Mikha 2 | “‘Do Not Preach,’ They Preach”

The prophecies of Mikha in Chapters 2–3 contain harsh rebukes of social corruption and point an accusatory finger primarily at the leadership class. We’ll explore a few key elements that the prophecy highlights:

The Plundering of Fields: The prophecy describes those “who plan evildoing” deliberately and intentionally seize fields and homes from their rightful owners: “They lust for others' fields and seize them, eye others' homes and assume them as theirs; they exploit men and their households, both man and his estate” (2:2). The punishment for these people will be measure for measure: they will themselves be dispossessed of their land. “So then you will have no one to cast the lots for dividing the land among the community of the Lord” (2:5). Compare with Yeshayahu 5:8–9.

“Do Not Preach,” They Preach: In verses that are somewhat difficult to interpret, the prophet responds to opposition against Mikha’s rebukes: “‘Do not preach,’ they preach” (2:6) – the false prophets are telling Mikha not to admonish the people. They claim as follows: “Is the Lord’s spirit wanting? Can these truly be His deeds?” – Why would God bring calamity upon us? After all, we are righteous and walk in His ways, and God’s words “grant goodness to those who walk righteously” (2:7). Mikha closes this section with a sharp critique of these false prophets of comfort, comparing them to bartenders: “If there were a man with a spirit of falsehood and lies who would preach toward drink and drunkenness, he would be welcomed as preacher of this people” (2:11). In other words, the messages of the false prophets soothe people unjustifiably — like drunkenness that makes a person forget his troubles without cause. (Note the wordplay on the root נט"פ: it can mean both “to drip” [טפטוף] or pour wine, and also “to preach” [להטיף]). Sadly, it is precisely such a soothing preacher who is joyfully embraced as the prophet of the people: “He would be welcomed as preacher of this people.”

“My People”: A powerful literary effect in this chapter is the repeated use of the phrase “My people.” To emphasize the sins of the leadership class, the prophet describes their crimes against the vulnerable as attacks against “My people” — highlighting that the corrupt leaders are not truly “My people,” even though they view themselves as upright and just.

After these two rebukes, Chapter 2 closes with two verses of consolation.