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Micah Chapter
Four
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 4
This
chapter contains some gracious promises concerning the glory and happiness of
the church of Christ in the last days; as of its stability
exaltation
and
increase
and of the spread of the Gospel from it
Micah 4:1; and of
the peace and security of it
and constant profession and exercise of religion
in it
Micah 4:3; and of
the deliverance of it from affliction and distress
and the ample and
everlasting kingdom of Christ in it
Micah 4:6; and then
follow some prophecies more particularly respecting the Jews; as that
though
they should be in distress
and be carried captive into Babylon
they should be
delivered from thence
Micah 4:9; and
though many people should be gathered against them
yet should not be able to
prevail over them
but their attempts would issue in their own destruction
Micah 4:11.
Micah 4:1 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the
mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains
And shall
be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it.
YLT
1And it hath come to pass
In the latter end of the days
The mount of the house of Jehovah Is established
above the top of the mounts
And it hath been lifted up above the hills
And
flowed unto it have peoples.
But in the last days it shall come to pass
that the
mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the
mountains
.... It appears by the adversative but
with which these words
are introduced
that they have a dependence upon and a connection with the last
of the preceding chapter; signifying
that though "the mountain of the
house"
on which the temple stood
should become desolate
yet "the
mountain of the house of the Lord"
which is not literally the same
but
what that was typical of
the church of Christ
should be greatly exalted and
enlarged; and which
according to this prophecy
would be "in the last
days": that is
as Kimchi rightly interprets it
the days of the Messiah;
and it should be observed
that all this will be in the last of his days
or of
the Gospel dispensation: the first of these days were the days of Christ in the
flesh
the times of his ministry
and of John the Baptist his forerunner
and
of his disciples; and were indeed the last days of the Jewish world
or of
their civil and church state; and when also it must be allowed the mountain of
the Lord's house
or the temple literally taken
became glorious by the
presence of Christ in it
by his doctrine and miracles there
and by the
effusion of the Spirit on his disciples in that place
and the ministration of
the Gospel; but then all this was before the destruction of the second temple;
whereas this prophecy follows that
and is opposed to it
and supposes it;
besides
in those times there was not such an exaltation and stability of the
church of Christ; nor such a flow of nations to it; nor such a settled and
universal peace and security as here promised: this prophecy therefore respects
times yet to come
as Aben Ezra observes; the last of the days of the Messiah
or the last times of the Gospel dispensation
when the reign of antichrist will
be at an end; he will be destroyed
and the kingdom of Christ set up
established
and enlarged in the world. The Prophet Isaiah predicts the same
things
and much in the same words
Isaiah 2:2; these
two prophets were contemporary
and might converse together
and communicate to
each other what they had received from the Lord upon this subject; but it is
needless to inquire which might have them from the other
since they were both
holy men of God
and moved by his Spirit
and were inspired by the same Spirit
with the same things
and to speak the same language; yet there is a diversity
in words
though an agreement in sentiment nor does it appear a clear case that
they borrowed
much less that they stole
their words from one other
as the
false prophets did; for they do not always use the same words to convey the
same idea; and there are some words which Isaiah has that Micah has not and
there are others that Micah uses that Isaiah has not; though in the whole there
is a most beautiful harmony of sense in their diversity of expression. By
"the mountain of the house of the Lord" is not meant the temple built
on Mount Moriah
where the divine Majesty resided; where were the symbols of
his presence
the ark and mercy seat
and where he was worshipped
which has
been destroyed long ago
and will never be rebuilt more; for a third temple
hereafter to be built at Jerusalem is a mere fiction of the Jews; nor indeed is
any material building here intended
and still less any such building to be
erected in such an absurd sense
literally taken
as if mountain was piled on
mountain
and hill on hill
to raise it higher; but
mystically and
spiritually
it designs the church of God
called so because it is built by
him
and built for a habitation for him; where he will
at the time here
referred to
more manifestly dwell in a spiritual manner; and by whom
and by
which spiritual and gracious presence of his
it will be made very beautiful
and glorious: and it is signified by a "mountain"
to denote its
visibility
immovableness
