Mikha 2:8

2:8 but you rise up as an enemy against my people. ¹ 

You steal a robe from a friend, ² 

from those who pass by peacefully as if returning from a war. ³ 

Mikha 5:8

5:8 Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples.

They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,

like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,

which attacks when it passes through;

it rips its prey ⁴  and there is no one to stop it. ⁵ 

Mikha 7:1

Micah Laments Judah’s Sin

7:1 I am depressed! ⁶ 

Indeed, ⁷  it is as if the summer fruit has been gathered,

and the grapes have been harvested. ⁸ 

There is no grape cluster to eat,

no fresh figs that I crave so much. ⁹ 

Mikha 2:13

2:13 The one who can break through barriers will lead them out ¹⁰ 

they will break out, pass through the gate, and leave. ¹¹ 

Their king will advance ¹²  before them,

The Lord himself will lead them. ¹³ 

[2:8]  ¹ tc Heb “Recently my people rise up as an enemy.” The MT is problematic in light of v. 9, where “my people” are the object of oppression, not the perpetrators of it. The form וְאֶתְמוּל (vÿ’etmul, “and recently”) is probably the product of fusion and subsequent suppression of an (ע) ayin. The translation assumes an emendation to וְאַתֶּם עַל (vÿ’attem ’al, “and you against [my people]”). The second person plural pronoun fits well with the second plural verb forms of vv. 8b-10. If this emendation is accepted, then יְקוֹמֵם (yÿqomem, the imperfect of קוּם [qum]) should be emended to קָמִים (qamim; a participle from the same root).

[2:8]  ² tc Heb “From the front of a garment glory [or perhaps, “a robe”] you strip off,” but this makes little if any sense. The term מִמּוּל (mimmul, “from the front of”) is probably the product of dittography (note the preceding word, which ends in [ם] mem) and subsequent suppression of ע (ayin). The translation assumes an emendation to מֵעַל (me’al, “from upon”). The translation also assumes an emendation of שַׂלְמָה אֶדֶר (salmah ’eder, “a garment, glory [or robe]”) to שֹׁלְמִים אֲדֶרֶת (sholÿmim ’aderet, “[from] a friend the robe [you strip off]”). The MT’s אֶדֶר (’eder) is the result of misdivision (the article has erroneously been attached to the preceding word) and haplography (of the final tav, which also begins the following word).

[2:8]  ³ tc The passive participle שׁוּבֵי (shuvey) is unattested elsewhere and should be emended to a participle שָׁבִים (shavim).

[2:8]  tn Heb “from those passing by peacefully, returnees from war.” Actual refugees, however, are probably not in view. The second line compares those who pass by peacefully with individuals returning from war. The battle is over and they do not expect their own countrymen to attack them.

[5:8]  ⁴ tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”

[7:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “woe to me!” In light of the image that follows, perhaps one could translate, “I am disappointed.”

[7:1]  ⁷ tn Or “for.”

[7:1]  ⁸ tn Heb “I am like the gathering of the summer fruit, like the gleanings of the harvest.” Micah is not comparing himself to the harvested fruit. There is an ellipsis here, as the second half of the verse makes clear. The idea is, “I am like [one at the time] the summer fruit is gathered and the grapes are harvested.”

[7:1]  ⁹ tn Heb “my appetite craves.”

[2:13]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the one who breaks through goes up before them.” The verb form is understood as a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of this coming event.

[2:13]  ¹¹ tn The three verb forms (a perfect and two preterites with vav [ו] consecutive) indicate certitude.

[2:13]  sn The “fold” from which the sheep/people break out is probably a reference to their place of exile.

[2:13]  ¹² tn The verb form (a preterite with vav [ו] consecutive) indicates certitude.

[2:13]  ¹³ tn Heb “the Lord [will be] at their head.”