Micah5

Micah 5 begins with Israel facing siege and humiliation, yet prophesies the emergence of a divine ruler from Bethlehem Ephratah, whose origins are from everlasting. This ruler will bring peace, deliver Israel from the Assyrian, and shepherd his people in the Lord's strength. The remnant of Jacob will be both a blessing and a terror among nations, while the Lord will purge Israel of its idolatry and military might, executing vengeance upon the heathen.
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Crisis and Humiliation

1
Now shalt thou 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. ​

The Ruler from Bethlehem Promised

2
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. ​
3
Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. ​
4
And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. ​
5
And this man shall be our 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
And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our border.

The Role of the Restored Remnant

7
And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples as dew from Jehovah, as showers upon the grass, that tarry not for man, nor wait for the sons of men. ​
8
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and there is none to deliver. ​
9
Let thy hand be lifted up above thine adversaries, and let all thine enemies be cut off.

The Lord Purifies Israel and Judges the Nations

10
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and will destroy thy chariots: ​
11
and I will cut off the cities of thy land, and will throw down all thy strongholds.
12
And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: ​
13
and I will cut off thy graven images and thy pillars out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands; ​
14
and I will pluck up thine Asherim out of the midst of thee; and I will destroy thy cities. ​
15
And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations which hearkened not.

Study Notes for Micah 5

Verse 1

The 'daughter of troops' (Jerusalem/Judah) is besieged. The command to 'gather thyself in troops' is ironic, highlighting their futile human preparations. The smiting of the 'judge' (ruler/king) upon the cheek signifies total humiliation and the collapse of human leadership.

Verse 2

Bethlehem Ephratah is contrasted with the great nations, emphasizing that God chooses the humble place for his greatest work. The phrase 'whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting' is a powerful declaration of the Messiah’s pre-existence and eternal nature, affirming his divine origin.

Verse 3

The period of waiting ('until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth') refers to the time of tribulation and exile that must precede the final restoration and the full manifestation of the Messianic kingdom. The remnant will then be gathered and restored to Israel.

Verse 4

The ruler will 'stand and feed,' using the metaphor of a shepherd to describe powerful, protective governance. His authority is derived entirely from the strength and majesty of the LORD, leading to a dominion that is universal ('unto the ends of the earth').

Verse 5

The Messiah himself *is* the peace (Shalom), resolving conflict both internal and external. While the 'Assyrian' was the immediate threat in Micah’s day, this enemy symbolizes all future hostile forces that challenge God’s people, whom the Messiah will defeat through appointed leaders (seven shepherds, eight principal men).

Verse 7

The remnant of Jacob (the restored Israel) is first described as a blessing to the nations, acting 'as a dew from the LORD.' This imagery portrays them as a source of divine refreshment and spiritual life, independent of human effort or planning.

Verse 8

The remnant has a dual role. Here, they are described as a 'lion,' signifying their role as an instrument of God’s judgment against unrepentant nations. This shows that the restored people will possess divine power and authority among the Gentiles.

Verse 10

The removal of horses and chariots signifies the destruction of human military strength, forcing Israel to rely solely on the LORD for protection. This is a crucial element of purification, ensuring loyalty and dependence on the covenant God.

Verse 12

The removal of 'witchcrafts' and 'soothsayers' emphasizes the eradication of superstition and pagan influences. True covenant fidelity demands that God's people seek guidance only from Him, rejecting all forms of divination.

Verse 13

God promises to destroy all forms of idolatry ('graven images' and 'standing images'). This radical purification is essential for the establishment of the Messianic kingdom, where only YHWH will be worshipped.

Verse 14

The 'groves' refer to the Asherah poles or sacred trees often used in Canaanite fertility worship, practices Israel had syncretized with their faith. God’s destruction of these symbols ensures complete separation from paganism.

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