Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 2:1

1 WO to them that devise iniquity , and work evil upon their beds : when the morning is light they practice it because it is in the power of their hand .

The Prophet now denounceth judgment against oppressours in particular, of which sort of men Iudah had too many▪ and Israel had many more at that day▪

Contrive and frame mischiefs to others, how they may be ruined, as appears ver. 2. and all the gain can be made of their fall may be brought into the hand of the contrivers, which was the sin of the great ones in Israel, who for near forty years together were plotting to undo one another.

Here is a dislocation of the words, unless the Prophet would intimate to us, that in Gods account the resolving to do evil is doing it.

When they should rest from making trouble to others, as well as they rest from their labour and troubles of the day, when they should praise God for their own ease, safety and rest, then their inhumanity and cruelty is forecasting how to grieve, vex and swallow up others.

So soon as they rise, and that is early when such practices are in design, these cannot sleep till they make them fall on whom they fix their designes,

Finish or execute their mischievous purposes.

And care not whether there be either Justice or Reason for what they do, if they have power enough to do they will take confidence to do it, and never blush.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 7.6.; [illegible: 1 word] 36.4.