The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 51

" Pu me oorta ducis pl11cidos ourvavit in iii. 19). It is the sick and afflicted here who USUS: a.re to be gathered t.ogether, the remnant, Agrioolm nuno sum, militia e.nte fui." tha.t Is (ver. 7), wherever found, whioh turns to the Lord in repentance and humility. The rern!'lle process is seen in Joel ill. 10, Ver. 7.-1 will ma.ke her that ha.lted a where ploughsh11res a.re bc11ten into swords. remnant. The" remnant" is" the election," Thus Virgil, • Georg,,' i. 508- that portion of hrnol which a.coepte the " Et curvro rigidum fe,lces confla.ntur in offered redemption (Rom. ix. 27; xi. 5); nnd enseia" God declines that be will troo.t this section, now miscmble and depressed, e.s she.rers in (Comp. Ovici. 'Fast.,' i. 699, eto.) tho lllessinnio promises (sec note ou Zeph. Yer. 4.-This verse is omitted in Isaia.h. iii. 19). As commonly, the restoration from Thev she.11 sit every ma.n nnder his vine. captivity and the privileges of Meesie.h's This image of plenty o.nd security is derived kingdom are combined in one foreshortened from the account of the material prosperity view, But this "remnant" ~hall be made of Ismcl in the days of Solomon (1 Kings inlo e. strong nation, which no power shall i\". 25), in accordance with the Mosaic overthrow (Isa. xi. 14 ; l.x. 22). The Lord promise (Lev. xxvi. 4, etc.). It passed into sha.11 reign over them, Not through an a prm·erb expressive of peace and happiness earthly representative, but by himself ( comp. (comp. Zech. iii. 10; 1 Mace. xiv. 12). The Isa. xxiv. 23; Iii 7 ; Obe.d. 21 ; Zech. xiv. 9). month of the Lord of hosts. The great In Monnt Zion. This prophecy does not promise is thus confirmed (1811., lviiL 14). necessarily point to any literal earthly ful- The LXX. usually renders this expression in filment, but rather to the establishment of Jeremiah and the minor prophets by K6pws Christ's spiritue.l kingdom, and the revela- ,rav-ro1epdrwp, elsewhere by K6pws aafla,1,8, tion of that new Jerusalem which St. John e.nd Kvp,os 6uvd}J-•wv. It means," the Lord of saw "descending out of heaven from God" the powers of heaven aud earth," the idea. (Rev. xxi. 10). being originally the.t God was the Leader of the armies of Israel Vera. 8-10.-§ 6. After a certain period. Ver. 5,-This verse gives the reason why of calamity and captivity the kingdom o/ Israel is thus strong and safe. In the David shall be reviied. parallel pa.ese.ge in Isaiah (ii 5) it is con- Ver. 8.-And thou, 0 tower of the flock verted into an injnnction to the house of (migdal-edar). 'l'here was e. village with e. Jacob. All people will walk; rather, all tower so called near Bethlehem (Gen~ xxxv. flaiions walk. Every one in the name of 21), and it is thought the.t Micah refers to his god. "To walk" is genera.Uy used of it as the home of David end as destined to moral and religious habits (e.g. 2 Chron. be the birthplace of Messiah. But the con- uiL 4; Ps. !xxxix. 31 ; Ezek. v. 6, etc.); text compels us to consider the expression so here tLe meaning is that a.II other as e. periphrnsie for Jeruee.lem, which the na.tions adhere to their fa.lee gods, and prophet here addresses, declaring that the frame their life and conduct relying on the royal power shall be r~etored to her. It is power and protection of these i~anities, and, evidently the same place ns the strong hold hy implication, sh~ll find t_hell' hope de- (ophel, "the hill") of the de.ughter of Zion. ed ved. And we will walk m the name of 'fbe ue.me" Ophel" is affixed to the southern the Lord our God. This is the secret of spur of Moriah, opposite to the Mount Zion, Israel's strength. The bee.then can never from which it was separated by the Tyro- preve.il a.go.inst the true believel'II w~o P?t pmon Valley. It we.s fortified by Jotham their whole trust in the Lord, e.nd hve ID (2 Chron. xxvil. 3) and Manasseh (2 Chron, union with him. By saying we, the prophet x:niii. 14), and on it were the king's house, identifies himself with the faithful people. i.e. the old pa.lace of David, and "the tower :For ever e.nd ever. The Cliurch shall never thnt-lieth out," or the upper tower (see Neh. fail Heathen powers last for a time; the iii. 26, 27). Thie is probably the "flock- kingdom of Mesoie.h is everlasting. tower" mentioned in the text (comp. lee., Vere. 6, 7.-§ 5. In this promised restora- xxxi.i. 14, where Ophel and the watch-tower are named together); e.nd it is so called as tum all Israel is included, if they choose to having been originally o. place of refuge for aooept the offer. flocks, or of observation_ for shepherds. Mica.It Ver. 6.-In that day. The Messianic age uses the two expre,s1011e to represent the of ver. 1. Her that halteth; Septua.gin t, rhv power and dominion of Jerusalem. The pro- uwT.-rp,µ.µ.,v71v, "her that is Lruised;" Vul- priety of the use of the term " flnck-~wcr" gRte, claudicaniem. Under the image of e. is seen when we remember tbe.t David Wile flock footsore and dispersed., the prophet a shepherd before he was king, and the.t the signifies the depressed condition of the Israelites arc the sheep of the Lord'R pasture, exiled Hebrews (eowp. eh. ii. 12; Zeph. The reference to e. flock in the preeedi.n1 on. IV. 1-13.) TITE BOOK OF MICAH. 