Micah 5
PATThe prophet, that he may comfort the Jews under the calamities foretold in the last chapter, foretells the birth of Christ, whose kingdom should at last become victorious.over all its enemies. speak of it as an undoubted truth, that Christ was to come of the seed of David, <ind of the town of Beth-lehem, where David ivas, (John vii. 42.) The Chaldee agrees with their sentiments, and expressly applies the prophecy to the Mes-. siah: and our Lord was born at Beth-lehem, by an especial act of Providence, that this prophecy might plainly be fulfilled in him. (See Luke ii. 4.) To come forth is the same as to be born. (See Gen. x. 14. xvfi. 6. xxv. 25. 1 Chron. ii. 53. Isa. xi. 1.) WJiose goings forth have been from of old, even from everlasting.] The words do naturally import an original, distinct from the birth of Christ, mentioned in the foregoing sentence; which is here declared to be from all eternity:’ for so the words mikkedem (translated here from of old, but rendered from everlasting, Habak. i. 12.) and mime olam, from the days of eternity, do plainly signify. (Sec Psal. lv. 19. xc. 2. Prov. viii. 23.) If we expound it with the Chaldee paTaphrast, Wliose name was foretold of old, the expression contains a plain description of the Messias.
Micah 5:1
IS OW gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against n$. This verse is to be understood of some foreign invasion of Judea, by a nation that had numerous troops; and may relate to the conquest of Judea by the Babylonians. The daughter of troops is a phrase of the same kind with the daughter of affliction; i. e. one that is surrounded with affliction: so the son of death is one condemned to die, 1 Sam. xx. 31. Psal. cii. 20. • They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.] This may be understood of Zedekiah, \Vho was treated in a contumelious manner by the Babylonians, as a common captive, (2 Kings xxv..6, 7.) Smiting on the cheek, signifies treating one in a despiteful manner, Lam. iii. 31. Matt. v.39. The Judge of Israel is equivalent to the King of Israel. (See Amos ii. 5.)
Micah 5:2
But thou Beth-lehem-Ephratah, though thou -be little among the thousands of Judah. Ephrath, or Ephratah; was another name for Beth-lehem in the tribe of Judah. (See Gen. xxxv. 19.) And both names are joined together, to distinguish it from another Beth-lehem,situate in the tribe of Zebulun, mentioned Josh. xix. 15. It is called little among the thousands, i. e. among the families, or cities of Judah. (Compare Judg. vi. 15. 1 Sam. x. 19.) The expression is taken from the first division of the people into thousands, hundreds, and other subordinate divisions.* (Sec Exod. xviii. 21. 25.) Both the city and family of David were in a mean condition at the time of Christ’s birth; whereupon the blessed Virgin, in her song, thankfully commemorates God’s extraordinary favour, in honouring that low.estate to which they were reduced, with the birth of the Messiah, (Luke i. 48. 52, m.)’ But the word tsair, little, hath likewise a contrary signification, as many Hebrew words have, (see the note upon Isa. xii. 17.) and signifies one of note or esteem; in which sense it is taken by the Chaldee paraphrast upon Jer. xlviii. 4. and by some copies of the LXX. Zech. xiii. 7. (See Dr. Pocock, in his notes-upon Porta Mosis, cap. 2. p. 18, 19.) And in this sense St. Matthew understands the text, and translates it, Art not the least among the princes of Judah, ii- 6. Yet out of thee he shall come unto me that is to be nder in Israel.] The scribes and pharisecs understood this prophecy of the birth of the Messiah, as appears from Matt. ii. 5, 6. and so did the generality of the Jews of that age, who
Micah 5:3
Therefore ivill he give them up, until the time that she that travaileth hath brought forth.* The particle laken, translated therefore, should be rendered nevertheless, here, and in some other places; as Dr. Pocock hath observed upon the place: and see the note upon Isa. xxx. 18. Notwithstanding the promise of so great a blessing, God will give up his people into the hands of their enemies, or leave them to be exercised with troubles and afflictions, till the appointed time of their deliverance cometh, which shall be greater than that from Babylon. (See iv. 10.) This deliverance may be understood of the church’s bringing forth children by the preaching of the gospel: (see Gal. iY. 27.) but will be more fully completed in the general restoration of the Jewish nation, to be expected in the latter ages. (Compare Isa. lxvi. 7, 8.) Tlien the remnant of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel*] Or, ShalVbe converted with the children of Israel* (See the note upon Mai. iv. G.) Then the remnant of the dispersed Jews, (see the note upon iv. 7.) upon their conversion, shall join themselves to the true Israelites, and make one church with them. Both the LXX. and Chaldee read, The remnant of their brethren. But if wc follow the present Hebrew, wc may understand it of the believers that shall be added to the church, for Christ vouchsafes to call all believers his brethren. (See Matt. • xii. 50. Heb. ii. 11.).. r
Micah 5:4
And he shall stand and feed [or, rule. in thestrength of the Lord, and in the majesty of the name of the Lordhis God, &c] Christ shall* diligently perform the office of a shepherd or governor over his church: (compare vii. 14.) and it will appear by the success which attends him, that God is with him, and is glorified in and by him. (John xiii. 31, 32.) For his kingdom shall extend itself all the world over, (Psal. ii. 8.) and his faithful servants shall continue secure under his protection. Instead of the verb yashalu, they shall abide, the Chaldee * and Vulgar Latin read, yashubu, they sliall be converted, or return from their captivity; which agrees very well with f the sense of the verse foregoing. For now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.] The words of the angel, Luke i. 32. allude to this text. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, &c He is dignified with such titles as were never given to any creature, as the apostle at large proves, Heb.i.4,&c. (Compare Isa. Hi. 13. and see the note there.)
