Micah 2:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Hence, he states, "affliction afflicted." He clarifies the nature of this calamity by stating, "The portion of my people is measured by us, and he that forbids it shall not be averse to it." He refers to the inheritance allotted to my dear ones (clearly Israel) which is divided among adversaries, meaning subjected to foreign governance and taxation; for that which is measured is also susceptible to levies and tributes. When this transpired, surpassing all expectations, there was no one to impede it. He questions why the idols like the heifer, Hamos, Dagon, Beelfegor, Baal, and others in the temples of Samaria remained silent. They did not resist those who divided the inheritance, nor did they assist their worshippers, nor did they unleash their fury upon those who disrupted the land. Similarly, through the prophet Jeremiah, He addresses the Israelites, who in moments of anger cry out, "Arise, and deliver us. And where are thy gods, which thou hast made unto thee, that they may arise and deliver thee in the time of thy affliction" (Jeremiah 2:27-28). Yet, how can anything be saved by those who are formed without effort? For they are "the works of men's hands" (Psalm 113:12)—silver, gold, stone, and wood, lifeless and insensible materials. Let the holy David proclaim, "Let those who do me and all who hope in me be like them" (Psalm 113:16).

It states, “They coveted the fields, and took them by force”; it continues, “They coveted the houses, and plundered those they desired; not only did they slander their husbands and households, but also their children, who deserved compassion due to their youth, they exploited with cruel greed. Therefore, for your actions and your futile schemes, I, the Lord, will devise calamity for this generation; not because my plan is inherently wicked, but it will seem as such to those who endure it, for it will burden you so heavily that you will be unable to straighten your backs or walk with the demeanor of the proud—those who have come to face the time of captivity. In that time (or thereafter), they will speak of you in a proverb, and your calamities will become a lamentation: “By ruin we are desolate to the end, the inheritance of my people.” He states, “My temple, which I have exalted above all others among the nations—this temple will be reduced to ruins. And how can the Assyrian assume my presence when he returns to parcel my lands? For this reason, O offspring of Israel, upon whom I plan adversity, you shall forfeit the inheritance of the righteous. Even from the depths of your punishment during captivity, it is clear that everything that befell you stemmed from your crucifixion of the Lord, as at least suggested by the translation of the Seventy. For the splendor of Israel was stripped bare, mourning for once-beloved children; yet, anything that might restore her beauty only leads to further shaving and cutting. Thus, all their thoughts turned to labor, and what they schemed with idle minds caused them toil; and all they attempted was immediately brought to confusion when the light of Christ shone and retribution arrived. Although they understood that Israel triumphed when Moses raised his hands to the Lord and faltered when his hands fell (Ex. 17), they did not elevate their hands unto the Lord. Instead, by committing various offenses against the impoverished and people of God, they coveted fields, robbed the homes of orphans, and devastated families. For this reason, the Lord ordained calamities upon this tribe—not upon all twelve tribes, but specifically upon a tribe marred by sin and wrongdoing—which led them to lower their heads and stand unsteadily. To this day, they find themselves subject to Roman authority, weighed down by the shackles of captivity, unable to raise their postures. The word ἐξαίφνης—meaning 'suddenly'—is absent in the Hebrew lists; however, it fits so appropriately here that we can assert, Thus says the Lord: I will bring calamities upon this tribe suddenly, from which they cannot lift their spines due to the present evil times. Just as they acted wickedly against the Lord Jesus, so shall they experience the burdens of ongoing captivity, leading to such distress that all their joyful hymns shall become sorrowful cries. Their only refrain shall be, “We have become exceedingly wretched.” The promised land, once divided by lot beyond the Jordan among the two and a half tribes as per Moses’ decree, and later distributed by Joshua to the remaining tribes, is now seized by foreign nations according to Roman allocation, with no one opposing their domination over the others. Among the Jews, none holds the ancient territory with the liberty once known.

