Micah 4
DortA prophecie of the future glory; spreading abroad, and peaceable blessed condition of the kingdom of the Messia, among the concerned Jews and Gentiles, verse 1, &c. A comfort for the Jewish church against the approaching Babylonian captivity, by affirming them of the final deliverance from, and victory upon all the church her enemies, by means of the presence and power of their King Christ, 9.
1. But in the latter days [in the time of the new Testament or of the coming of the promised Messia, our lord Jesus Christ. See Isaiah 2:2, 3, 5. where this prophecie is recorded almost in the very same words. See the annotate. There] it shall come to passé, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be settled upon the top [Heb. Head] of the mountains; and he shall be exalted above the hills: and the nations shall flow unto him.
2. And many heathens shall go and say; come and let us go up the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us of his wayes, and we may walk in his pathes: for the law shall go forth out of Zion, and the word of the LORD out of Jerusalem.
3. And he shall judge among great [Or, many] nations, ad punish [or rebuke] mighty heathens, afar off: [even unto the ends of the earth. See Psalms 2:8 with the annotate.] and they shall smite their swords into spades and their spear into sickes; the (one) Nation shall lift up no sword against the other, [Heb. Nation against nation shall lift up no sword] and they shall teach no war more.
4. But they shall sit, every one under his vine, and under his fig-tree, and there shall be none to make them afraid: [compare Lev. 36.5, 6. Isa. 11] for the mouth of the LORd of hosts hath spoken (it) [therefore it shall surely come to pass]
5. For all nations shall walk [meaning all other nations, that do not submit to obedience of Christ] each in the name of his God; [i.e. Idol . Comp. Jon. 15.] but we will walk [we that are of Christ’s church, that believe and follow him] in the name of the Lord our God, [i.e. in his religion, worship, faith, confidence, &c. see 1 Kings 8 on verse 16. 2 Kings 2 on verse verse 24] for ever and ever: [that is, both in this life and in that to come.]
6. In that day saith the LORD, will I assemble her, that was halting, and gather that was banished: [i.e. that for a long time was a grievously afflicted. See Psalms and jer. 20.10. Zephaniah 2:10. with the annotate. The Heb. Words halting, banished, are put in the feminine: understand the daughter of Zion, by verse 8 that is to say, the remnant of the Jewish church] and whom I had plagued [Heb. Done ill to. i.e. ill entreated, grievously afflicted and plagued.]
7. And I will make [Heb. Set or put] her that was battling for a remnant, [insomuch that a part yet of the Jews and Israelites, shall believe in and be saved by the Messia. See Romans 11:5] and her that was cast away afar off, for a mighty people: [viz. by the calling and coming of the Gentiles, as above verse 1,2] and the LORd shall be king [or reign] over them upon mount Zion, from henceforth into eternity. [i.e. from that time, that the LORD shall execute this work of Grace, there shall be no end of his Kingdom: as Luke 1:33 and so Isaiah 9:6.]
8. And thou sheep-tower [Heb. Migdal-eder, which some take to be the place mention Genesis 35:21. whereabout Jacobs his tents, close by, or within Jerusalem: others understand it of a tower built upon the sheepes-gate, spoken of Nehemiah 3:1, 31. see there and understand by this and the next mentioned place Jerusalem it self and consequently the church of God, Christs sheep-fold] thou Ophel [i.e. hill, or Hillock. See 2Chro. 27.3. and 33.14. Nehemiah 3:26, 27. it may be, that the church of God hath both these names given her, in regard of the strength and firmness of the sheep-fold of Christ, and the publick eminence of his church in the world] of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall come; yea, there shall come, the former Dominion, the Kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem. [i.e. of the people, or inhabitants of Jerusalem, that is of the church, which is the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of heaven where Christ is king, typified by the kingdom past of David, and especially by that flouring and peaceable kingdom of Solom, compare above verse 4 with the annotate.]
9. Now wherefore shouldst thou [viz. thou halting daughter of Zion] make so great a cry, [Heb. Crying cry, or cry (with) cry, i.e. make such a nooise and complaint, keep such a stir and lamenting for the sufferings to come yet] is there no king among thee? [as if God should say; it shall seem so indeed, as if ye had neither king nor councellour left, when ye shall be carried away into the Babylonian captivity; but your King is lost, therefore he shall in due time come forth again, and reestablish his kingdom among you] is thy councellour perished, [comp. Isaiah 9:5. on the word councellour] that pain, as of a travailing woman, hath seized on thee?
