Micah 5

Micah 5:1

GAther thy selfe in troups] O Jerusalem, which hast hitherto been filled with rapines, like unto those which are committed by robbers on the high way: gather all thy forces together, to resist the Chaldeans, if thou canst.

judge of Israel] The citie being taken, the King, and all the great ones, shall be shamefully used by the enemies.

Micah 5:2

Beth-lehem] Matthew 2:6. John 7:42.

Ephratah] Genesis 35:19. Judges 17:7.

thou be little] Or, art thou little to be, &c. Though at this time thou be the least, and weakest citie amongst the Tribes of Judah, yet shalt thou be exalted by Christs coming in the flesh. And Saint Matthew hath the same words, to the same sense, with a negation. Thou art not the least, &c. Matthew 2:6. after the said prophecie was fulfilled.

thousands of Judah] The Tribes of Israel were divided into thousands, whereof every one had a head, or Prince, Judges 6:15. 1 Samuel 10:19. 1 Chronicles 12:20. Zechariah 9:7. Whereupon Saint Matthew in stead of thousands, saith head or governour.

yet out of thee] He comforteth the Church, which was deprived of her earthly King, by the promise of Christs coming, the heavenly, and everlasting King.

whose goings forth] He sheweth that the coming of Christ and all his wayes were appointed of God from all eternitie. Or he was from everlasting come forth from the Father by generation; and by an eternall decree was by him appointed to be a Mediatour.

everlasting] Heb. the dayes of eternity.

Micah 5:3

Therefore] Namely, to fulfill these prophecies.

will he give them up] God shall suffer his people to be subject to foraine Princes and Lords, their enemies, untill Christ be born of a virgin, according to the promises, Genesis 3:15. Isaiah 7:14.

remnant] To wit, the Gentiles, converted by faith to Christ, and thereby made brothers to the true Israel in spirit; shall be united with them in one body of a Church, under Christ their head.

Micah 5:4

he shall stand] Christ shall do the office of a good shepherd, standing still on foot, and watching for the safeguard of his; employing for their safetie the divine power of his Father: whereby the Church shall rest secure, having the King of the whole world for her protector.

feed] Or, rule.

they shall abie] Like sheep in the fold.

for now shall he be great] Namely, at the prefired and appointed time: or within a short space.

Micah 5:5

And this man shall be the peace] Or, he shall be our peace. Ephesians 2:14. That is, Christ shall be the foundation, authour, and preserver of the true spirituall rest of the Church: and if it be assaulted by the enemies, it shall from him have sufficient means for to withstand them. As if they had raised seven armies, under the command of seven Captaines, against the Assyrians, who were the Jews ancient enemies.

seven shepherds] Having likened the Church to a flock of sheep, he calleth the defenders of it, and all the ministers of her preservation, shepherds, as servants to the great shepherd, who in respect of Christ are also sheep, and members of the Church.

principall men] Heb. princes of men.

Micah 5:6

waste the land of Assyria] Heb. eat up. These whom God shall raise up for the deliverance of his Church, shall destroy Satan and the worlds kingdome, by the sword of Gods word, and all the enemies thereof, which are meant here by the Assyrians and Babylonians, which were the chiefe at that time.

land of Nimrod] See Genesis 10:10-11.

in the entrances thereof] Or, with her own naked swords.

Micah 5:7

as a dew] By reason of it multitude, grown up as it were in an instant, and miraculously fallen from heaven, shall be like dew or ram, Psalms 110:3. Or this remnant or Church, which God shall deliver, shall onely depend on Gods power and defence as doth the grasse of the field, and not on the hope of man.

that tarrieth not for man] Which doth not grow in gardens, nor tilled lands, watered by mens hands: but in deserts mountains, and wild places, that hath no other water but what falleth from heaven, Job 38:26-27. Psalms 104:13.

Micah 5:8

as a lion among the beasts] The faithfull shall be endowed with an invincible force of the Spirit of God, to overcome, and overthrow the devill, the world, and all their enemies, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5, 6. 1 Joh. 5. 4, 5.

sheep] Or, goats.

Micah 5:10

And it shall come to passe] Zac 9:10.

I will cut off thy horses] I will take away all worldly strength from my Church: and cause her to renounce all damnable and unlawfull means to maintain her self; as forceries, and rcourse to idols and to idolatrous people, which the people had formerly made use of: because she may put all her trust and confidence in me: and that she may attain the victory over all her enemies, onely by the power of my Spirit. See Hosea 1:7. Zechariah 4:6.

Micah 5:11

I will cut off the cities of thy land] Namely, the walled and strong cities: to bring them to live in villages and open places. See Ezekiel 38:11.

Micah 5:13

standing images] Or, statues.

Micah 5:14

I will pluck up thy groves] Dedicated to idolatrie, Deuteronomy 16:21.

cities] Or, enemies.

Micah 5:15

they have not heard] It shall be so terrible that the like hath not been heard of. Others say, he will plague such as have not believed and obeyed he Gospel, 2 Corinthians 10:6.