John Trapp on Micah 2:4

Verſe 4. In that day ſhall one take up a parable &c.] In that day, that dolefull, and diſmal day of their calamity.

ſhall One] Any one that is moved at your miſery, and would work you to a ſenſe of your ſin the mother of your miſery:

ſhall take up a parable] triſtem & querulam ſad and ſorrowfull.

and lament with a doleful lamentation] Heb. with a lamentation of lamentations, or with heigh-ho upon heigh-ho, as the word ſeemes to ſignify.

we be uttterly ſpoiled] Plundered to the life, laid naked to the very foundation, chap. 1.6. put into ſuch a condition, as that there is neither hope of better, nor place of worſe.

he hath changed the portion of my people] that is God, or the Aſſyrian by Gods appointment, hath taken away our countrey, and given it to ſtrangers. The Pope took upon him in Henry the 8. dayes to give England Primo occupaturo to him that could firſt win it This brutum fulmen came to nothing: But when Gods people changed their glory for that which profited not, Ier. 2 11. he ſoon changed their portion; he cauſed that good land to ſpew them out, he turned their weale into woe, and brought wrath upon them to the utmoſt. Neither profited it them any more to have been called Gods people, then it did Dives in flames, that Abraham called him Son; or Judas, that Chriſt called him Friend.

how hath he removed it from me?]Erah. This is Lamentation-like indeed. See Lam. 1.1. and 2.1. and 4.1. all beginning with the ſame word, How. The ſpeech is conciſe and abrupt, meet for mourners. There is an elegancy in the original not to be Engliſhed. How uncertaine are all things here! God ſits upon the circle of the earth, and ſhakes out the inhabitants qt pleaſure, as by a canvas.Eſa. 40. Perſons and things are ſaid to be in heaven, but on earth: on the outſide of it only, where they have no firm footing. Dionyſius was driven out of his kingdome:Aelian. lib. 2. which yet he thought was tied to him with chaines of adamant, ſaith the Hiſtorian.

turning away (from us as a lothſome object, being ſo incorrigibly flagitious) he hath divided our fields] ſc. to the enemy for a reward: like as he gave Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar for his paines at Tyre. Or thus, Inſtead of reſtoring (which now we are hopeleſſe of) he hath divided our fields, our fertile and fat countrey to thoſe that will be ſure to hold their own in it; as the Gaules and Gothes did in Italy, after they had once taſted the ſweetneſſe of it. Vatablus rendreth the text thus: How hath he taken from me thoſe fields of ours which he ſeemed ready to reſtore? he hath even divided them, ſc. to others.