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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Micah 4:8-13

These verses relate to Zion and Jerusalem, here called the tower of the flock or the tower of Edor; we read of such a place (Gen. 35:21) near Bethlehem; and some conjecture it is the same place where the shepherds were keeping their flocks when the angels brought them tidings of the birth of Christ, and some think Bethlehem itself is here spoken of, as Mic. 5:2. Some think it is a tower at that gate of Jerusalem which is called the sheep-gate (Neh. 3:32), and conjecture that through that gate... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 4:9

Now why dost thou cry out aloud ?.... Or "cry a cry" F23 למה תריעי רע "quid vociferabis vociferationem", Pagninus, Montanus. So Vatablus, Drusius. ; a vehement one, or set up a most lamentable cry, as if no help or hope were to be had, but as in the most desperate condition: here the prophet represents the Jews as if they were already in captivity, and in the utmost distress, and as they certainly would be; and yet had no reason to despair of deliverance and salvation, since the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 4:10

Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion , like a woman in travail ,.... Bear thy troubles and calamities, sufferings and sorrows, patiently, and expect deliverance from them, as a woman in such circumstances does: or, as some render it in the future, "thou shalt be in pain", &c.; F25 חולי "dolebis ac suspirabis", so some in Vatablus. ; and so is a prediction of their distress and captivity, which is expressed in plainer terms in the following clauses: for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Micah 4:11

Now also many nations are gathered against thee ,.... Which is to be understood, not of Sennacherib's army invading Judea, and besieging Jerusalem, in Hezekiah's time; for that was not threshed, as the phrase is afterwards used, or destroyed by the daughter of Zion, but by an angel from heaven: nor of the Babylonians or Chaldeans, since they succeeded in their attempt, and were the conquerors, and not conquered: rather this respects the times of the Maccabees, as the series of prophecy and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 4:9

Is there no King in thee? - None. And why? Because thou hast rejected Jehovah thy king. Is thy counsellor perished? - No: but thou hast rejected the words and advices of the prophets. Pangs have taken thee - He is speaking of the desolations that should take place when the Chaldeans should come against the city; and hence he says, "Thou shalt go to Babylon;" ye shall be cast out of your own land, and sent slaves to a foreign country, He represents the people under the notion of a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 4:10

There shalt thou be delivered - There God shall meet thee; and by redeeming thee from thy captivity, bringing thee back to thine own land, and finally converting thee unto himself, shall deliver thee from the burden of grief and wo which thou now bearest, and under which thou dost groan. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 4:11

Many nations are gathered against thee - The Chaldeans, who were composed of many nations. And, we may add, all the surrounding nations were their enemies; and rejoiced when the Chaldean army had overthrown Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and led the people away captive. Let her be defiled - This was their cry and their wish: Let Jerusalem be laid as low as she can be, like a thing defiled and cast away with abhorrence; that their eyes might look upon Zion with scorn, contempt, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 4:9

Verse 9 The Prophet blends here things in their nature wholly contrary, — that the Jews were for a time to be cut off, — and that afterwards they were to recover their former state. Why, he says, dost thou cry out with crying? We must notice the Prophet’s design. He did not intend to overturn what he had before stated; but as the minds of the godly might have fainted amidst so many changes, the Prophet here gives them support, that they might continue firm in their faith; and hence he says, Why... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 4:10

Verse 10 Why then has pain laid hold on thee as on one in travail? Be in pain, he says, and groan; (132) that is, I will not prevent thee to grieve and to mourn; as though he said, “Certainly even the strongest cannot look on calamities so dreadful, without suffering the heaviest sorrow; but though God may for a time subject his children to the greatest tortures, and expose them to the most grievous evils, he will yet restore them at length from their exile.” Thou shalt depart, he says, from... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Micah 4:11

Verse 11 The Prophet’s object here is to give some alleviation to the faithful lest they should succumb under their calamities; for, as we have stated, there were most grievous evils approaching, sufficient to overwhelm the minds of the godly. The Prophet then raises up here, with the moat suitable comfort, those who would have otherwise fainted under their calamities; and the sum of the whole is this, — that the faithful were not to be confounded on finding the ungodly proudly triumphing, as... read more

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