until the time: i.e. the end of the "meanwhile" (Micah 5:1 ). she which travaileth. Compare Micah 4:9 , Micah 4:10 -, above. and note there; also John 16:21 , John 16:22 , and Revelation 12:1-6 . children = sons. read more
"Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel."The woman in travail was mentioned in Micah 4:9 and here again, with the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem included in the middle verses between these references, thus binding the whole passage together as a unity and identifying the subject as unequivocally that of the coming of the Messiah into the world."Therefore will be give... read more
Micah 5:3. Therefore will he give them up— Notwithstanding, he will give them up, until the time that she that beareth, &c. The Hebrew word יתנם itneim, rendered give up, signifies properly, says Dr. Sharpe, so to give, as to continue or accomplish; and the pronoun them is to be referred to the goings-forth. These proceedings, or goings-forth as of old, he was not to give up, or surrender, but to give, and continue, or accomplish, until he should be born of the virgin; until she which... read more
3. "Therefore (because of His settled plan) will God give up to their foes His people Israel, until," c. she which travaileth hath brought forth—namely, "the virgin" mother, mentioned by Micah's contemporary, Isaiah 7:14. Zion "in travail" (Micah 4:9 Micah 4:10) answers to the virgin in travail of Messiah. Israel's deliverance from her long travail-pains of sorrow will synchronize with the appearance o Messiah as her Redeemer (Romans 11:26) in the last days, as the Church's spiritual... read more
3. The King of Zion 5:2-5a"In chapter 5 the prophet repeated and expanded the major themes of Micah 4:6-10, only in reverse order. This creates a chiastic structure for the central portion of the speech, which can be outlined as follows:A The Lord strengthens a remnant (Micah 4:6-7 a)B Dominion restored (Micah 4:7-8)C Zion and her king are humiliated (Micah 4:9-10)D Zion saved from the present crisis (Micah 4:11-13)C’ Zion and her king are humiliated (Micah 5:1)B’ Dominion restored (Micah... read more
Yahweh would give the Israelites over to chastening until Israel had ended her painful period of suffering (like a woman in labor, Micah 4:9) and she had brought forth a child. In view of previous revelation about Israel’s continuing discipline by God until her Redeemer appeared (Micah 4:10), this seems to be a reference to the second coming of Messiah, not His first coming. This interpretation gains support from the promise in the last half of this verse. Then the remainder of the Redeemer’s... read more
The Birth of the Messiah1- 5a. Jerusalem is besieged, its ruler insulted by the invader (Micah 5:1). Micah proclaims not only deliverance, but a deliverer. He will arise from Bethlehem, David’s birthplace (Micah 5:2). God raised up thence a ruler who shepherded his people instead of fleecing them, and who represented God’s eternal ideal of a ruler, not his own interests. He will send us in our new need another like the first. And this man shall be our peace (Micah 5:5). It is Micah’s prophecy... read more
(3) Therefore will he give them up.—There is a suggestion here of a parable, setting forth the smallness of Bethlehem, which gave birth to the mighty Ruler that was to come from it. So the nation was to be brought very low before the nativity of the Virgin-born. read more
THE KING TO COMEMicah 4:8 - Micah 5:1-15WHEN a people has to be purged of long injustice, when some high aim of liberty or of order has to be won, it is remarkable how often the drama of revolution passes through three acts. There is first the period of criticism and of vision, in which men feel discontent, dream of new things, and put their hopes into systems: it seems then as if-the future were to come of itself. But often a catastrophe, relevant or irrelevant, ensues: the visions pale before... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Micah 5:2-15
God’s chosen king (5:2-15)Ruling over Israel in this golden age will be a king specially chosen by God. He will have only a humble beginning, being born in the small Judean town of Bethlehem. But his ancestry will go back to ancient times, to the great king David, who himself came from Bethlehem and whose dynasty was guaranteed by God to last for ever. This king will have full right to David’s throne, and through him God’s promises to David will be fulfilled (2; cf. 1 Samuel 17:12; 2 Samuel... read more