10 Be in pain, H2342 and labour to bring forth, H1518 O daughter H1323 of Zion, H6726 like a woman in travail: H3205 for now shalt thou go forth H3318 out of the city, H7151 and thou shalt dwell H7931 in the field, H7704 and thou shalt go H935 even to Babylon; H894 there shalt thou be delivered; H5337 there the LORD H3068 shall redeem H1350 thee from the hand H3709 of thine enemies. H341
Break forth into joy, H6476 sing H7442 together, H3162 ye waste places H2723 of Jerusalem: H3389 for the LORD H3068 hath comforted H5162 his people, H5971 he hath redeemed H1350 Jerusalem. H3389 The LORD H3068 hath made bare H2834 his holy H6944 arm H2220 in the eyes H5869 of all the nations; H1471 and all the ends H657 of the earth H776 shall see H7200 the salvation H3444 of our God. H430 Depart H5493 ye, depart H5493 ye, go ye out H3318 from thence, touch H5060 no unclean H2931 thing; go ye out H3318 of the midst H8432 of her; be ye clean, H1305 that bear H5375 the vessels H3627 of the LORD. H3068 For ye shall not go out H3318 with haste, H2649 nor go H3212 by flight: H4499 for the LORD H3068 will go H1980 before H6440 you; and the God H430 of Israel H3478 will be your rereward. H622
Deliver H4422 thyself, O H1945 Zion, H6726 that dwellest H3427 with the daughter H1323 of Babylon. H894 For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 After H310 the glory H3519 hath he sent H7971 me unto the nations H1471 which spoiled H7997 you: for he that toucheth H5060 you toucheth H5060 the apple H892 of his eye. H5869 For, behold, I will shake H5130 mine hand H3027 upon them, and they shall be a spoil H7998 to their servants: H5647 and ye shall know H3045 that the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath sent H7971 me.
Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 ye G5210 shall weep G2799 and G2532 lament, G2354 but G1161 the world G2889 shall rejoice: G5463 and G1161 ye G5210 shall be sorrowful, G3076 but G235 your G5216 sorrow G3077 shall be turned G1096 into G1519 joy. G5479 A woman G1135 when G3752 she is in travail G5088 hath G2192 sorrow, G3077 because G3754 her G846 hour G5610 is come: G2064 but G1161 as soon as G3752 she is delivered G1080 of the child, G3813 she remembereth G3421 no more G3765 the anguish, G2347 for G1223 joy G5479 that G3754 a man G444 is born G1080 into G1519 the world. G2889 And G2532 ye G5210 G3303 now G3568 therefore G3767 have G2192 sorrow: G3077 but G1161 I will see G3700 you G5209 again, G3825 and G2532 your G5216 heart G2588 shall rejoice, G5463 and G2532 your G5216 joy G5479 no man G3762 taketh G142 from G575 you. G5216
Rejoice H8055 not against me, O mine enemy: H341 when I fall, H5307 I shall arise; H6965 when I sit H3427 in darkness, H2822 the LORD H3068 shall be a light H216 unto me. I will bear H5375 the indignation H2197 of the LORD, H3068 because I have sinned H2398 against him, until he plead H7378 my cause, H7379 and execute H6213 judgment H4941 for me: he will bring me forth H3318 to the light, H216 and I shall behold H7200 his righteousness. H6666 Then she that is mine enemy H341 shall see H7200 it, and shame H955 shall cover H3680 her which said H559 unto me, Where is the LORD H3068 thy God? H430 mine eyes H5869 shall behold H7200 her: now shall she be trodden down H4823 as the mire H2916 of the streets. H2351 In the day H3117 that thy walls H1447 are to be built, H1129 in that day H3117 shall the decree H2706 be far removed. H7368 In that day H3117 also he shall come H935 even to thee from Assyria, H804 and from the fortified H4693 cities, H5892 and from the fortress H4693 even to the river, H5104 and from sea H3220 to sea, H3220 and from mountain H2022 to mountain. H2022 Notwithstanding the land H776 shall be desolate H8077 because of them that dwell H3427 therein, for the fruit H6529 of their doings. H4611
Before she travailed, H2342 she brought forth; H3205 before her pain H2256 came, H935 she was delivered H4422 of a man child. H2145 Who hath heard H8085 such a thing? who hath seen H7200 such things? Shall the earth H776 be made to bring forth H2342 in one H259 day? H3117 or shall a nation H1471 be born H3205 at once? H6471 for as soon as H1571 Zion H6726 travailed, H2342 she brought forth H3205 her children. H1121 Shall I bring to the birth, H7665 and not cause to bring forth? H3205 saith H559 the LORD: H3068 shall I H589 cause to bring forth, H3205 and shut H6113 the womb? saith H559 thy God. H430
