MICAH

1 As if the Lord would say: Seeing that for this time it must needs so happen by reason of your sins, as was said in Micah 4:10, 11, it shall be altogether in vain whatsoever you shall enterprise against it, for, you still must go to Babel. The speech addresses itself to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with whom the prophet identifies himself in the sequel, by the word us. Yet some hold this to be the speech of God deriding the Babylonians, as if God said: Do your utmost, you warring Babel (as doubtless you surely will do), yet you shall not be able to hinder or retard thereby the work of My grace which I intend for My people. Other, Now shalt thou be heaped or packed together with troops, namely, by the siege, as follows. Some do make this verse the end of the previous chapter.

2 That is, do your best, with all your forces.

3 That is, the warlike nation, which supposes to be so experienced in war and to be so supplied with soldiery, that there needs to be no fear for the enemy; or, which is accustomed to make excursions with bands and troops to rob the travelers as highway robbers and ruffians, as Micah 2:8. See of the Hebrew word, signifying a company or troop of soldiers, etc., 2 Sam. 3 on verse 22; Jer. 18 on verse 22, and compare Israel’s example, Hosea 4:2; 6:9; 7:1. As for the phrase daughter of troops, compare Job 5 on verse 7; Zech. 4 on verse 14.

4 The enemy, the king of Babel. These are the words of the prophet, as if he said: This shall assuredly betide us, whatsoever you may practice or prepare to the contrary.

5 That is, inflict public disgrace and scorn upon the rulers or governors. See 1 Kings 22:24; Job 16:10; Psalm 3:7; Lam. 3:30, with the annotations. This was a sign that their earthly kingdom would have an end, in lieu whereof there is promise made in the sequel of a new and heavenly King, the Messiah.

6 As concerning thee.

a Mat. 2:6; John 7:42.

7 See Gen. 35:16, 19; Judges 12:8, with the annotations. Hebr. Bethlechem, that is, house of bread; as Ephrath or Epratha (which also was the name of Caleb’s wife, 1 Kings 2:19, 24) signifies fruitfulness.

8 That is, thou art indeed not little, Mat. 2:6. Or, although thou be little, etc., nevertheless shall, etc. Otherwise thus: It is somewhat small, a small matter, that thou art among the thousands or leaders, rulers of Judah. (Compare the annotation at this place made by the chief priests and scribes before king Herod, Mat. 2:6). The sense is: Thou art but little indeed as to thy outward appearance, but thou shalt be exalted to great dignity, by the birth of the Messiah and Savior Jesus Christ.

9 This points to the division of the tribes into their thousands, each thousand having their head and prince or guide and leader (see Judges 6:15; 1 Sam. 10:19, with the annotations; likewise 1 Chron. 12:20) Therefore you have it in Mat. 2:6 among the princes or leaders, guides, dukes; the Hebrew words, which signify both thousand and leader, are also near of kin and derived from one and the same root.

10 According to His human nature and in regard that the eternal and self-subsisting Word of the Father was to be made flesh, so shall He be born in thee, O Bethlehem, and likewise come forth or proceed out of thee.

11 Words of God the Father.

12 Hebr. for to be a ruler.

13 Or, though his goings, etc. As the word goings or coming forth in the previous clause was used for coming forth of Christ out of Bethlehem according to His human nature, being to be born there of the virgin Mary, thus the same word is used here for His everlasting coming forth or proceeding from the Father, thereby to signify His eternal Godhead and Divine generation from the Father, and that in the plural, goings forth, which is not unusual in the Hebrew language, especially to signify some great and extraordinary matter. (See Obadiah on verse 21, etc.) such as there is indeed the co-essence of the Son with the Father, and His incomprehensible birth and generation out of Him. See Heb. 1:3.

14 That is, before the beginning of creation, yea, from eternity or everlasting times. Compare Prov. 8:22, 23, 24, 30, 31; John 1:1; 17:5. The Hebrew word kedem, being used of God, sometimes signify eternity; see thereof Deut. 33:27, with the annotation.