and perpetuity; and is said to be "established
in the top of the mountains"
with respect to the kingdoms of this world
and especially antichristian churches
which
because of their eminence
and
largeness
and national establishment
may seem like mountains; but
in the
latter day
the true church of Christ
which now may seem like a mole hill to
them
will be above them
and will be in a settled state and condition
and not
be fluctuating
and tossed to and fro
and removing here and there
as now; but
be fixed and stable
and continue so until the second and personal coming of
Christ:
and it shall be exalted above the hills: by
"hills" may be meant petty kingdoms
inferior to greater monarchies;
or religious states
not of Christ's constitution; and the
"exaltation" of the church above them denotes her power over them
to
enjoy the one
and crush the other: it may respect the glory of the church
both as to things temporal and spiritual; for now will the kingdoms under the
whole heaven be given to the saints of the most High; civil government will
come into their hands
the kings and princes of the earth being now members of
Gospel churches; so that the church will be in a glorious and exalted state
having riches
power
and authority
a large extent everywhere
and a multitude
of members
and those of the highest class and rank
as well as of the meaner and
lower sort; and all of them possessed largely of the gifts and graces of the
Spirit of God
and enjoying the Gospel and Gospel ordinances in their power and
purity:
and the people shall flow unto it: in great abundance
in
large numbers
in company like the flowing streams of a river; and may denote
not only their numbers
but their swiftness and readiness to join themselves
with the church of God
to hear the word
and partake of the ordinances
and of
all the privileges of the house of the Lord. It may be rendered
"they
shall look unto it"
as the word is translated in Psalm 34:6; and so
the Targum here
"and
the kingdoms shall look (or turn their faces) to serve upon it;'
and
this sense is preferred by many learned Jewish writersF14R. Saadiah
Abu Walid
R. Tanchuma apud Pocock in loc. ; and the meaning may be
that
multitudes
seeing the glory of the church
and the many desirable things in
it
shall look to it with a look of love and affection
and with a wishful
look
greatly desiring to be admitted into it. In Isaiah 2:2; it is
said
"and all nations shall flow unto it": not the people of the
Jews only
now converted; or a single and
on only
or some out of that; but
all the nations of the world
at least great numbers out of all
by far the
greatest in them; such an increase will there be of the churches in the latter
day.
Micah 4:2 2 Many nations shall come and say
“Come
and let us go
up to the mountain of the Lord
To the house of the God of
Jacob; He will teach us His ways
And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of
Zion the law shall go forth
And the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem.
YLT
2And gone have many nations
and said
Come and we go up to the mount of Jehovah
And unto the house of the
God of Jacob
And He doth teach us of His ways
And we do walk in His paths
For from Zion doth go forth a law
And a word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.
And many nations shall come
and say
come
and let us go up to
the mountain of the Lord
and to the house of the God of Jacob
.... In Isaiah 2:3; it is
"many people"
&c. the sense is the same; See Gill on Isa 2:3;
and he will teach us of his ways
and we will walk in his paths; the teacher
is the King Messiah
as Kimchi observes; the great Prophet of his people
the
teacher sent from God; and will in the last days teach men by his Spirit and
word
in a very plentiful manner
and with great success:
for the law shall go forth of Zion
and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem; these
according to Kimchi
are the words of the prophet
and
not of the people
that encourage one another to go up to the house of the
Lord; but the sense is much the same; for they contain a reason why the people
of different nations would encourage one another to go to the house of the
Lord
that they might learn his ways
and walk in his statutes
because here
the word of the Lord is preached; the word which comes from God
and is
concerning him
his love and grace to men; the word of peace and righteousness
of life and salvation
by Jesus Christ: and each of the doctrines of grace
intended by the "law" or "doctrine" of the Lord; the
doctrines of God's everlasting love
of election in Christ
and redemption by
him; of justification by his righteousness
pardon by his blood
and
satisfaction by his atonement; as well as of regeneration by the Spirit of God
and of perseverance in grace: in these
and others
now shall all the Lord's
people be taught more clearly
distinctly
and comfortably; all shall know him
from the least to the greatest; and not only their light and knowledge
under
such a teacher and such will be very great
but their practice will be
answerable to it; as they will be instructed in all the ways of the Lord
and
in the methods of his grace
so they will walk in all the commandments and
ordinances of the Lord blameless; See Gill on Isaiah 2:3.
