“You Shall Not Covet” (2:1-3): The arrangement of Micah’s oracles continues to show a careful logic. In chapter 1, Micah has announced that Yahweh’s judgment, which will destroy Samaria, will reach also to the gate of Jerusalem (1:9). And he has portrayed the march of a foreign conqueror who captures the towns west of Jerusalem one by one and deports their populations (1:10–16). That conqueror too comes as Yahweh’s instrument of judgment against Jerusalem (v.12), and this oracle now shows why such judgment on Jerusalem is necessary.

2:1–3 Most commentators join this short woe oracle to the taunt song and pronouncement of judgment in 2:4–5, because both concern the Judeans’ loss of their land. But the opening phrase of verse 4, “in that day,” usually marks the beginning of an oracle, and whi…