THE PROPHECY OF MICHEAS
INTRODUCTION
Micheas, of Morasti, a little town in the tribe of Juda, was cotemporary with the prophet Isaias, whom he resembles both in his spirit and his style. He is different from the prophet Micheas, mentioned in the Third Book of Kings, (chap. xxii.) for that Micheas lived in the days of king Achab, one hundred and fifty years before the time of Ezechias, under whom this Micheas prophesied, (Challoner) as he did in the two preceding reigns. (Haydock) — He addresses both Israel and Juda, and predicts the happiness of the Jews after the captivity, as a figure of what the church should enjoy. (Calmet) — The Jews shall embrace the faith at last, after the Gentiles. (Worthington) — We have only a small part of the predictions of Micheas, though he may have written no more. His style is obscure, like that of Osee. (Calmet) — His name signifies “humility,” or “who is like.” (St. Jerome)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Commentary of St Jerome
In Michaeam
Prologus
michaeas, in quem nunc commentarios dictare cupio, in ordine duodecim prophetarum, secundum septuaginta interpretes tertius est, secundum hebraicam ueritatem sextus, et sequitur ionam prophetam, qui succedit abdiae, atque ita fit ut tertius sit amos, et ioel secundus post osee, qui apud omnes primus est. ergo quasi in corde uoluminis positus, debet profunda continere mysteria, et sermo dei, qui semper descendit ad prophetas, descendit ad michaeam quoque, qui interpretatur humilitas; ad michaeam de morasthi, qui usque hodie iuxta eleutheropolim urbem palaestinae haud grandis est uiculus. morasthi autem in lingua nostra heredem sonat. pulchre igitur humilitas, quae inter uirtutes uel praecipua est, spe hereditatis dominicae nascitur. humilitas autem non illa quae uenit de conscientia peccatorum, sed quae inter uirtutes ponitur, iuxta quam dicitur: humiliamini sub potenti manu dei, ut uos exaltet in tempore uisitationis, et: qui se humiliat, exaltabitur, et: ante contritionem eleuatur cor uiri, et ante gloriam humiliatur. unde et dominus: discite, inquit, a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde. quomodo ergo apud nos uotiua, et quasi ob uirtutis auspicium ponuntur uocabula, uerbi gratia: uictoris, casti, pii, probi, et apud graecos sôphrôn~g uocatur, et eusebês~g, et appellatiua nomina uertuntur in propria, sic apud hebraeos et michaeas, et abdias et zacharias cetera que his similia, ex uirtutum uocabulo liberis a parentibus imponuntur.