e--reproof, threatening, promise--are repeated. If these
discourses be torn asunder, we get only the _lacera membra_ of a
prophetic discourse. 2. Each of these three discourses, forming an
harmonious whole, begins with [Hebrew: wmev], _hear_. That this is not
merely accidental, appears from the beginning of the first discourse,
[Hebrew: wmev emiM klM], "Hear, all ye people." These words literally
agree with those which were uttered by the prophet's elder namesake,
when, according to 1 Kings xxii. 28, he called upon the whole world to
attend to the remarkable struggle betwixt the true and false prophets.
It is evidently on purpose that the prophet begins with the same words
as those with which the elder Micah had closed his discourse to Ahab,
and, it may be, his whole prophetic ministry. By this very circumstance
he gives intimation of what may be expected from him, shows that his
activity is to be considered as a continuation of that of his
predecessor, who was so jealous for God, and that he had more in common
with him than the mere name. _Rosenmueller_ (_Prol. ad Mich._ p. 8) has
asserted, indeed, that these words are only put into the mouth of
the elder Micah, and that they are taken from the passage under
consideration. But the reason which he adduces in support of this
assertion, viz., that it cannot be conceived how it could ever have
entered the mind of that elder Micah to call upon all people to be
witnesses of an announcement which concerned Ahab only, needs no
detailed refutation. Why then is it that in Deut. xxxii. 1, Is. i. 2,
heaven and earth are called upon to be witnesses of an announcement
which concerned the Jewish people only? Who does not see that, to the
prophet, Israel appears as too small an audience [Pg 415] for the
announcement of the great decision which he has just uttered; in the
same manner as the Psalmist (compare, _e.g._, Ps. xcvi. 3) exhorts to
proclaim to the Gentiles the great deeds of the Lord, because Palestine
is too narrow for them?--But now, if it be established that it was with
a distinct object that the prophet employed the words, "Hear ye," does
not the circumstance that they are found at the commencement of the
three discourses, which are complete in themselves, afford sufficient
ground for the assumption, that it was the intention of the prophet,
not indeed absolutely to limit them to the beginning of a new discourse
(compare, on the contrary, iii. 9[1]), but yet, not to commence