Micah 4:3 3 He
shall judge between many peoples
And rebuke strong nations afar off; They
shall beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation
shall not lift up sword against nation
Neither shall they learn war anymore.[a]
YLT
3And He hath judged between
many peoples
And given a decision to mighty nations afar off
They have beaten
their swords to ploughshares
And their spears to pruning-hooks
Nation lifteth
not up sword unto nation
Nor do they learn war any more.
And he shall judge among many people
and rebuke strong nations
afar off
.... That are in the most distant parts of the world; not only
the isles afar off
but the remotest parts of the continent
the American
nations found out since. In Isaiah 2:4
it is
"and he shall judge among the nations
and shall rebuke many people";
that is
the King Messiah
as Aben Ezra
Kimchi
and Ben Melech. Some render
it
"it shall judge"
&c. and interpret it either of the Church
the mountain of the Lord's house; or of the word and doctrine of the Lord; or of
the Lord in the church
by the ministry of the word
The phrase
"afar
off"
is not in Isaiah 2:4; which
the Targum interprets "for ever"
and the "strong nations"
of strong kings; signifying that the kingdom of Christ should not only be to
the ends or the earth
but should endure for ever
unto distant time
even till
it shall be no more; as well as shall reach to distant lands
as to situation
and to the Gentiles afar off
as to state and condition; see Ephesians 2:14;
and they shall beat their swords into plough shares
and their
spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation
neither shall they learn war any more; which as yet
has never been fulfilled; but will be the case when Christ's kingdom appears in
its glory
and the kingdoms of this world become his
and all the enemies of
the church are destroyed; See Gill on Isaiah 2:4. These
words are by the JewsF15T. Bab. Sabbat
fol. 63. 1. applied to the
days of the Messiah.
Micah 4:4 4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig
tree
And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
YLT
4And they have sat each
under his vine
And under his fig-tree
And there is none troubling
For the
mouth of Jehovah of Hosts hath spoken.
But they shall sit every man under his vine
and under his fig
tree
.... A proverbial phrase
expressive of the greatest
tranquillity
security
and enjoyment of property; see 1 Kings 4:25; when
persons need not keep within their walled towns and cities
and lack themselves
up in their houses
but may sit down in their gardens
fields
and vineyards
and enjoy the fruit thereof; as the Targum interprets it
"under
the fruit of his vine
and under
the fruit of his fig tree.'
It
was usual for persons in the eastern countries to sit under vines and fig trees
to read
meditate
pray
or converse together
where they grow very large
as
were their vines; and even with us they are frequently raised and carried over
supporters
so as to be sat under; and of fig trees
we frequently read in
Jewish writings of their being very large
and of their going up to them
and
praying on the top of them; and of sitting under them
and studying in the law
there. So one of the Rabbins saysF16T. Hieros. Peah
c. 7. fol. 20.
2.
he went up into his mustard tree
as one goes up to the top of a fig tree;
and it is saidF17T. Hieros. Beracot
c. 2. fol. 5. 1.
he that
prays on the top of an olive tree
or on the top of a fig tree must come down
and pray below; and againF18Ib. col. 3.
R. Jacob and his
companions were fasting
studying in the law
under a certain fig tree; and
sometimes they speak of all these together
of sitting under olives
and under
vines
and under fig trees
and studying in the words of the lawF19Shirhashirim
Rabba
fol. 16. 4. ; see John 1:48. This is
to be understood
as Aben Ezra and Kimchi explain it
of all men; not of the
Israelites only
but of all nations
since there will be no more war any where;
hence it follows:
and none shall make them afraid; the enemies
of God's people will be no more
neither Turk nor pope
eastern or western
antichrist
beast or
false prophet; wherefore
in those days of the Messiah
Judah shall be saved
and Israel shall dwell safely
even all the spiritual
Israel of God
Jews and Gentiles; there shall be none to hurt in the holy mountain
of the Lord
or any violence and oppression
wasting and destruction
anywhere;
see Jeremiah 23:5;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it; who speaks
nothing but truth
and who is able and faithful to perform what he has spoken;
and therefore all this may be depended on.
