John Trapp on Micah 2:8

Verſ. 8. Even of late my people is riſen up as an enemy] Heb. yeſterday, no longer ago; to all their former flagitious practiſes they have now newly added this of execrable rapine and robbery, which is ſtill freſh, and as it were flagrant in mine eyes. Although the truth is, that God looketh upon former ſins as preſently committed: for as there is no beginning of eternity, ſo neither is there any ſucceſſion. But let men take heed how they heap up ſin, leſt they heap up wrath: for although God may bear with people for one or two out-ſtrayes, yet when once it comes to three tranſgreſſions and to four, he will not turn away the puniſhment, Am. 1.2. and one new ſin may ſet many old awork in the conſcience; making it like Ezekiels ſcroul,Ezek. 2.12. wherein was written lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Surely I have ſeen yeſterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his ſons, ſaith the Lord, 2 Kin. 9.26. The word ſignifieth laſt night, though it were done ſome while before. See the word yeſterday ſo uſed by the Apoſtle Hebraizing with his Hebrews, Chap. 15.8. Some read the text thus, He that was yeſterday my people is riſen up on the other ſide as againſt an enemy, viz. raging againſt God, and ranging againſt all men, biting all they come aneer as mad dogs. See Eſay. 9.21. 1 Theſſ. 2.15. they pleaſe not God, but riſe up in rebellion againſt him; and are contrary to all men, being rather Iſmaelites then Iſraelites, Gen. 16.12. and therefore not rightly named the houſe of Jacob (that plain man, Gen. 25.27. without welt or gard, guile or gall) nor could the word of the Lord do good unto them, ſo long as their deeds were evil, and they loved darkneſſe rather then light. Joh. 3.19.

Ye pull off the robe with the garment] Robbing and pillaging paſſengers with greateſt inhumanity: not leaving them a rag to cover them, or a croſſe to bleſſe them with, as the proverb is. This was common in Scotland and Africa, ſaith Da [illegible: 3 letters] here. It was in England alſo, till the dayes of king Alfred, who firſt divided the land into ſhires, and then the ſubjects into tenths or Tithings; every of which ſeverally ſhould give bond for the good a bearing of each other, &c. Heyl. Geog. 474. By this courſe men were not careful onely of their own actions, but had an eye to all the nine, for which they ſtood bound; as the nine had over each. Inſomuch that a poor girle might travel ſafely with a bag of gold in her hand, and none durſt meddle with her.

from men that paſſe by ſecurely, as men averſe from war] There are a ſort of ſuch as delight in warre, Pſal. 68.30. that make a ſport of it, as Abner, 2 Sam. 2.14. that take more pleaſure in it then in an Empire, as Iuſtin ſaith of Pyrrhus king of [illegible: 1 word]. David was none ſuch; and yet he wanted not for courage. His motto was,Nulli major ex imperio, quam illi[illegible: 1 letter]x bello fui[illegible: 1 letter] voluptar. [illegible: 2 letters]m for peace, or (as the Hebrew hath it) I am peace. He had ſeen the woe of warre, and knew well the lawleſneſſe of it. The law is no more, ſaith the Church in [illegible: 1 word] L[illegible: 1 letter]mentations, Chap. 2.9. Inter arma ſilent leges, ſaith the Heathen, The noiſe [illegible: 1 word] drowns the voice of lawes. A reverend man hath well obſerved, that as thoſe three commandments, Thou ſhalt not kill, Thoss ſhalt not commit adultery, Thou [illegible: 1 span] are ranked together in the law: ſo they are commonly violated together by unruly ſouldiers, Eſay. 13.16. Their children alſo ſhall be daſhed in pieces before their eyes, their houſes ſhall be ſpoyled, and their wives raviſhed. Theſe are the miſeries of warre. But what meant theſe miſcreants to ſhed the blood of warre in peace, 1 Kin. 2.5. to ſtrip the innocent and therefore fearleſſe paſſenger of his raiment as thoſe theeves did him, that went down from Ieruſalem to Jericho, Luk. 10.30. dreading no ſuch danger? neither to rob him onely, but to raviſh him too, Pſ. 10. that they might ſind all precious ſubſtance, and fill their houſes with ſpoyl? And what meant the corrupt Rulers to ſuffer it ſo to be, and not to brandiſh the ſword of juſtice againſt ſuch ſtigmatical Belialiſts.