet) — The whole synagogue speaks. (Menochius) — Depart. How do you pretend to say that the Assyrian is departing, when indeed he is coming to divide our lands amongst his subjects? (Challoner) — The Cutheans were sent into the country, 4 Kings xvii. 24. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “and there was none to hinder him from returning, our lands were divided.” (Haydock)
“Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.”
None. Thou shalt have no longer any lot or inheritance in the land of the people of the Lord. (Challoner) — Strangers had taken possession. (Calmet) — Virgil has the like affecting thoughts. (Ec. i.) Impius hæc tam culta novalia miles habebit? (Haydock)
“Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame. Prophesy ye: or, Prophesy not as they prophesy: Heb. Drop, etc”
Drop. That is, the prophecy shall not come upon these. Such were the sentiments of the people that were unwilling to believe the threats of the prophets. (Challoner) — The princes order the prophets not to inculcate so many miseries. (Worthington) — Hebrew, “Make it not rain: they will make it rain: they will cause no rain like this: confusion shall not cease.” The people beg that the prophets would not announce such judgments: but, (Calmet) correcting themselves, they bid them to say what they please, (Haydock) as nothing can befall them more terrible. Here the canticle ends. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “shed no tears, nor let them weep for these things, for she will not cast away reproaches, who says the house of Jacob has provoked the spirit,” &c. (Haydock)
“O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? straitened: or, shortened? uprightly: Heb. upright?”
Straitened. Is he inclined to danger? The prophet replies, if God punishes, it is because the people will not repent. (Calmet) — His mercy is extended to penitents, as well as to the just. (Worthington)
“Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. of late: Heb. yesterday with the: Heb. over against a”
Away. You have often stripped people of their necessary garments; and have treated such as were innocently passing on the way, as if they were at war with you. (Challoner) — He alludes to Israel attacking Juda without cause, and killing 120,000 at once, while they took 200,000 women and children (ver. 9.) captives, whom Oded indeed persuaded them to release, 2 Paralipomenon xxviii. 6. Septuagint are very obscure in this chapter. (Calmet)
“The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. women: or, wives”
Cast out, &c. Either by depriving them of their houses; or, by your crimes, giving occasion to their being carried away captives, and their children, by that means, never learning to praise the Lord. (Challoner) — The Jews accustomed them to sing God’s praises early, while they were still innocent, Psalm viii. 2. Misery might cause them to complain of Providence. Perhaps the prophet alludes to the custom of divorces, Malachias ii. 15.
“Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.”
Corruption. Your sins will not permit you to remain any longer, and strangers shall defile this land. (Calmet)
“If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. walking: or, walk with the wind, and lie falsely”
Would God, &c. The prophet could have wished, out of his love to his people, that he might be deceived in denouncing to them these evils that were to fall upon them: but by conforming himself to the will of God, he declares to them that he is sent to prophesy, literally to let drop upon them, the wine of God’s indignation, with which they should be made drunk; that is, stupified and cast down. (Challoner) — Protestants, “If a man, walking in the spirit of falsehood, do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and strong drink, he shall even be a prophet of this people.” But I cannot thus deceive you. (Haydock)
“I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah , as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.”
Assemble. God shews his mercy, in gathering his Church out of all nations. (Worthington) — At least the Jews shall be converted, (Romans xi. 25.; St. Jerome; Eusebius, Dem. ii. 50.) or they shall be butchered by the Assyrians. (Sanct.) — Men. The country was very populous when the Romans destroyed the Jews. They had returned by degrees. (Calmet)
“The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.”
Open. Hebrew, “break down.” (Haydock) — Divide. Hebrew, “make a breach.” They shall return boldly, and in triumph. (Calmet)