Micah 4:5 5 For
all people walk each in the name of his god
But we will walk in the name of
the Lord our God Forever and ever.
YLT
5For all the peoples do
walk
Each in the name of its god -- and we
We do walk in the name of Jehovah
our God
To the age and for ever.
For all people will walk everyone in the name of his god
.... Till
those times come before described; when many nations and people shall flock to
the church
and there shall be such general peace and tranquillity as here
promised; till then the nations of the earth shall retain their former
religion
and the profession of it
with constancy
till they are otherwise
instructed
as Aben Ezra; or till the Messiah shall turn them into the right
way
as Kimchi; till that time comes
the Pagans will worship their idols
and
continue in the idolatry of their ancestors; the Papists will retain their
image worship
and hold to their lord god the pope
as they call him; the
Mahometans will cleave to their prophet
and walk according to the rules he has
left them to observe. Jarchi's note is
"they
shall go to destruction because of their idolatry;'
with
which he says the Targum agrees
which is
"all
nations shall go according to the idols they have worshipped;'
or
as the king of Spain's Bible
"they
shall be guilty or condemned because they have worshipped idols:'
and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever; both in the
mean while
and when those happy times shall come
and so through all
generations as long as the world stands. This is the language of those that
know the Lord
believe in him
and sincerely serve him; who determine in the
strength of divine grace to continue in their profession of faith of him
in
his worship and service
in his ways
truths
and ordinances
whatever others
do; and indeed are the more animated to it
when they observe how constant and
steadfast idolaters
Pagans
Papists
and Mahometans
are in their false
worship
both in the profession and practice of it. The Targum is
"we
will trust in the Word of the Lord our God for ever and ever;'
in
Christ the essential Word; and so the phrase is expressive of faith
and a
profession of faith in him; and of constant attendance upon his word and
ordinances.
Micah 4:6 6 “In that day
” says the Lord
“I will
assemble the lame
I will gather the outcast And those whom I have afflicted;
YLT
6In that day -- an
affirmation of Jehovah
I do gather the halting one
And the driven away one I
bring together
And she whom I have afflicted.
In that day
saith the Lord
will I assemble her that halteth
.... The Jews
or Israelites so described; not from the halting of Jacob their father
as
Abarbinel thinks; nor because of their halting between two opinions
worshipping both the true God and idols
as in the times of Elijah; for this
will not suit with the Jews in their present state; but because they were like
lame and maimed sheep
to which the allusion is; or because they were guilty of
sins
which are sometimes expressed by halting
Jeremiah 20:10. The
word signifies such that go sideways
and not uprightly; and fitly describes
such who deviate from the ways of God
and walk not according to the divine
word: now "in that day" or time before referred to
the last days of
the Gospel dispensation
the Lord will convert the Jews; or "heal"
these lame and maimed ones
so Jarchi interprets the word; or will gather them
by his Spirit and grace to the Messiah
and assemble them into his church
and
among his people
and bring them into the sheepfold
under the care of the one
Shepherd
the Lord Jesus Christ:
and I will gather her that is driven out; out of the
land of Israel
and scattered among the nations of the world; even driven out
by the Lord himself
because of their transgressions against him; see Jeremiah 16:15;
and her that I have afflicted; with various calamities
with famine and sword
with captivity and poverty; the Targum adds
"for
the sins of my people;'
the
Israelites for their idolatry
and the Jews for the rejection of the Messiah
and other sins.
Micah 4:7 7 I will make the lame a remnant
And the outcast a
strong nation; So the Lord will reign over them in Mount
Zion From now on
even forever.
YLT
7And I have set the halting
for a remnant
And the far-off for a mighty nation
And reigned hath Jehovah
over them in mount Zion
From henceforth
and unto the age.
