Micah 5:6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Micah 5:1-6

Here, as before, we have, I. The abasement and distress of Zion, Mic. 5:1. The Jewish nation, for many years before the captivity, dwindled, and fell into disgrace: Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops! It is either a summons to Zion's enemies, that had troops at their service, to come and do their worst against her (God will suffer them to do it), or a challenge to Zion's friends, that had troops too at command, to come and do their best for her; Let them gather in troops, yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 5:6

And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword ,.... Or "feed F5 ורעו "et depascent", Montanus, Drusius; "pascent", Piscator, Grotius, Cocceius. upon it" with the sword, destroy the inhabitants of it; either spiritually subdue the nations of the world to the obedience of Christ, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; the preaching of the Gospel, the ministry of the apostles, and others, in the Gentile world; see 2 Corinthians 10:3 ; or literally, meaning that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:6

The land of Nimrod - Assyria, and Nineveh its capital; and Babylon, which was also built by Nimrod, who was its first king, Genesis 10:11 , Genesis 10:12 , in the margin. In the entrances thereof - At its posts or watergates; for it was by rendering themselves masters of the Euphrates that the Medes and Persians took the city, according to the prediction of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 51:32 , Jeremiah 51:36 . Calmet thinks that this refers to the deliverance of the land from Cambyses by... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:6

Verse 6 In this verse the Prophet says, that the shepherds, chosen by the Church, after it had been miserably oppressed by the tyranny of its enemies, would have a twofold office. They shall first feed; that is, nourish the Church of God; — and, secondly, they shall feed; that is, destroy the land of Asshur, so that nothing may remain there whole and entire. God will then arm these shepherds with warlike courage; for they must fight boldly and courageously against their enemies: he says, They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 5:5-6

§ 9. Under Messiah ' s rule shall be peace. Cheyne considers these verses to have been inserted by an afterthought, either to explain the "many nations" and "many peoples" of Micah 4:11 , Micah 4:13 , or to rectify the omission of the period of foreign rule. This may be reasonably allowed; but it is not necessary to the explanation of the paragraph, which is merely a further description of Messiah's kingdom. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 5:5-6

The Prince of Peace. Solomon as well as David was a type of Christ; and just as Micah, when he said (verse 4), "He shall stand and feed," etc; probably thought of the shepherd youth, raised to the throne of Israel, as typical of Israel's spiritual King, who would eventually appear and bring heavenly strength and succour to a needy world, so when he added respecting the Messiah, " And this Man shall be the Peace, " he thought of the peaceful rule of Solomon, and saw in this a symbol of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 5:5-6

An invasion. "And this Man shall be the Peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders." "And this same shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall invade... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Micah 5:6

They shall waste. The word rendered "waste" ( raah ) is capable of two interpretations according as it is derived. It may mean "to break" or "to feed;" and in the latter sense may signify either "to eat up" or "to be shepherd over," as the Septuagint, ποιμανοῦσι , The addition, with the sword, however, limits the explanation, whichever verb we refer it to. These leaders shall not only defend their own land against the enemy, but shall carry the war into the hostile territory,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Micah 5:6

And they shall waste - Literally, feed on, and so eat up. They who were shepherds of their own people, should consume their enemies. Jeremiah uses the same image. “The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch tents against her round about; they shall feed, each his space” Jeremiah 6:3. So Joshua and Caleb say, “They, (the inhabitants of Canaan,) are bread for us” Numbers 14:9. So it was said to Peter, “arise, Peter, kill and eat” Acts 10:13; and what once was common,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Micah 5:6

Micah 5:6. And they The seven shepherds and eight principal men; or, the rulers and princes of men, mentioned in the preceding clause; those great and successful instruments of God’s revenge, and his church’s deliverance, shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword Which the Medes and Babylonians did, under the conduct of Merodach-baladan, king of Babylon, who, taking advantage of the weakness of the Assyrian kingdom, humbled partly by the great destruction of Sennacherib’s army,... read more

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