10. Endure pain and labour to bring forth, o daughter Zion as a (woman) in travail: [i.e. be content to undergo these pangs and sufferings, there is reason for it, it must first be so, before it can be otherwise; the issue will be sweet and comfortable. Compare Isa. 26. verse 17, 18, 19.] for now [that is, here long, shortly, see Hos. 10 on verse 3 and below chapter 5.4 and chapter 7.10.] thou shalt indeed go forth out of the city and dwell in the field, [i.e. go straying and wandering, forth out of thy land, and be scattered abroad] and come even into Babel, (but) there thou shalt be rescued, there the LORD shall redeem thee [in token that thy king is false still, and to typifie or shadow forth the spiritual redemption and setting up of the kingdom of Christ, the true and only redeemer of his people. See Genesis 48:16. Job 19:25. Isaiah 59:20.] out of the hand [Heb. Palme] of thine enemies.
11. Now indeed there are many heathens assembled against thee, [O Zion, or daughter of Zion] that say let her be prophaned [by bloodshed abusing, plundering and all manner of Desolation] and let our eyes look on Zion, [i.e. take pleasure and delight, in seeing their ruin and destruction. Compare Psalms 22 on verse 18.]
12. but they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, [they viz. the heathen, Jerusalem Enemies] and understand not his councell; that he gathered them as sheaves for the threshing floor. [after that he shall have made use of the enemies, for the chastening and humbling of his people by them, then shall he execute a terrible judgement upon those enemies. Compare Isa. 21 on verse 10. and jer. 51.33. Joel 3:13, 14. with the annotate.]
13. Get thee up and thresh, o daughter of Zion; [temple and crush them thy feet now, (those thine oppressour and Enemies) and that through, the power of thy own head and king Christ. Compare Isa. 41 verse 15.16] for I will make thy horn iron, [Heb. Put, or set and so in the sequel: that is, I will make thy power invinsible. See Deut. 33 on verse 17.] and thy hopfs brasse and thou shalt beat in shivers many nations; and I will banne their gain the LORD, and their substance to the LORD of all the earth; [this hath respect to the utter destruction or banning of a nation in that sort, that the people being destroyed, all their goods were consecrated to the LORD. See Deut. 2 on verse 34. Joshua 6:17, 18, 19 and compare further, Zach. 14.20.]
14. Now troop together, [i.e. do your best and utmost gather and make all the forces and power you are able: as if the LORD should say, seeing, that for this time, it must needs happen so by reason of your sins as was said verse 10.11 it shall be altogether in vain, whatsoever you shall enterprise against it, strive and stir never so much to the contrary, you must away to Babel. The speech addresseth it self to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with whom the prophet sorts himself in the sequel, by the word us. Yet some do hold this to be the speech of God deriding the Babylonians; as if he should have said: even do thy best, thou warring Babel (as doubtless thou will do) yet shalt thou not not be thereby to hinder, or retard the work of God which I intend for my people whereof in the next chapter. Other. Now shalt thou be heaped (or packt) together with troops to wit, by the siege as followeth, some do make this verse the beginning of the next chapter] thou daughter of the trop, [i.e. thou warlike nation as thou thinkst thyself to be for experience in war, and readiness of forces and provisions and therefore daring all and fearing none: or thou that art wont to make execusions with thy troops and companies, to set upon and strip the travelers and passengers as so many high-way thieves and robbers: as above chapter 2.8. see of the Hebr. Word, signifying a companie or troop of souldiers, c. 2 Sam 2 on verse 22 Jer. 18 on verse 22 and compare Israels example, Hosea 4:2. and 6.9 and 7.1 as for the phrase daughter of the troop, compare Job 5 on verse 7 and Zach. 4. on verse 14.] he shall put a siege against us: [He, viz. the enemie, the King of Babel. These are words of the prophet a if he had said; this shall assuredly betide us, practice of prepare to the contrary, whatsoever ye may] they shall smite the judge of Israel with the rod upon the cheeks [that is, basely abuse and vilisie the rulers or governours of the people. See I Kings 22.24. Job 16:10. Psalms 3:8. Lamentations 3:30 with the annotate. This was a sign that their earthly kingdom should have an end, in lieu whereof there is promise made in the sequel of anew and heavenly king the Messia.]