And I will make her that halted a remnant
.... That is
make a reserve of her
and not utterly cut her off for her halting or sinning;
that there may be a seed
a posterity descending from her
that shall serve the
Lord
and appear to be a remnant according to the election of grace; which will
be the persons called and gathered in the latter day:
and her that was cast afar off a strong nation; Kimchi thinks
this refers to the ten tribes that were carried far off into Media and other
parts
2 Kings 17:6; who
shall now be a mighty and numerous people; and especially shall be strong in a
spiritual sense in the Lord
and in the power of his might
in Christ and his
grace
and in the faith of him; see Isaiah 60:22;
and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth
even for ever; that is
Christ
who is Jehovah our righteousness
shall reign
over the converted Jews and Israelites in the church of God
often signified by
Mount Zion; where they shall be assembled
and shall acknowledge him as their
King
and be subject to his word and ordinances
and never more depart from
him; nor will his government over them ever cease more
Luke 1:32. This
shows that this prophecy refers not to the that times of the Gospel; for then
the Jews would not have him to reign over them; but to times yet to come
the
last days of the Gospel dispensation.
Micah 4:8 8 And
you
O tower of the flock
The stronghold of the daughter of Zion
To you shall
it come
Even the former dominion shall come
The kingdom of the daughter of
Jerusalem.”
YLT
8And thou
O tower of Eder
Fort of the daughter of Zion
unto thee it cometh
Yea
come in hath the former
rule
The kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.
And thou
O tower of the flock
.... The words
"Migdal Eder" are left by some untranslated
and think that place to
be intended so called
which was near to Bethlehem
Genesis 35:19; and
perhaps is the same which JeromF20De locis Hebr. fol. 89. E. calls
the tower of Ader
about a mile from Bethlehem: this is supposed to be the
place where the shepherds were watching over their flocks at the time of
Christ's birth
the tidings of which were first brought to them here; and the
JewishF21T. Hieros. Kiddushin
fol. 63. 1. T. Ban. Kiddushin
fol.
55. 1. Misn. Shekalim
c. 7. sect. 4. doctors speak of it as near Jerusalem
and as a place of pasture; for they say
that cattle between Jerusalem and
Migdal Eder
and in an equal space to every wind; the males were used for burnt
offerings
and the females for peace offerings; and this place is thought to be
referred to in the latter clause of this verse: others think that Bethlehem
itself is meant
to which the dominion came; but rather
as in the next
chapter
the ruler came out of that; others think that the gate in Jerusalem
called the sheep gate is meant
Nehemiah 3:32; and
the tower at it
through which Christ is supposed to pass when he entered into
Jerusalem as King
amidst the Hosannahs of the people; others take it to be the
same with the tower of David
and put for Jerusalem itself
whither the tribes
were gathered together three times a year
like sheep in a fold
so Kimchi and
Ben Melech; here others interpret it spiritually of the church of Christ; but
though that is sometimes spoken of as a strong city
and a fortified place
yet
is never called a tower
or a strong hold; which phrases
when figuratively
used
are always spoken of a divine person; see Psalm 18:2; and
here of the Messiah; and so the Targum interprets it
"O
Christ of Israel:'
the
church indeed is the "flock": the people of God are often compared to
sheep for their harmlessness and innocence
and the church to a flock of them
which is Christ's flock he feeds like a shepherd; the flock of slaughter
a
little one
consisting of persons separated from the world
and under his
peculiar care; and he is the tower of this flock
in allusion to a shepherd's
cottage
called a tower
as a cottage in a vineyard is in Isaiah 5:2; where
the shepherds watch
and into which they bring the sick and lame
and take care
of them; Christ is a high tower
where his people are safe out of the reach of
their enemies; and a strong one
being the mighty God and mighty Saviour
who
has all power and strength to defend his church and people
and may be well called
their tower: and
the strong hold of the daughter of Zion; "the
daughter of Zion" is the church
particularly the church of the converted
Jews; Christ is the strong hold of it
into which
as prisoners of hope
they
will be directed to turn
Zechariah 9:12; a
strong refuge he is to flee unto from the avenger of blood
the justice of God;
from the curses of the law; from the storm of divine wrath; from the temptations
of Satan
and from the persecutions of men; a strong hold is he to dwell in
and where the saints dwell safely
pleasantly
at ease and peace
and very
comfortably
and in great plenty; a strong hold for shelter from every enemy:
unto thee shall it come; not the kingdom
as
follows
which our version leads to
and is the sense of Aben Ezra; for there
is a considerable accent on the word "come"
which makes a large
stop; and that it refers
as Jarchi observes
to "her that halteth"
&c.
