Micah 4:1

CHAPTER IV

In the commencement of this chapter we have a glorious prophecy

of the establishment and prosperity of the Messiah's kingdom;

its peaceful character, increasing spiritual and political

influence, ultimate universality, and everlasting duration,

1-4.

Then breaks in a chorus of his people declaring their peculiar

happiness in being members of his kingdom, 5.

The prophet resumes the subject; predicts the restoration and

future prosperity of Israel, 6-8;

and exhorts them not to be discouraged at their approaching

captivity, as they should in due time not only be delivered

from it, but likewise be victorious over all their enemies,

9-13.

These last verses, which evidently contain a prediction of the

final triumph of Christianity over every adversary, have been

applied to the conquests of the Maccabees; but the character

and beneficial results of their military exploits, as far as we

have any account of them, correspond but in a very faint degree

to the beautiful and highly wrought terms of the prophecy. The

first three verses of this chapter are very similar to the

commencement of the second chapter of Isaiah; and the fourth,

for beauty of imagery and elegance of expression, is not

unworthy of that prophet.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV

Verse Micah 4:1. But in the last days it shall come to pass] These four verses contain, says Bp. Newcome, a prophecy that was to be fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah, when the Gentiles were to be admitted into covenant with God, and the apostles were to preach the Gospel, beginning at Jerusalem, Luke 24:47; Acts 2:14, c., when Christ was to be the spiritual Judge and King of many people, was to convince many nations of their errors and vices, and was to found a religion which had the strongest tendency to promote peace. Bp. Lowth thinks that "Micah took this passage from Isaiah" or the Spirit may have inspired both prophets with this prediction; or both may have copied some common original, the words of a prophet well known at that time. The variations (few and of little importance) may be seen in the notes on the parallel passages, Isaiah 2:2, c. to which the reader is requested to refer.