It was fitting for the elders of Israel to live among the people, to partake of their daily life, but instead they turned to become an aristocratic ruling class, that lived in Jerusalem.
And the judges, who were supposed to teach the people the divine truth, have put the Law aside, and have become more evil than the people. They are only preoccupied with abusing their positions and authority.
• Indeed, the prophets repeat their accusation of the people, saying: “Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom, Your princes are rebels” [Isa 1:10], [Isa 1:23]. Again Micah says, “Should you not to know justice?” Actually, on every possible occasion they strongly rebuke them. What then? Are we going to put the blame on God? God forbid, if we entertain such a thought! The fault is actually theirs. Is there any reasonable justification other than that you refuse to obey Him (1)?!
St. John Chrysostom
Addressing the rulers, who were entrusted to practice justice, yet trampled upon it, he put his words in the form of a question: Are you not the ones responsible for justice to punish the transgressors and to exonerate the innocents? How then, have you diverted to strongly support evil? How then, have you practiced greed and dispossessed the needy of everything they have? How have you stripped the skin from them, and the flesh from their bones (2)?
Theodoret of Cyrus
We should not marvel to see a simple prophet dare to judge the rulers and the judges. He, after all, enjoys the divine truth and bears a special awe, whereas those supposedly great men, having disregarded the truth in their life and behavior, became weak and unable to defend themselves.
Wherever the truth is, fear will have no place for itself. One, bearing the fear of the Lord, would humbly fear neither people nor events.
Who is he, who asks: “Should you not know justice?” Of course they know it, and know the Law and the statutes by heart, yet being strangers from them in their life and behavior, they came to be without knowledge.
And the judges, who were supposed to teach the people the divine truth, have put the Law aside, and have become more evil than the people. They are only preoccupied with abusing their positions and authority.
• Indeed, the prophets repeat their accusation of the people, saying: “Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom, Your princes are rebels” [Isa 1:10], [Isa 1:23]. Again Micah says, “Should you not to know justice?” Actually, on every possible occasion they strongly rebuke them. What then? Are we going to put the blame on God? God forbid, if we entertain such a thought! The fault is actually theirs. Is there any reasonable justification other than that you refuse to obey Him (1)?!
St. John Chrysostom
Addressing the rulers, who were entrusted to practice justice, yet trampled upon it, he put his words in the form of a question: Are you not the ones responsible for justice to punish the transgressors and to exonerate the innocents? How then, have you diverted to strongly support evil? How then, have you practiced greed and dispossessed the needy of everything they have? How have you stripped the skin from them, and the flesh from their bones (2)?
Theodoret of Cyrus
We should not marvel to see a simple prophet dare to judge the rulers and the judges. He, after all, enjoys the divine truth and bears a special awe, whereas those supposedly great men, having disregarded the truth in their life and behavior, became weak and unable to defend themselves.
Wherever the truth is, fear will have no place for itself. One, bearing the fear of the Lord, would humbly fear neither people nor events.
Who is he, who asks: “Should you not know justice?” Of course they know it, and know the Law and the statutes by heart, yet being strangers from them in their life and behavior, they came to be without knowledge.
Footnote
(1) Homilies on John, 52.
(2) Commentary on [Mic 3:1-4] PG 81:1756.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-02-21 Source: Title: The book of Micah Year (original): 2005 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Translation: DR. GEORGE BOTROS |
Indeed, the prophets repeatedly charged the people, saying, “Hear, you rulers of Sodom,” and “Your princes are faithless.” And again Micah: “Is it not for you to know justice?” In fact, everywhere they vehemently upbraided them. What, then? Will someone on that account find fault with God? Perish the thought! The fault, in truth, is with them. Moreover, what better proof could one offer that you do not know the law, than that of your failure to obey it? Homilies on John
 | Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