"it" or "she" that halteth shall come
being assembled and
gathered
or converted by the grace of God unto the Messiah; as to her
or
their tower and strong hold
where all blessings of grace
and the supplies of
it
and all salvation and safety
are to be had and enjoyed. The promise
respects the Jews coming to Christ upon their conversion
even such who have
been the halt
the maimed
the lame
and the blind:
even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of
Jerusalem; or rather
"and the first dominion shall come
the kingdom
to the daughter of Jerusalem": meaning
not the first notice of the
Messiah's kingdom
given by John the Baptist
Christ
and his apostles
to the
Jews
in the first times of the Gospel; or the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom
first to them; but rather he who has the first or principal dominion
and to
whom the kingdom belongs
he shall come to the daughter of Zion
as in Zechariah 9:9;
though it rather respects here his coming to them at the time of their
conversion
when they shall come to him
Romans 11:26; and
when the first
chief
and principal kingdom in the world
and which is
preferable to all others
will come unto
and be placed among them
as in Micah 4:7; and when
it shall be
as some interpret it
as at the beginning
in the days of David
and Solomon
and much more abundantly.
Micah 4:9 9 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in
your midst? Has your counselor perished? For pangs have seized you like a woman
in labor.
YLT
9Now
why dost thou shout
aloud? A king -- is there none in thee? Hath thy counsellor perished
That
taken hold of thee hath pain as a travailing woman?
Now why dost thou cry out aloud?.... Or "cry a
cry"F23למה תריעי
רע "quid vociferabis vociferationem"
Pagninus
Montanus. So Vatablus
Drusius. ; a vehement one
or set up a most lamentable
cry
as if no help or hope were to be had
but as in the most desperate
condition: here the prophet represents the Jews as if they were already in
captivity
and in the utmost distress
and as they certainly would be; and yet
had no reason to despair of deliverance and salvation
since the Messiah would
certainly come to them
and his kingdom would be set up among them
The word
used has sometimes the notion of friendship and association; hence the Targum
renders it
"now
why art thou joined to the people?'
and
so Jarchi
"thou
hast no need to seek friends and lovers
the kings of Egypt and Assyria
for
help.'
And
which sense of the word as approved by GussetiusF24Ebr. Comment. p.
789. .
Is there no king in
thee? is thy counsellor perished? he it so that they were;
as was the case when Zedekiah was taken and carried captive
and his princes
nobles
and counsellors killed; yet God
their King and Counsellor
was with
them
to keep and preserve them
counsel
instruct
and comfort them
and at
last to deliver and save them; and the King Messiah would be raised up
and
sent unto them in due time
who is the Wonderful Counsellor Isaiah had
prophesied of:
for pangs have taken thee as a worn an in travail; which is
often expressive of great sufferings and sorrows; and yet
as the pangs of a
woman in travail do not continue always
but have an end
so would theirs
and
therefore there was no reason for despair; and as
when she brings forth her
issue
her sorrow is turned into joy
this would be their case.
Micah 4:10 10 Be
in pain
and labor to bring forth
O daughter of Zion
Like a woman in birth
pangs. For now you shall go forth from the city
You shall dwell in the field
And
to Babylon you shall go. There you shall be delivered; There the Lord will redeem you From the hand of your enemies.
YLT
10Be pained
and bring forth
O daughter of Zion
As a travailing woman
For now
thou goest forth from the
city
And thou hast dwelt in the field
And thou hast gone unto Babylon
There
thou art delivered
There redeem thee doth Jehovah from the hand of thine
enemies.