Now in the first H259 year H8141 of Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia, H6539 that the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 by the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah H3414 might be fulfilled, H3615 the LORD H3068 stirred up H5782 the spirit H7307 of Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia, H6539 that he made a proclamation H5674 H6963 throughout all his kingdom, H4438 and put it also in writing, H4385 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia, H6539 The LORD H3068 God H430 of heaven H8064 hath given H5414 me all the kingdoms H4467 of the earth; H776 and he hath charged H6485 me to build H1129 him an house H1004 at Jerusalem, H3389 which is in Judah. H3063
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Micah 4
Commentary on Micah 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
Mic 4:1-13. Transition to the Glory, Peace, Kingdom, and Victory of Zion.
1-3. Almost identical with Isa 2:2-4.
the mountain of the house of the Lord—which just before (Mic 3:12) had been doomed to be a wild forest height. Under Messiah, its elevation is to be not that of situation, but of moral dignity, as the seat of God's universal empire.
people shall flow into it—In Isaiah it is "all nations": a more universal prophecy.
3. rebuke—convict of sin (Joh 16:8, 9); and subdue with judgments (Ps 2:5, 9; 110:5, 6; Re 2:27; 12:5).
many people … strong nations afar off—In Isa 2:4 it is "the nations … many people."
4. sit every man under his vine, &c.—that is, enjoy the most prosperous tranquillity (1Ki 4:25; Zec 3:10). The "vine" and "fig tree" are mentioned rather than a house, to signify, there will be no need of a covert; men will be safe even in the fields and open air.
Lord of hosts hath spoken it—Therefore it must come to pass, however unlikely now it may seem.
5. For—rather, Though it be that all people walk after their several gods, yet we (the Jews in the dispersion) will walk in the name of the Lord. So the Hebrew particle means in the Margin, Ge 8:21; Ex 13:17; Jos 17:18. The resolution of the exile Jews is: As Jehovah gives us hope of so glorious a restoration, notwithstanding the overthrow of our temple and nation, we must in confident reliance on His promise persevere in the true worship of Him, however the nations around, our superiors now in strength and numbers, walk after their gods [Rosenmuller]. As the Jews were thoroughly weaned from idols by the Babylonian captivity, so they shall be completely cured of unbelief by their present long dispersion (Zec 10:8-12).
6. assemble her that halteth—feminine for neuter in Hebrew idiom, "whatever halteth": metaphor from sheep wearied out with a journey: all the suffering exiles of Israel (Eze 34:16; Zep 3:19).
her … driven out—all Israel's outcasts. Called "the Lord's flock" (Jer 13:17; Eze 34:13; 37:21).
7. I will make her that halted a remnant—I will cause a remnant to remain which shall not perish.
Lord shall reign … in … Zion—David's kingdom shall be restored in the person of Messiah, who is the seed of David and at the same time Jehovah (Isa 24:23).
for ever—(Isa 9:6, 7; Da 7:14, 27; Lu 1:33; Re 11:15).
8. tower of the flock—following up the metaphor of sheep (see on Mic 4:6). Jerusalem is called the "tower," from which the King and Shepherd observes and guards His flock: both the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church now whose tower-like elevation is that of doctrine and practice (So 4:4, "Thy neck is like the tower of David"), and the literal hereafter (Jer 3:17). In large pastures it was usual to erect a high wooden tower, so as to oversee the flock. Jerome takes the Hebrew for "flock," Eder or Edar, as a proper name, namely, a village near Beth-lehem, for which it is put, Beth-lehem being taken to represent the royal stock of David (Mic 5:2; compare Ge 35:21). But the explanatory words, "the stronghold of the daughter of Zion," confirm English Version.
stronghold—Hebrew, "Ophel"; an impregnable height on Mount Zion (2Ch 27:3; 33:14; Ne 3:26, 27).
unto thee shall … come … the first dominion—namely, the dominion formerly exercised by thee shall come back to thee.
kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem—rather, "the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem shall come (again)"; such as it was under David, before its being weakened by the secession of the ten tribes.
