PROPHETIC CRITIQUE OF LANDOWNERSHIP ABUSE IN MICAH 2:1-2 AND ISAIAH 5:8-10: A NORTHEAST INDIAN TRIBAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract Within biblical studies it is often assumed that the prophetic texts of Micah 2:1-2 and Isaiah 5:8-10 point to significant landownership abuse, coupled with one generic group oppressing another generic group by taking their land. Faced with a lack of deeds of land ownership in ancient Israel, many scholars have turned to social science for contextual clues and found them helpful. As an alternative to a social scientific approach, however, this research provides a new perspective on land ownership that draws on the Northeast Indian tribal experience. This new interpretation combines contextual post colonial, liberation and cultural approaches to interpretation. It is a reading from the point of view of an oppressed group of people in Northeast India, the community of which the researcher is a part. This perspective provides a useful model for interpreting the socio-economic contexts behind the prophetic critique of land ownership abuse. Rather than focusing on the economic and political dimensions of land ownership, it looks at land ownership from the perspective of religio-cultural identity. This emphasises a link between land, God, ancestors, family and community, both in ancient Israelite society and in Northeast Indian society. From this new perspective, it is possible to discern an ethos and set of values which the eighth-century prophets, especially Micah and Isaiah tried to defend and uphold. These revolved around the socio-political and religio-cultural identity of the close-knit rural family and community, communitarian values of land sharing, and the interconnectedness of God, humans and land. Thus, new insights can be gained into land ownership abuse through the use of the Northeast India tribal perspective which provides a fresh interpretation to biblical studies. Furthermore, this perspective offers valuable insights into prophetic protest against injustice, not only in ancient Israel, but also in modern societies.