Be in pain
and labour to bring forth
O daughter of Zion
like a woman in travail
.... Bear thy troubles
and calamities
sufferings and sorrows
patiently
and expect deliverance from
them
as a woman in such circumstances does: or
as some render it in the
future
"thou shalt be in pain"
&c.F25חולי "dolebis ac suspirabis"
so some in
Vatablus. ; and so is a prediction of their distress and captivity
which is
expressed in plainer terms in the following clauses:
for now shalt thou go forth out of the city; the city of
Jerusalem; either by flight
in a private and secret manner
as Zedekiah and
his princes
and part of his army did; or by force
being taken and led out by
the enemy:
and thou shalt dwell in the field; being turned out of
their houses
they were obliged to lodge in the fields
while they were
collected together
and in a body marched as captives to Babylon; and while on
the road lay in the open fields
and not in houses
who had been used to dwell
in a city
and in their panelled houses; but now even their city itself was
ploughed like a field
as before predicted:
and thou shalt go even to Babylon; to the city
of Babylon
as their king did
and many of them also; and others of them into
various parts of that kingdom: this is a clear prophecy of the Babylonish
captivity
which came to pass upwards of a hundred years after this:
there shalt thou be delivered; after seventy years
captivity
by the hand of Cyrus; who taking the city of Babylon
and making
himself master of the whole empire
delivered the Jews from their bondage
and
gave them liberty to return to their own land:
there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies; the
Chaldeans: and this was typical of the deliverance and redemption of all the
Lord's people from the hand of all their spiritual enemies; from Satan and the
world
law
death
and hell; by the blood of the great Redeemer
and near
kinsman of his people
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Micah 4:11 11 Now also many nations have gathered against you
Who
say
“Let her be defiled
And let our eye look upon Zion.”
YLT
11And now
gathered against
thee have been many nations
who are saying: `Let her be defiled
and our eyes
look on Zion.'
Now also many nations are gathered against thee
.... Which is
to be understood
not of Sennacherib's army invading Judea
and besieging
Jerusalem
in Hezekiah's time; for that was not threshed
as the phrase is
afterwards used
or destroyed by the daughter of Zion
but by an angel from
heaven: nor of the Babylonians or Chaldeans
since they succeeded in their
attempt
and were the conquerors
and not conquered: rather this respects the
times of the Maccabees
as the series of prophecy and history agreeing together
shows; in which times many of the neighbouring nations of the Jews gave them a
great deal of trouble
and especially Antiochus king of Syria; and many and
mighty armies sent by him. The Jews
as Kimchi
Aben Ezra
and AbarbinelF26Mashmiah
Jeshuah
fol. 62. 1.
interpret this of the armies of Gog and Magog
in the
times of their vainly expected Messiah. Some Christian interpreters
with much
more probability
understand this passage of the first times of the Gospel
and
the opposition made to that and the Christian church
which yet in the issue
prevailed; and perhaps it may have reference to the last times
and receive its
full accomplishment in the battle at Armageddon
Revelation 16:14;
that say
let her be defiled
and let our eye look upon Zion; either
defiled with sin; so the Targum
"that
say
when will she sin
and our eye shall behold the fall of Zion?'
as
the effect of her sin: or
as others
"let her play the hypocrite"F1תחנף "hypocrita fuit"
Tigurine version; velut
hypocrita damnatur"
Tarnovius; "hypocrisi contaminabitur
Cocceius.
; and be condemned as such: or rather
be defiled with slaughter and bloodshed
that they might be delighted with so pleasing a sight
and their eyes might
feed with pleasure on an object so agreeable to their wishes.
Micah 4:12 12 But
they do not know the thoughts of the Lord
Nor do
they understand His counsel; For He will gather them like sheaves to the
threshing floor.
YLT
12They have not known the
thoughts of Jehovah
Nor have they understood His counsel
For He hath gathered
them as a sheaf [into] a threshing-floor.