51 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------- ------ verses mo.y also ho.ve influenced the prophet's to e. distant le.n<l, even to Babylon. She.It thought. Owing to e. slight variation in tho dwell in the field; i.e. while they a.re makin.,. reading, tho LXX. renders Ophel by a.lxµ0>611•, their we.y to the place of their captivity. "dark;" so Jerome, "ncbulosa;" Aqnila, Thou ahalt go even to Babylon. This ia 111CoT0>671•: Symmachue, l1.1r6,cpucpos. These simple prophecy, e.nd coulrl have been translators would refer the term to the ruinous known to Micah only by inspiration. In condition of the tower. The first dominion his day Assyria was the enemy whom Israel shall come, i.e. the former, original empire, had to dread (as eh. v. 5, 6), Babylon such as it WBS in the days of David and being e.t this time in the position of " Solomon, e.nd which hnd been lost in later conquered country, and not becoming times. The LXX. adds, /,c BaPull.oivos : e.nd a.gain powerful anrl independent for another hence the Greek expositors explain the century. So Isaiah prophesied of the cap- passago as referring to the siege of Jerusalem ti vity to Babylon (xxxix. 3---8), if modern by the Chaldee.ns. The kingdom she.11 come critics have not shaken our faith in the to the daughter of Jerusalem. The verb genuineness of that cl1apter. Micah does " shall come" is better taken with '' the not define the time of the Captivity, or the first dominion," e.nd this clause in apposi- agents; he uotes merely the place whither tion to the former, "the kingdom of" or the J ewe were at last to be deported. "the reign over the daughter of Jerusalem." Even in this case "Babylon" may have Sovereignty over Jerusalem, or, as oti1ers its typical import, and be taken to represent take it, that e.ppertaius to Jerusalem, repre- the great world-power arrayed against the sents rule over the whole country. In Messiah chosen race; e.nd the prophecy may look the glory e.nd power a.re restored to the forward to other fulfilments in succeeding throne of David (Luke i. 82, 88). ages. Some commentators think that Baby- Ver. 9.-Before this glorious revi ve.l the lon is here mentioned as the most distant prophet foresees ce.le.mity e.nd exile in the country known, or as a portion of the nearer future; yet he bids the people not to Assyrian empire. Others suppose that d,;sp11ir. Why dost thou ory out aloud 1 Sargon transported some lsraelitish captives The prophet hears the cry of Zion, and asks to Babylon to replace the rebellious Baby- the co.use. Septuagint, 'Iva.Ti (-yvw• """"; lonie.newhom he exiled to Palestine(' Records "Why knowest thou evils?" from a variation of the Past,' vii. 29; 2 Kings xvii. 2,1,; comp. in reading. Is there no king in thee 1 Hast 2 Chron. xx.x.iii. 11), and that thus Micah thou lost thy king? Is this the reason of thy was naturally led to represent the Judmans sorrow? The allusion is to the captivity of as following their brethren. Whichever Jehoiachin 1md Zedekie.h (2 Kings xx.iv., explanation we take, there is no reason to xxv.). The loss of the king, the representB- consider that the reference to Babylon is the tive of the help and favour of God, was 11 intorpolation of e. late editor of the prophetic token of the withdrawal of the Divine pro- writings. There shalt thou be delivered. tection (comp. Lam. iv. 20: Hos. xiii. 10). In Babylon deliverance shall arise. This Thy counsellor. A synonym for "king." prophecy was first Jitere.lly fulfilled in the Cheyne notes that the root of melech ("king") return from captivity under Cyrus ; it is in Arame.io means "to counsel." In lee.. further fulfilled, under Christ, in the rescue ix. 6 Messiah is called "Oounsellor." The of the true Israelites froru the bondage of Soptue.gint, treating the word as a collective, sin 11nd the world. renders, -Ii Poull.-f, uou," thy counsel." Pangs, Vers. 11-13.-§ 7. Rescued from Baby- eto. Tho compnrison of sorrow of heart to lon, Zion overcomes aU enemies in the strength the 11nguish of Jabour po.ins is very common (comp. Isa. xiii. 8; Jer. vi. 24; 1, 48; Hos. of God. xiii. 18). Ver. 11.-Now e.lso ; and now. A new Ver. 10.-Be in po.in. The nnguish is scene is presented in contrast to the view not to be resisted, but she.II end, like birth- in vers. 1-4. Many nations are gathered p11ins, in deliverance. Septuagint, "!l1iw• age.inst thee. Primarily the Assyriuns are ,ea.I a.v1ipl(ou ,ea.I tn,(•, " Be iu pain, and meunt (Isa. xxxiii. 8), whose armies were do bravely, e.ud draw nenr," which is like corn posed of various ne.tiono.li ties (Isa. lEneos's encouragement to his fricuds xxii. 6: see below, eh. v. 5). Pusey (Vil-gil, '.2Eueid,' i. 207)- thinks that the reference is rather to tht> attacks of petty enemies, e.g. in Ma.crohean " Dumte, et vosmet rebus serve.ta seoundis." times, and in the Samaritans' opposition to For now shalt thou go forth. The prophet the rebuilding of the temple. Cheyne would le11ves his metaphor, and e.nnounoes tlrnt place vers. 5-10 in a parenthesis, and con- the people shall" go forth" into captivity. nect the presPnt with the ideal description He says" now," ns having the scene before in vers. 1-4. Let her be defiled; i.e. pro- his eyes. They must leave lhei1· city, live faned, despoiled of her boasted holiucss and sheltcrless in tho open country, be carried invioh1bility. LXX., ,1nxa.povp.e8,;i, "we 52 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [cu. IV. 1-1:!.