Micah 4:8

Tower of the flock, etc.] i.e. Jerusalem. Unto thee, etc.] RV 'unto thee shall it come; yea, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.' When the people have repented of the sins which brought their ruin, God will restore them as wide a dominion as in the days of David.

9. The captivity which seems to destroy the kingdom with its king and counsellors will be the birthpangs of a better state.

10. Probably Thou shalt go even to Babylon was added to explain the prophet's meaning, by one who saw the Babylonian exile. Essentially he was right. But the enemy in Micah's time was, not Babylon, but Assyria. And what Micah means is that his people shall be cast out of Jerusalem, and, when they are compelled to dwell in the field, i.e. without a capital and a court, they shall learn that God's ideal of a kingdom can be realised without these.

11-13. But Assyria is about to besiege Jerusalem: cp. Isaiah 36. Their aim is to destroy Jerusalem (Micah 4:11). But they are only the instruments in God's hand (Micah 4:12). Their proud self-confidence shall bring them to shame before Israel (Micah 4:13).