Micah 5:2-4

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 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah ,.... But though Jerusalem should be besieged and taken, and the land of Judea laid waste, yet, before all this should be, the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, of which this is a prophecy, as is evident from Matthew 2:4 ; the place is called by both the names it went by, to point it out the more distinctly, and with the greater certainty, Genesis 35:19 ; the former signifies "the house of bread", and a proper place for Christ to be born in, who is the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 5:3

Therefore will he give them up ,.... Or "notwithstanding", as this particle signifies; see Hosea 2:14 ; though all this shall be, yet, previous to the birth of this person, the Lord would give up the Jews to trouble and distress, and into the hands of their enemies; and the time from this prophet to the birth of Christ was a time for the most part of great trouble to, the Jews; not only was their country invaded and their city besieged by Sennacherib in Hezekiah's time, but, some years... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 5:4

And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord ,.... The ruler in Israel, before described and prophesied of; the Messiah, as Kimchi himself interprets it, and other Jewish writers. Kimchi's note is, "after the affliction, the King Messiah shall stand and feed Israel in the strength of the Lord;' and so R. Isaac F20 Ibid. (Chizzuk Emunah, par. 1. p. 281.) paraphrases the words exactly in the same way: wherefore, as another learned Jew F21 Tanchuma apud Pocock in loc. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:2

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah - I have considered this subject in great detail in the notes on Matthew 2:6 , to which the reader will be pleased to refer. This verse should begin this chapter; the first verse belongs to the preceding chapter. Bethlehem Ephratah, to distinguish it from another Beth-lehem, which was in the tribe of Zebulun, Joshua 19:15 . Thousands of Judah - The tribes were divided into small portions called thousands; as in our country certain divisions of counties... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:3

Therefore wilt he give them up - Jesus Christ shall give up the disobedient and rebellious Jews into the hands of all the nations of the earth, till she who travaileth hath brought forth; that is, till the Christian Church, represented Revelation 12:1 , under the notion of a woman in travail, shall have had the fullness of the Gentiles brought in. Then the remnant of his brethren shall return; the Jews also shall be converted unto the Lord; and thus all Israel shall be saved according to ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:4

He shall stand and feed - The Messiah shall remain with his followers, supporting and governing them in the strength and majesty of the Lord, with all the miraculous interferences of his power, and all the glories of his grace. And they shall abide - After this the Jews shall no more go astray, but shall remain one people with the Gentiles, under the one Shepherd and Bishop of all souls. Newcome translates, "They shall be converted" for instead of וישבו veyashebu , he reads וישובו... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:2

Verse 2 Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, art small, that thou shouldest be among the thousands of Judah As Matthew quotes this passage differently, some think that it ought to be read as a question, And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, art thou the least among the provinces of Judah? Matthew says “Thou art by no means the least, thou excellest. (142) ” But what need there is of distorting the words of the Prophet, as it was not the design of the Evangelist to relate the expressions of the Prophet, but only to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:3

Verse 3 The Prophet here again so moderates his words, that the Jews might understand, that they were to endure many evils before God relieved their miseries. He wished then here to prepare the minds of the godly to bear evils, that they might not despair in great troubles, nor be depressed by extreme fear. He then states these two things, — that the people, as they deserved, would be heavily afflicted, — and then that God, notwithstanding such severe punishment, would be mindful of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 5:4

Verse 4 There is no doubt but that the Prophet continues here to speak of Christ; and though the Jews shamelessly pervert the whole Scripture, they yet cannot deny that Micah calls here the attention of all the godly to the coming of Christ, yea, of all who hope or desire to obtain salvation. This is certain. Let us now see what the Prophet ascribes to Christ. He shall stand, he says, and feed in the power of Jehovah The word, stand, designates perseverance, as though he had said, that it... read more

Group of Brands