Micah 5:5-6

Supremacy over Assyria, Micah 5:5-6.

Ultimately war shall be no more (Micah 4:3), but hostility on the part of the foreign nations will not cease immediately upon the appearance of the Messianic king. However, when a hostile demonstration is made, the people need not be afraid, for there will be a superabundance of leaders to ward off serious trouble.

Assyrian A defeat of Assyria is promised in Micah 4:12-13, but it will not result in the destruction of the world power, which in time will renew its efforts to subdue the people of God. The outcome will be the same.

Into (or, against) our land Does not imply necessarily a crossing of the borders, simply an expedition for the purpose of invasion.

Tread in our palaces This does presuppose “domination over the holy land.” It seems strange, however, that in one and the same breath the prophet should promise peace and safety for the flock (4, 5a) and, on the other hand, a victory of the Assyrians that will result in the occupancy of the palaces in the land of Israel. No wonder many commentators regard these verses not a part of the original, but an “afterthought,” The difficulty vanishes if we follow LXX. and read “borders,” which presupposes a Hebrew word very similar to the one translated “palaces.” Then the whole sentence will read, “when he marches on our borders” (compare last sentence of Micah 5:6), and, like the preceding, it refers to an attempted invasion. The attempt will fail, because the enemy will be met by brave heroes, who will drive him back.

Shepherds,… principal men The last literally, princes among men. These will be the leaders of the forces of the Messianic king. Their relation to the chief shepherd (Micah 5:4) is not indicated; undoubtedly they are to be considered his subordinates (compare Isaiah 32:1).

Seven… eight A specimen of ascending enumeration (see on Amos 1:3). “Seven” signifies a perfect number, “eight” is added to indicate that there will be even more than enough leaders.

Under these leaders the enemy will be driven quickly from the borders, but they will not be satisfied to remain on the defensive; they will assume the offensive and invade the land of the enemy, Assyria.

Waste Literally, feed off. It will be left completely bare.

Land of Nimrod Though primarily a designation of the land of Babylonia (Genesis 10:10), it may be applied to Assyria, for “out of that land he (Nimrod) went forth into Assyria” (Genesis 10:11). Here may be the additional thought that the shepherds will penetrate Assyria even to the far distant Babylonia. Cheyne thinks that there is a “special significance in the phrase, for a Hebrew could hardly help connecting Nimrod with maradh, ‘to rebel.’”

In the entrances thereof Literally, in the gates thereof (compare Nahum 3:13). The parallelism requires an expression similar to “with the sword.” Vulgate reads “with his lances”; A.V. margin, “with her own naked swords”; but in this rendering it is difficult to determine the antecedent of “her,” and it is exceedingly doubtful that the Hebrew warrants the translation “naked swords.” A very slight change would give “with drawn swords” (compare Psalms 55:21, where the same word is used). For the latter part of Micah 5:6 see on Micah 5:5.