The Ruler from Bethlehem
Study note
Micah prophesies that a ruler will come from Bethlehem Ephrathah, a tiny village in Judah. This ruler's origins go back to ancient times, to eternity itself. This verse is directly quoted in Matthew 2:6 when the wise men ask where the Messiah would be born. Before this ruler comes, Israel will endure hardship, but afterward the scattered people will return, and he will shepherd them with divine power.
1 Rally your troops, city under siege! The enemy has built up their forces against us. They will slap the ruler of Israel across the face with a stick. Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah — even though you are one of the smallest towns in Judah — from you will come a ruler over Israel for me. His origins go back to ancient times, to the very distant past. But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
3 Therefore God will hand his people over to their enemies — but only until the woman in labor gives birth to her child. Then the rest of his scattered brothers will rejoin the people of Israel. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4 This ruler will stand strong and shepherd his flock, drawing on the LORD's own power and the majestic authority of the LORD his God. His people will live in safety, because his fame will reach every corner of the globe. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
Deliverance from Assyria
Study note
This promised ruler will bring peace and protection. When the Assyrians invade, Israel will raise up strong leaders to defeat them. 'Seven shepherds and eight leaders' is a Hebrew way of saying 'more than enough.' The land of Nimrod is another name for Assyria and Babylon, linking back to the ancient hunter Nimrod in Genesis 10.
5 He will be the source of their peace. When the Assyrians storm into our land and crash through our palaces, we will raise up seven shepherds and eight leaders to face them. And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
6 They will beat Assyria with the sword and take over Nimrod's land. He will save us when the Assyrians invade and march across our borders. And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
The Remnant Among the Nations
Study note
The survivors of Jacob will serve two roles among the nations. Like dew and rain, they will be a blessing that comes from God alone. But like a lion among sheep, they will also have unstoppable strength against their enemies. Both images show that Israel's future depends entirely on God, not on human effort.
7 The remnant of Jacob — those who survive — will be scattered among many peoples like drops of dew from the LORD, like gentle showers on the grass. They will not depend on anyone or wait for any human help. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
8 The survivors of Jacob will move among the nations. They will be like a lion in a flock of sheep. It tears and tramples as it goes. No one can stop it. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
9 You will raise your fist in triumph over every enemy, and all who oppose you will be wiped out. Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
God Removes False Security
Study note
God promises to remove everything that Israel trusted in instead of him. He will destroy their military power, their fortified cities, their witchcraft, and their idols. The people will no longer worship things they made with their own hands. God will also pour out his anger on the nations that have not obeyed him.
10 "When that day arrives," the LORD says, "I will get rid of your warhorses and destroy your chariots." And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
11 "I will demolish the fortress cities in your land and tear down every defensive wall." And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
12 "I will remove all witchcraft from your hands, and you will never use fortune-tellers again." And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
13 "I will smash your carved idols and sacred pillars. You will never again bow down to something your own hands built." Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
14 "I will rip out your Asherah poles and level your cities." And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
15 "I will pour out my anger and fury on every nation that refused to listen to me." And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.