The Mountain of the LORD
Study note
This famous passage, also found in Isaiah 2:2-4, describes a future time of worldwide peace. Nations will come to God's mountain to learn his ways. The image of swords beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks has become one of the most recognizable symbols of peace in all of literature. Each person will live safely under their own vine and fig tree.
1 In the final days, the mountain where the LORD's temple stands will be lifted up as the highest mountain of all. It will tower above every hill, and people from everywhere will pour toward it. But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 Nations from all over will come and say, "Let us go up to the LORD's mountain, to the house of Jacob's God! He will show us how to live, and we will follow his path." For God's instruction will flow out from Zion, and the LORD's message will come from Jerusalem. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 He will settle arguments between vast numbers of people and sort out conflicts between powerful nations, even distant ones. They will beat their swords into plow blades and their spears into pruning shears. Nations will stop attacking each other, and nobody will train for war anymore. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
4 Every person will sit peacefully under their own grapevine and their own fig tree, with nothing to be afraid of. The LORD of Armies has given his word. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
5 Other nations may follow their own gods, but we will walk with the LORD our God forever and ever. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
God Gathers the Scattered
Study note
God promises to gather the lame and the outcasts, those who have suffered under his discipline. He will make the weak survivors into a strong nation and will reign over them from Mount Zion forever. The 'tower of the flock' likely refers to a watchtower near Bethlehem, connecting this promise to the Messianic hope.
6 "When that day comes," the LORD promises, "I will gather up the people who are hurting and limping. I will bring back the ones I scattered and the ones I allowed to suffer." In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
7 "I will turn the broken and limping ones into a strong, surviving people. I will turn the scattered ones into a powerful nation. The LORD will reign as their king on Mount Zion from that point forward — forever." And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
8 And you, O watchtower over the flock — you fortress of daughter Zion — the power and kingdom you once had will come back to you. Royal authority will return to Jerusalem. And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
Pain Before Deliverance
Study note
Micah compares Jerusalem's suffering to a woman in labor. The people will experience great pain, including exile to Babylon, but God will rescue them there. This is remarkable because Babylon was not yet a major power when Micah prophesied. Assyria was the dominant threat at that time.
9 Why are you screaming so loudly now? Have you lost your king? Has your wise counselor died? Are you gripped by pain like a woman in labor? Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shall you go forth out of the city, and you shall dwell in the field, and you shall go even to Babylon; there shall you be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem you from the hand of your enemies. Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
Victory Over the Nations
Study note
Many nations gather against Jerusalem, thinking they will destroy it. But they do not understand God's plan. He has gathered them like sheaves on a threshing floor, and Jerusalem will defeat them all. Their wealth will be set apart for God, the Lord of the whole earth.
11 Right now, many nations have ganged up against you. They sneer, "Let Zion be ruined! Let us watch and enjoy the show!" Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they have no idea what the LORD is thinking. They do not understand his strategy. He has gathered them together like bundles of grain ready to be threshed. But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 "Get up and start threshing, daughter of Zion! I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze. You will crush many nations to pieces. You will hand over their stolen wealth to the LORD — their riches to the Lord of the entire earth." Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.