MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:1 A new hope for Israel, and for the whole world, comes by means of a new David. His deeds are praised (vv. Micah 5:1) and the influence of the Israelite remnant among the nations is described (vv. Micah 5:7). The chapter concludes with the Lord removing all the idols his peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:2 BUT YOU. Both here and in Micah 4:8, these words signal renewed kingship. BETHLEHEM, where David was born (1 Samuel 17:12), is located in EPHRATHAH. TOO LITTLE. The unlikely choice of David as king foreshadows the unlikely choice of Bethlehem as the hometown of the greater Da... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:3 HE SHALL GIVE THEM UP. Israel will be ruled by others. HIS BROTHERS SHALL RETURN. The Messiah will unite Israel. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:4 HE SHALL STAND AND SHEPHERD. The Messiah’s rule and protection of Yahweh’s flock are accomplished by Yahweh’s authority and power. DWELL SECURE... ENDS OF THE EARTH. God’s greatness ensures that those who return (v. Micah 5:3) will live without fear. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = docum... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:5 True PEACE among people is achieved by the Messiah, who overcomes conflict (compare Ephesians 2:14). The ASSYRIAN represents the enemies of God’s people. SEVEN SHEPHERDS... EIGHT PRINCES. This traditional formula (compare Ecclesiastes 11:2) expresses a parallel between the Me... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:7 DELAY NOT... NOR WAIT. Like DEW and rain, the remnant of Israel will help other people. God will make this happen. GOES THROUGH, TREADS... TEARS... NONE TO DELIVER. The remnant will also defeat its enemies. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:10 IN THAT DAY. See Micah 4:1, Micah 4:6. The Lord will answer the prayer implied in the wording of Micah 5:9: he will CUT OFF things that compromise the holiness of his people. HORSES... STRONGHOLDS. Armies and fortresses, rather than the Lord, were often relied on as security... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:12 SORCERIES... TELLERS OF FORTUNES. Seeking occult knowledge was forbidden to Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10, Deuteronomy 18:14). YOUR CARVED IMAGES... YOUR PILLARS. See Micah 1:7; Romans 1:22. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:14 ASHERAH IMAGES are wooden images of the Canaanite fertility goddess. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:15 EXECUTE VENGEANCE. The Lord alone, as the sovereign ruler, has the right to rescue his people and punish the NATIONS THAT DID NOT OBEY. The nations that return to the Lord receive instruction (Micah 4:1), while those that will not submit to his rule receive destruction (Mica... [ Continue Reading ]