Micah 5:5
And this man shall be the peace. This title in a peculiar manner belongs to the Messiah, and is spoken of as a blessing attending his kingdom. (See Psal lxxii. 7. Isa. ii. 4. ix. 6, 7. xi. 6. Hag. ii. 9. Zech. ix. 10. Luke ii. 14. Ephes. ii. 14. Heb. vii. 2.) This sentence may be best explained as coherent with the former verse. When the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our borders.] I take the sense which Mr. Mede hath given to this passage to be most agreeable to the scope and design of the following part of the chapter. See his Works, p. 796. where he expounds the place of the general destruction of some remarkable enemy, or enemies, to God and his truth, which should come to pass before the consummation of all things: an event foretold in several places of Scripture. (See Psal. cx» 5, 6. Isa. xxvi. 20, 21. xxxiv. 1, &c. lxvi. 16. Jer. xxx. 7. 10. Ezek. xxxviii. xxxix. Joel iii. 9. 14. Obad. ver. 15, &c. Zeph. iii. 8. Hag. ii. 22. Zech. xii. 1. xiv. 8. Rev. xix. 19. xx. 9.) This ene-. my is probably called by the name of the Assyrian by Isaiah, xiv. 25. as well as by Micah here. (See the. note upon that place.) Mr. Mede ingeniously conjectures, that this name was given him by these two prophets, because.that ever since the invasion of Sennacherib, the very name of Assyrian carried terror along with it, being esteemed by the Jews as their most formidable enemy.* TJien we shall raise up against, him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.] Or, rulers. Under his conduct we shall be furnished with commanders sufficient to oppose the enterprises of the enemy. Shepherds are elsewhere equivalent to princes or generals. (See Jer. yi. 3. xxv. 34. Nahum iii. 18.) The words seven and eight are used for an indefinite number: (see Eccles. xi. 2.) so once and twice, six and seven, are used, Job xxxiii.14. v. 19. Prov. vi. 16.
Micah 5:6
And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and [or even. the land ofNimrod in the entrances, thereof] In its borders, where its garrisons are, and its chief strength lies- Assyria is called the land ofNimrod, because he was the first king of that country, as appears from Gen. x. 2. where the marginal reading rightly translates the text, Out of that land he (i. e. Nimrod, spoken of ver. 9.) went out into Assyria, or invaded and conquered it; as the phrase, went forth, commonly signifies. (See Psal. Ix. 10. Zech. xiv. 3.)
Micah 5:7
And tlte remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord. That remnant, mentioned ver. 3. and iv. 7. shall be the instruments of converting those gentiles among whom they live: (see the notes upon Isa. lxvi. 12. 19.) and thereupon may fitly be represented by the dews and rains which come from heaven, and are the means of making the earth fruitful. (Compare Deut. xxxii. 2. Psal. Ixxxii. 6. Hos. vi. 3.) - it Which tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men.] The dews and the rains are the gift of God, (see Isa.,lv. 10. Jer. xiv. 22.) and are spoken of here, by way of distinction from those fountains and canals of water, which men convey into their fields and gardens by their own industry. (Compare Deut. xi. 10, II.) [Some of the rabbins apply the text to the birth of the Messiah, spoken of ver. 2. who shall be born, not in the ordinary way of generation, but by the miraculous power of God.