The Israelites by their crying injustices provoke God to punish them. He shall at last restore Jacob.

¹ Woe to you who devise useless things and who work evil in your beds. In the morning light, they undertake it, because their hand is against God.¹

1. 2:1Or, ‘who think up harmful things.’(Conte)

² And they have desired fields and have taken them by violence, and they have stolen houses. And they have made false accusations against a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.¹

1. 2:2The phrase ‘rapuerunt domos’ could be translated as ‘they have robbed houses’ or ‘they have stolen houses.’ The first meaning seems more likely, until you consider the context of the first part of this verse, that they have desired land and have taken that land by violence. Houses are located on land; valuable land often has houses on it. They have not merely robbed the contents of houses, they have stolen both land and houses.(Conte)

³ For this reason, thus says the Lord: Behold, I devise an evil against this family, from which you will not steal away your necks. And you will not walk in arrogance, because this is a most wicked time.

⁴ In that day, a parable will be taken up about you, and a song will be sung with sweetness, saying: “We have been devastated by depopulation.” The fate of my people has been altered. How can he withdraw from me, when he might be turned back, he who might tear apart our country?¹²³

1. 2:4The word ‘depopulatione’ usually is translated as plundering, pillaging, sacking, marauding, ravaging, or laying waste. To the English reader, it would also seem to mean ‘depopulation,’ and this is a correct meaning of the word because it refers to plundering, pillaging, sacking, etc. that is so severe that the land is depopulated.(Conte)
2. 2:4Notice that they sing sweetly about a time of terrible suffering that results in a large decrease in population. They are singing sweetly about this disaster because it is the disaster of the tribulation, which will have ended by the time of that song.(Conte)
3. 2:4How shall he depart, etc: How do you pretend to say that the Assyrian is departing; when indeed he is coming to divide our lands amongst his subjects?(Challoner)

⁵ Because of this, there will be for you no casting of the cord of fate in the assembly of the Lord.¹

1. 2:5You shall have none, etc: You shall have no longer any lot or inheritance in the land of the people of the Lord.(Challoner)

⁶ Do not speak by saying, “It will not drop on these ones; shame will not embrace them.”¹²

1. 2:6Or, ‘confusion will not overtake them.’ This refers to the casting of the string (or cord) of fate (or lots), a practice analogous to the modern ‘drawing of straws’ or ‘rock, paper, scissors.’(Conte)
2. 2:6It shall not drop, etc: That is, the prophecy shall not come upon these. Such were the sentiments of the people that were unwilling to believe the threats of the prophets.(Challoner)

⁷ The house of Jacob says, “Has the Spirit of the Lord been weakened, or are such things his thoughts?” Are not my words good for him who walks uprightly?

⁸ But, to the contrary, my people have risen up in opposition. You have lifted the cover from the undergarment, and those who passed by harmlessly, you have converted into war.¹²

1. 2:8Since ‘tunica’ is contrasted with ‘pallium,’ one refers to the undergarment and the other to the outer garment. The translation ‘converted into war’ is a phrasing intended to capture both the metaphorical and literal meanings.(Conte)
2. 2:8You have taken away, etc: You have even stripped people of their necessary garments: and have treated such as were innocently passing on the way, as if they were at war with you.(Challoner)

⁹ You have evicted the women among my people from their delicate houses. You have taken my praise forever from their little ones.¹

1. 2:9You have cast out, etc: either by depriving them of their houses: or, by your crimes, given occasion to their being carried away captives, and their children, by that means, never learning to praise the Lord.(Challoner)

¹⁰ Rise and depart, for there is no relief for you here. Because of its uncleanness, it will be corrupted with a most wicked decay.

¹¹ I wish that I were not a man who has breath, and that I rather spoke a lie. I will drop it down to you in wine and in drunkenness. And it will be this people on whom it will rain down.¹

1. 2:11Would God, etc: The prophet could have wished, out of his love to his people, that he might be deceived in denouncing to them these evils that were to fall upon them: but by conforming himself to the will of God, he declares to them, that he is sent to prophesy, literally to let drop upon them, the wine of God’s indignation, with which they should be made drunk; that is, stupified and cast down.(Challoner)

¹² I will gather together in a congregation all of you, Jacob. I will lead together as one, the remnant of Israel. I will set them together like a flock in the fold, like a sheep in the midst of the sheep pen. They will cause a tumult before the multitude of men.

¹³ For he will ascend, opening the way before them. They will separate, and they will cross the gate and enter through it. And their king will pass by, before their very eyes, and the Lord will be at their head.