Micah 5:1

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. NOW GATHER THYSELF IN TROOPS - i:e., thou shalt do so, to resist the enemy. Lest the faithful should fall into carnal security because of the previous promises, he reminds them of the calamities which are to precede the prosperity. O DAUGHTER OF TROOPS. Jerusalem is so called on account of her numerous troops. HE HATH LAID SIEGE AGAINST US - the enemy hath. THEY SHALL SMITE THE JUDGE OF ISRAEL WITH A ROD UPON THE CHEEK - the greatest of insults to an Oriental. Zedekiah, the judge (or king, ) of Israel, was loaded with insult by the Chaldeans, So also the other princes and judges ...

To encourage the faithful to patience, the Prophet again reminds them that hard and severe time was nigh; for it was needful to put them in mind often of the approaching calamity, lest terror should wholly discourage them. As then there was danger from despair, the Prophet often repeats what he has already said of God’s judgment, which was then suspending over the people of Israel. And this mode and order of teaching ought to be observed. When the Prophets threaten us, or denounce the punishment we have deserved, we either become torpid, or grow angry with God, and murmur: but when they set forth any thing of comfort, we then indulge ourselves and become too secure. It is therefore necessary to connect threatening with promises, so that we may be always ready to endure temporal evils, and that our minds, sustained by hope, may, at the same time, depend on the Lord, and recomb on him. It...

1-6 Having showed how low the house of David would be brought, a prediction of the Messiah and his kingdom is added to encourage the faith of God's people. His existence from eternity as God, and his office as Mediator, are noticed. Here is foretold that Bethlehem should be his birthplace. Hence it was universally known among the Jews, Matthew 2:5. Christ's government shall be very happy for his subjects; they shall be safe and easy. Under the shadow of protection from the Assyrians, is a promise of protection to the gospel church and all believers, from the designs and attempts of the powers of darkness. Christ is our Peace as a Priest, making atonement for sin, and reconciling us to God; and he is our Peace as a King, conquering our enemies: hence our souls may dwell at ease in him. Christ will find instruments to protect and deliver. Those that threaten ruin to the church of God, soo...

CHAPTER V _This chapter begins, according to the opinion of some_ _commentators, with a prophecy concerning the siege of_ _Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the great indignities which_ _Zedekiah should suffer from the Babylonians_, 1. _We have next a most famous prediction concerning the birthplace_ _of the Messiah, "whose goings forth have been from of old, from_ _EVERLASTING,"_ 2. See Matthew 2:6. _The Jews obstinately persisting in their opposition to the_...

NOW GATHER THYSELF IN TROOPS, O DAUGHTER OF TROOPS - The “daughter of troops” is still the same who was before addressed, Judah. The word is almost always . used of “bands of men employed in irregular, marauding, in-roads.” Judah is entitled “daughter of troops,” on account of her violence, the robbery and bloodshed within her (Micah 2:8; Micah 3:2; etc. Hosea 5:10), as Jeremiah says, “Is this house which is called by My Name become a den of robbers in your eyes?” (Jeremiah 7:11, compare Matthew 21:13). She then who had spoiled...

EXPOSITION MICAH 5:1 _§ _8_. After Zion_'_s degradation Messiah shall be born, and shall bring the world into subjection._ MICAH 5:1 This verse is joined to the preceding chapter in the Hebrew. Jerusalem is addressed, as in Micah 4:9, Micah 4:11, not the invading army. The prophet returns to the view of the misery and humiliation expressed in that passage. GATHER THYSELF IN TROOPS; or, _thou shalt gather thyself, etc. _Jerusalem must collect its armies to defend itself from the enemy. O DAUGHTER OF TROOPS. Jerusalem is thus named from t

NOW GATHER THYSELF IN TROOPS, O DAUGHTER OF TROOPS,.... Not Jerusalem, full of people, called to draw out their forces, and fall upon the enemy besieging them, whether Chaldeans or Romans; but rather the Babylonians, whose armies were large, and their troops numerous; who are called upon by the people of God, encouraged by the foregoing prophecies, as well as by what follows, to come forth with all their forces, and muster up all their armies, and exert all the power and strength they had, thus suiting them; being assured, by the above promises, that in the issue they should prevail over all their enemies: unless the Romans should be intended, to whom this character of "daughter of troops" well agrees, of whose legions all have heard; and since the Babylonish attempt on Jerusalem, and the carrying the Jews captive into Babylon, are before predicted, with their deliverance from it, and wh...

NOW The "word of the Lord that came to Micah" (Micah 4:1) having described the future kingdom (Micah 4:1) and glanced at the Babylonian captivities (Micah 4:9) goes forward into the last days to refer to the great battle (see "Armageddon,") (Revelation 16:14); (_ See Scofield) - (Revelation 19:17) _ which immediately precedes the setting up of the Messianic kingdom (see "Kingdom (Old Testament)," (Genesis 1:26) ...

CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The siege and the smitten judge (Micah 5:1) _ 2. The smitten judge: Who he is (Micah 5:2) 3. The events of the future: (Micah 5:3) 4. The Rejected One, the Shepherd of Israel (Micah 5:4) 5. The remnant of Jacob and the kingdom (Micah 5:7) Micah 5:1. This interesting chapter presents difficulties, but they all vanish if we view all in the light of the future as revealed in the prophetic Word. Here it is necessary to divide the Word of Truth rightly,

MICAH 4:6 TO MICAH 5:1. EXILE AND RESTORATION: ISRAEL'S VICTORY OVER THE NATIONS. The reference to the Babylonian exile (Micah 4:10) shows that the passage is not earlier than the sixth century, Micah himself being concerned with Assyria, not Babylon. The sequence of thought is not clear, and it has been suggested that Micah 4:9 f. should precede Micah 4:6; Micah 4:11 ff. is apparently a distinct prophecy, describing a siege of Jerusalem which is eschatological rather than historic (_cf._...