If we choose to interpret this third way, applying the entire discussion to the human soul, which has fallen from Paradise into the captivity of this world, we can observe that every thought we have becomes toil and sorrow, filled with wickedness, as our beds are burdened with sin, and the clearest light becomes intertwined with darkness. Whatever we contemplate at night manifests in darkness. Truly, who among us lifts his holy hands to God without resentment and doubt? Who among us does not desire the possessions of this age while overlooking the treasures of paradise? Do you not notice how some combine fields and properties and still find the earthly needs for man insufficient? For this reason, the Lord devises calamities for us, from which we are unable to elevate our spines and walk uprightly, as the times are perilous, in accordance with John’s words: “The world lies in evil” (1 John 5:19). This is echoed in the Gospel through the daughter of Abraham, the noble soul, who has been restrained and subdued by Satan, only able to rise and behold her Creator upon the Lord’s arrival. Thus, the Savior remarked: “Should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, be released from these bonds on the Sabbath day?” (Lk. 13:16). Given this, since all your glory is diminished, and we have increased our shameful state, those like Jeremiah shall be sent forth to mourn for us, to proclaim and lament, as the Apostle states, “I will mourn for many who have sinned previously and have not repented” (2 Cor. 12:21). Indeed, who will not grieve seeing the souls of men dominated by various vices and demons, much like assorted household items? One demon spreads lies to facilitate immorality, another tempts with greed, one defines the measure of humanity’s murder, while another promotes deceit: a portion of the people of God is divided by this deceit, and the lands that once symbolized holiness and paradise—the very aroma of which Isaac delighted in with Jacob, his son (Gen. 27:27)—are now surrendered to the Assyrians and the king of Babylon; while the foxes have their dens, and the birds their nests, the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Matt. 8:20).

As my limited understanding permits, I have also outlined the first captivity under the Assyrians and Babylonians, the second under the Romans, and the third spiritual captivity that each of us fell into along with Adam from Paradise. In this worldly captivity, the Lord, upon His return, will raise the fallen and free the bound (Psalm 144:14), and those who were captives of the devil shall be restored to His domain; thus, the words of the Psalmist will be fulfilled: “He who ascended on high has taken captivity captive” (Ps. 67:19). Following this interpretation, one could identify a fourth captivity concerning the church, from which every individual departs through sin, and is then brought back from Ezra, meaning 'the helper,' that is, from the word of God, to Jerusalem (1 Ezra 7:6-7). But should anyone, diligent in studying the law of the Lord day and night, possess more gifts or insight, and offer thoughts more aligned with the truth regarding this passage, I harbor no envy nor contempt; rather, I wish to learn from him what I may lack, gladly accepting the role of his disciple as long as he remains a teacher, but not to disparage. It is easy for one prone to idleness and slumber to dispute the value of the labor and diligence of others.

When disasters strike the city, the Prophet indicates, not only will those who learn of your plight grieve for you, but they will also recount your misfortunes to others like a proverb; and you will speak among yourselves, “The share of my people is bemoaned by the desolation, and there is no one to intercede, no one to turn it away; your communities have been fragmented.” Because of this, it shall not instill fear in you regarding your inheritance. Indeed, when they were taken into exile, their neighbors seized the land they had tended; and when they became aware and I grieved and shed tears, you will say to each other, “God's inheritance designated for Israel is measured and divided by the most hostile adversaries, and no one interferes, no one halts their greed, and I am excluded from it; I possess no portion, for my lands are apportioned to others.” Thus, the Prophet, after declaring a significant woe, presents an admonition laden with a vital lesson: In the army of the Lord, do not weep tears; do not let your eyes shed tears for these matters; for your eyes will not evade reproach. Speak out, “The house of Jacob has provoked the Spirit of the Lord: are not these the origins of his actions? Are not his words just and his authority?” The Prophet emphasizes that it is essential for you to mourn not for punishment but for transgression, and not merely to confess wrongdoing in words but to manifest a change in your conduct through actions; for God values words complemented by deeds.