Micah 2:9 and the traumatic effects of depriving children of their parents

Blessing O Boloje

doi:10.4102/hts.v76i1.5960

Abstract

The Hebrew Bible and/or the Old Testament is replete with narratives of families that are devastated and separated by the unfaithfulness of injustice. Such situations are mostly seen to be theologically reprehensible and morally unacceptable. In the book of Micah, the fluidity of the rhetorical characterisation of those who opposed moral values and the godly voice is manifested in shameful actions against women and children. Since children who are deprived of parents are victims, this article attempts to examine Micah 2:9 and the effects of depriving children of their parents against the background of Israel’s social ethics of the marginalised minority. As a background, the article begins with a description of the family as an attractive and viable setting for the growth and development of children, continues with a relative examination of data on Israel’s social justice and marginalised minority, situates and analyses Micah 2:9 within its context, and then concludes with some effects of depriving children of their parents from the perspective of trauma research. Contribution: This article brings together insight from trauma research into dialogue with biblical, literary, exegetical and theological discourse. Such creative dialogue generates insightful alternative and viable components of the process of creating a healthy, viable community, and consequently invites readers to the urgent ethical concern for compassion and care for the most vulnerable in society.

Highlights

The functionality and viability of a society depends on adherence to and maintenance of acceptable standards or ethical principles such as truthfulness, integrity, equity and justice, respect for human dignity, responsibility and accountability
The fluidity of the rhetorical characterisation of those who opposed moral values and the godly voice is manifested in shameful actions against women and children (Mi 2:9)
Children are a fundamental part of a family and societal stability

Summary

Introduction

The functionality and viability of a society depends on adherence to and maintenance of acceptable standards or ethical principles such as truthfulness, integrity, equity and justice, respect for human dignity, responsibility and accountability. In view of the essential place of the family in moral discourse, and the progressive complexity of social relationships, especially in the field of psychology, this article will, by using Micah’s locus of dialogue, examine the effects of depriving children of their parents from the perspective of trauma research. Perhaps one of the most solemn ethical concerns of the Hebrew Bible and/or the Old Testament is that of the protection and prevention of abuse of the poor, the marginalised, and the socially disadvantaged (Ps 72:2–4, 12–14; Jr 22:15–16), through just civil rule and economic policies This was a unique moral leadership prize worth seeking by Israel’s leadership within the ancient world (Wright 2006:313; cf Gay 2014:620–636). There is no future but poverty, slavery and servitude (Mays 1976:71)

Conclusion

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