Verse 17
17. after their manner—literally, "according to their own word," that is, at will. Otherwise, as in their own pasture [GESENIUS]: so the Hebrew in Micah 2:12. The lands of the Scenite tent dwellers (Micah 2:12- :). Arab shepherds in the neighborhood shall roam at large, the whole of Judea being so desolate as to become a vast pasturage.
waste . . . fat ones—the deserted lands of the rich ("fat," Micah 2:12- :), then gone into captivity; "strangers," that is, nomad tribes shall make their flocks to feed on [MAURER]. Figuratively, "the lambs" are the pious, "the fat ones" the impious. So tender disciples of Jesus Christ (Micah 2:12- :) are called "lambs"; being meek, harmless, poor, and persecuted. Compare Ezekiel 39:18, where the fatlings are the rich and great (1 Corinthians 1:26; 1 Corinthians 1:27). The "strangers" are in this view the "other sheep not of the" the Jewish "fold" (John 10:16), the Gentiles whom Jesus Christ shall "bring" to be partakers of the rich privileges (John 10:16- :) which the Jews ("fat ones," John 10:16- :) fell from. Thus "after their (own) manner" will express that the Christian Church should worship God in freedom, released from legal bondage (John 4:23; Galatians 5:1).
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