15 God.

16 Or, leave, namely, under the dominion and power of their enemies, both Babylonians and others, until their King, the Messiah, does come.

17 The Jews.

18 Until the church of Israel, by means of the apostles’ preaching, shall bring forth an abundance of spiritual children, both of Jews and especially Gentiles. Compare Isa. 54:1, etc.; 66:7, 8. Or (as some), until the travail and pangs of children (that is, the sufferings of the Jewish church) be past, and the joy be come of the woman delivered. Compare Micah 4:9, 10; John 16:20, 21. This may likewise plainly be understood of the birth of the Messiah by the virgin Mary. Compare Isa. 7:14.

19 Hebr. residue.

20 The brethren of the Lord Christ, namely, the elect from among the Gentiles, who shall join themselves to the communion of Christ and His church, and be united together with the Jews under one Head by faith. See John 10:16; Eph. 2:11, 12, etc.; Heb. 2:11, 12.

21 Other, with, the sense being one.

22 The foresaid Ruler, the Messiah.

23 That is, be always exercising of His office, as a faithful shepherd, that keeps good watch over his flock, and is always ready at hand in their behalf. Compare Micah 7:14; Zech. 1:8; 3:5, and the phrase with Zech. 14:4, 12. Or, He shall stand, that is, exist, have a permanent dominion.

24 As a shepherd his flock, with the staff of His Word and Spirit; or, feed, that is, govern, in the same sense. See 2 Sam. 5 on verse 2, etc. Therefore Matthew has the word rule for feed in Mat. 2:6.

25 His Father’s, which is also His own strength. See John 10:38; 14:10. Wherefore the majesty or excellence of the name of his Father is appropriated to Him. Compare John 5:18; Philip. 2:6; Heb. 1:3, 5.

26 His subjects or sheep shall enjoy a quiet, steadfast and assured condition under this Ruler and Shepherd. Compare Micah 4:4, etc.

27 Or, when he now shall be great, etc.

28 That is, before long, in due time. See Micah 4:10.

29 Or, become; other, made great, that is, His honor and glory shall increase, be spread abroad and grow famous by the preaching of the Gospel and through the operation of the Holy Ghost among the heathen; or, He shall show forth His greatness and glory to the utmost ends of the earth.

30 This is a reason why the church of Christ shall dwell so securely and peaceably as was promised in the previous verse, because Christ shall be Peace; that is, He would give and dispose to her His spiritual and Divine peace infallibly and in all manners, that no enemy shall be able to take away from her (compare Judges 6 on verse 24; John 14:27), although she shall have to suffer much in the world; against which she is comforted in the sequel.

31 In this verse the church is brought in, showing forth her quietness and the confidence she puts in this her King, against all enmity and hostility, which may ill-treat her. Compare Isa. 41:25; 59:19, with the annotations. The most simple sense of these figurative words seems to be: When the enemies of the church and the children of this world (typified by the hostile Assyrians and the land of Nimrod) shall importune her (which she knows well enough beforehand, that it shall happen to her) that they shall be sufficiently, yea, then abundantly provided by their King (Who is said in verse 6 to be delivered from Assyria) with means of resistance and revenge, to maintain their spiritual state and to punish the adversaries (as if she, well together, were able to draw forth and put into the field seven or eight good armies under so many able generals or chief commanders, against the Assyrians and Chaldeans), and that, in the first place, through the sword of the Divine Word and the means of ecclesiastical discipline (which are the spiritual weapons of the church), managed by the shepherds and governors of the church, (whereof only some would have this to be understood as also of the conversion of the aforesaid enemies to the communion of the church, together with their ecclesiastical and spiritual government), and afterwards also now and then, outwardly and corporally, (as others here infer) when it shall please the Son of God, to ease and deliver His church from the assaults and pressures of her enemies, by His mighty men, whom He is able to raise at all times, for the good of His people, until at last He shall surely and perfectly destroy and confound them for ever. Compare verses 9, 15.

