Albert Barnes Commentary Micah 2:6

"Prophesy ye not, [thus] they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart." — Micah 2:6 (ASV)

Prophesy you not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame—The words are very emphatic in Hebrew, due to their brevity: “Prophesy not; they shall indeed prophesy; they shall not prophesy to these; shame shall not depart.” The people, the false prophets, the politicians, forbade God and Micah to prophesy: “Prophesy not.” God, through Micah, repeats their prohibition back to them and forewarns them of the consequences.

Prophesy you not—literally, do not drop. Amaziah and the God-opposing party had already given an ungodly meaning to the word. “Drop not,” “distill not,” thus unceasingly, these same words, ever warning, ever telling of lamentation and mourning and woe (Ezekiel 2:10); prophesying not good concerning us, but evil (1 Kings 22:18). So their descendants commanded the Apostles not to speak at all or to teach in the Name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). Did we not strictly command you that you should not teach in this Name? (Acts 5:28). This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law (Acts 6:13). God answers: They shall certainly prophesy. The Hebrew word is emphatic.

The prophets had their commission from God, and Him they must obey, whether Israel would hear or whether they would forbear (Ezekiel 2:5, 7). So must Micah and Isaiah (Isaiah 28:9–14, 22) now, or Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:7, 17; Jeremiah 26:10–15), Ezekiel, and the rest afterward. “They shall not prophesy to these.”

He does not say only, “They shall not prophesy to them,” but, “to these”; that is, they shall prophesy to others who would receive their words. God’s word would not be hindered; those who would listen shall never be deprived of their portion; but to these who despise, “they shall not prophesy.” It shall be all one, as though they did not prophesy; the soft rain shall not bedew them. The barn-floor shall be dry, while the fleece is moist (Judges 6:37).

So God says through Isaiah: “I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it” (Isaiah 5:6). The dew of God’s word shall be transferred to others. But so shame (literally shames, manifold shame) shall not depart, but shall rest upon them forever. God would have turned away the shame from them; but they, despising His warnings, drew it to themselves. It was the natural fruit of their actions; it was in its natural home with them. God spoke to them, that they might be freed from it. They silenced His prophets, deafened themselves to His words; so it did not depart. So our Lord says, “Now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains” (John 9:41); and John the Immerser, “The wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).

It is not now coming for the first time. It is not some new thing to be avoided, turned aside. The sinner has but to remain as he is; the shame encompasses him already, and only does not depart. The wrath of God is already upon him, and abides on him.