9. Addressed to the daughter of Zion, in her consternation at the approach of the Chaldeans.
is there no king in thee?—asked tauntingly. There is a king in her; but it is the same as if there were none, so helpless to devise means of escape are he and his counsellors [Maurer]. Or, Zion's pains are because her king is taken away from her (Jer 52:9; La 4:20; Eze 12:13) [Calvin]. The former is perhaps the preferable view (compare Jer 49:7). The latter, however, describes better Zion's kingless state during her present long dispersion (Ho 3:4, 5).
10. Be in pain, and labour—carrying on the metaphor of a pregnant woman. Thou shalt be affected with bitter sorrows before thy deliverance shall come. I do not forbid thy grieving, but I bring thee consolation. Though God cares for His children, yet they must not expect to be exempt from trouble, but must prepare for it.
go forth out of the city—on its capture. So "come out" is used 2Ki 24:12; Isa 36:16.
dwell in the field—namely, in the open country, defenseless, instead of their fortified city. Beside the Chebar (Ps 137:1; Eze 3:15).
Babylon—Like Isaiah, Micah looks beyond the existing Assyrian dynasty to the Babylonian, and to Judah's captivity under it, and restoration (Isa 39:7; 43:14; 48:20). Had they been, as rationalists represent, merely sagacious politicians, they would have restricted their prophecies to the sphere of the existing Assyrian dynasty. But their seeing into the far-off future of Babylon's subsequent supremacy, and Judah's connection with her, proves them to be inspired prophets.
there … there—emphatic repetition. The very scene of thy calamities is to be the scene of thy deliverance. In the midst of enemies, where all hope seems cut off, there shall Cyrus, the deliverer, appear (compare Jud 14:14). Cyrus again being the type of the greater Deliverer, who shall finally restore Israel.
11. many nations—the subject peoples composing Babylon's armies: and also Edom, Ammon, &c., who exulted in Judah's fall (La 2:16; Ob 11-13).
defiled—metaphor from a virgin. Let her be defiled (that is, outraged by violence and bloodshed), and let our eye gaze insultingly on her shame and sorrow (Mic 7:10). Her foes desired to feast their eyes on her calamities.
12. thoughts of the Lord—Their unsearchable wisdom, overruling seeming disaster to the final good of His people, is the very ground on which the restoration of Israel hereafter (of which the restoration from Babylon is a type) is based in Isa 55:8; compare with Mic 4:3, 12, 13, which prove that Israel, not merely the Christian Church, is the ultimate subject of the prophecy; also in Ro 11:13. God's counsel is to discipline His people for a time with the foe as a scourge; and then to destroy the foe by the hands of His people.
gather them as … sheaves—them who "gathered" themselves for Zion's destruction (Mic 4:11) the Lord "shall gather" for destruction by Zion (Mic 4:13), like sheaves gathered to be threshed (compare Isa 21:10; Jer 51:33). The Hebrew is singular, "sheaf." However great the numbers of the foe, they are all but as one sheaf ready to be threshed [Calvin]. Threshing was done by treading with the feet: hence the propriety of the image for treading under foot and breaking asunder the foe.
13. thresh—destroy thy foes "gathered" by Jehovah as "sheaves" (Isa 41:15, 16).
thine horn—Zion being compared to an ox treading corn, and an ox's strength lying in the horns, her strength is implied by giving her a horn of iron (compare 1Ki 22:11).
beat in pieces many—(Da 2:44).
I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord—God subjects the nations to Zion, not for her own selfish aggrandizement, but for His glory (Isa 60:6, 9; Zec 14:20, with which compare Isa 23:18) and for their ultimate good; therefore He is here called, not merely God of Israel, but "Lord of the whole earth."