32 Or, raise, cause to rise upon him, choose, call, appoint and ordain, namely, by and under the conduct and government of our King and His Spirit. See Acts 13:2, etc. Likewise Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11.

33 That is, a sufficient number, or a good many; a certain number put for an uncertain. Compare Eccl. 11:2, with the annotation.

34 Ecclesiastical and civil rulers, also captains, likewise the soldiery are also called flocks. See Jer. 49:19, 20, with the annotation.

35 Or, lieutenants, governors. See Ezek. 32 on verse 30.

36 Hebr. of the, or, of a man, or, of men, that is, according to some, of the common men. Compare Psalm 4 on verse 2. So that the most simple of God’s church, by a lawful calling and the Spirit of the Lord Christ, shall be sufficiently enabled to make resistance; as for this very end God has called and established Moses and Aaron, etc., and Christ’s apostles out of the multitude, and further the others by the apostles and His people. See Acts 4:13. Or, it may be taken thus: the princes of men; that is, the most excellent and most valiant, who are gifted persons among us with the spirit of bravery. Compare Psalm 149:6, 7, 8, 9, with the annotations. Likewise John 16:8, 9, 10, 11; 2 Cor. 10:4, 5, 6.

37 See Gen. 10:8, 9, 10.

38 Or, openings, doors of the land, that is, frontiers, borders, or where the land is accessible. Other, with its lands own naked sword, as another related Hebrew word is taken as such. See Psalm 55:21, with the annotation.

39 The Ruler, Who shall come forth out of Bethlehem, shall do all this, making use of and blessing the aforesaid means.

40 In regard that out of Jacob’s remnant there were to proceed Christ (after the flesh) and His apostles, and consequently out of the universal church teachers from time to time, who, by the preaching of the Gospel of saving grace, would sprinkle and moisten many nations as with a heavenly dew and gentle drops of rain, whereby the Spirit of the Lord (Whose is alone this work) would so work in the hearts of the elect, that multitudes of believers would spring up, or be born and grow up thence, and spread, and flourish, etc. Compare Psalm 110:3; Isa. 26:19; 66:8, 9; Ezek. 47:7, with the annotations, etc. Likewise 1 Cor. 3:6, 7.

41 That is, so that this growth shall be only and purely a work of God from above. Compare Job 38:26, 27, and the annotations.

42 Courageous in his way, and terrible for his enemies, through the unconquerable power of their Head Christ (the Lion out of Judah, Rev. 5:5) and of His Spirit. See John 16:33; 1 John 5:4, 5. Some do here contrast the dew of the church, as pleasing and acceptable for the penitent, and the lion, as dreadful to the impenitent and obstinate, in the use of the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

43 Compare Psalm 7:2.

44 That is, power, O Jacob, from the preceding verse. Compare Gen. 49:8, and see Gen. 16 on verse 6.

45 Not only the spiritual, but at last also all physical enemies, as verse 15.

46 By this and what follows, the LORD implies that He will take away all these means, wherewith His people had dishonored and angered Him for a long time, namely, their fleshly arm, all their vain, idolatrous and devilish trusts; and thus sanctify His church, that she shall trust herself on Him alone, religiously serve and worship Him only, and being safe and secure under His protection, and shall triumph over all her enemies through His power and judgments. Compare Hosea 2:7; 14:4, with the annotations.

b Hosea 14:4.

47 See Lev. 19 on verse 26.

48 The idolatrous images.

49 Established to the honor of the images and used for their idolatry. See Deut. 12 on verse 3; 16:21, with the annotation, and compare herewith Ezek. 43:7, 8, 9.

50 That is, obeyed. Compare Isa. 60:12; Jer. 12:17. Other, which (namely, vengeance, that is, the like) they have not heard, that is, such as never was heard of before.