But they know not the thoughts of the Lord
neither understand
they his counsel
.... Which are very different from theirs: the thoughts and
designs of the enemies of Zion
in the times of the Maccabees
were
to destroy
utterly the people of God
and root them out of the earth
and abolish their
religion and worship; but the intentions of God were to defeat them
and bring
them to ruin: the views of the kings of the earth
being stirred up by unclean
spirits to the battle of Almighty God
will be to extirpate the interest and
kingdom of Christ; but the end of the Lord
in suffering them to be gathered
together
will be utterly and totally to destroy them; and the counsel of the
Lord
that shall stand
and the thoughts of his heart
to all generations. Men
know their own designs
but they do not know the designs of the Lord; they
intend the ruin of others
but God intends to bring about theirs; and his
intentions are never frustrated
but theirs are;
for he shall gather them as sheaves into the floor; as
when the
harvest is ripe
it is cut down
and bound up in sheaves
and brought home
and
these are laid in order upon the floor to be threshed; so
when the nations of
the earth are fully ripe for ruin
God will put
or order to be put; in the
sickle
and cut them down
and bind them in bundles
and lay them on his
threshingfloor of wrath and vengeance
and utterly destroy them contrary to
their views and expectations.
Micah 4:13 13 “Arise
and thresh
O daughter of Zion; For I will make your horn iron
And I will make
your hooves bronze; You shall beat in pieces many peoples; I will consecrate
their gain to the Lord
And their substance to the Lord
of the whole earth.”
YLT
13Arise
and thresh
O
daughter of Zion
For thy horn I make iron
And thy hoofs I make brass
And
thou hast beaten small many peoples
And I have devoted to Jehovah their gain
And their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth!
Arise
and thresh
O daughter of Zion
.... The
nations gathered against her
and now laid together on the floor as sheaves to
be threshed. Here the people of God are aroused
and called out of a low and
weak estate
and are animated and encouraged to exert themselves
and fall upon
their enemies
and destroy them; alluding to the threshing of grain on the
floor
the metaphor being here carried on from Micah 4:12. The
Targum is
"arise
and kill
O congregation of Zion;'
for I will make thine horn iron
and I will make thy hoofs brass; signifying
that the Lord would give them strength sufficient to such work
and such power
their enemies should not be able to resist and overcome; and that they should
into their hands
and be crushed
trod
and trampled on by them
and utterly
subdued. The allusion is to oxen that have horns and hoofs; and it suggests
that they should be as strong as they; have horns like them
that is
power to
push down their enemies and hoofs to trample upon them: or as these creatures
have a horny substance on their feet
or hoofs
which are strong
and fit for
the purposes of treading out corn
for which they were used in the eastern
countries
drawing after them iron wheels
or planks stuck with flints; so horses
and oxen that have strong feet
and hard hoofs
are said to have feet of brassF2 χαλκοποδ' ιππω "aeripedes equos"
Homer. Iliad.
8. v. 41. ; thus the Lord's people should have such courage
force
and power
as not only to withstand their enemies
but to obtain a conquest over them The
Targum is
"I
will make the people in them strong as iron
and their remnant firm as brass;'
which
was true of
and accomplished in
Judas Maccabeus and his brethren; and will be
more clearly fulfilled in the Christian kings and princes in the latter day
when engaged with the antichristian states;
and thou shalt beat in pieces many people; as the
Maccabees did subdue many people and nations
as all Palestine
Moab
Idumea
Samaria
and Iturea
as JosephusF3Antiqu. l. 13. c. 15. sect. 4.
relates; and as the Christian princes will beat in pieces
and utterly destroy
all the antichristian kings of the earth
their states and kingdoms
and bring
them into subjection to them:
and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord
and their
substance unto the Lord of the whole earth; that is
to Christ
who
in the last day will appear to be King and Lord of the whole earth; and all the
riches of the antichristian nations
Pagan
Papal
and Mahometan
will be
devolved to
and employed in
his interest and service; see Revelation 21:24;
these are the words of God the Father
with respect to his Son Jesus Christ;
who will now have a dominion
glory
and kingdom given him
by the ancient of
days
that so all people
nations
and languages
shall serve him
Daniel 7:14; of
which there might be some type and shadow in the times of the Maccabees.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)