Micah 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem 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. BETH-LEHEM EPHRATAH - (Genesis 48:7, where Jacob says, "Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath, and I buried her in the way of Ephrath: the same is Bethlehem"); or, "Bethlehem Judah," so called to distinguish it from Bethlehem in Zebulun. It is a few miles southwest of Jerusalem. Bethlehem means the house of bread; Ephratah means fruitful: both names referring to the fertility of the region. THOUGH THOU BE LITTLE AMONG - though thou be scarcely large enough to be reckoned among, etc. It was insignificant in size and population; so th...

_Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, art small, that thou shouldest be among the thousands of Judah _As Matthew quotes this passage differently, some think that it ought to be read as a question, And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, art thou the least among the provinces of Judah? Matthew says “Thou art by no means the least, thou excellest. (142) ” But what need there is of distorting the words of the Prophet, as it was not the design of the Evangelist to relate the expressions of the Prophet, but only to point out the passage. As to the words, Matthew had regards to the condition of the town Bethlehem, such as it was at the coming of Christ. It then indeed began to be eminent: but the Prophet represents here how ignoble and mean a place Bethlehem then was, _Thou, _he says, _art the least among the thousands of Judah. _Some, not very wisely, give this explanation, “Thou art the least among the thousands...

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...

Verse Micah 5:2. _BUT THOU, BETH-LEHEM EPHRATAH_] I have considered this subject in great detail in _Clarke's notes on "_Matthew 2:6_"_, to which the reader will be pleased to refer. This verse should begin this chapter; the _first_ verse belongs to the preceding chapter. _Bethlehem Ephratah_, to distinguish it from another Beth-lehem, which was in the tribe of _Zebulun_, Joshua 19:15. _THOUSANDS OF JUDAH_] The tribes were divided into small portions called _thousands_; as in our country certain divisions of counties are called _hundreds_. _WHOSE GOINGS FORTH_ have been _from of old_] In every age, from the foundatio

BUT - (And) thou, Bethlehem Ephratah With us, the chequered events of time stand in strong contrast, painful or gladdening. Good seems to efface evil, or evil blots out the memory of the good. God orders all in the continuous course of His Wisdom. All lies in perfect harmony in the Divine Mind. Each event is the sequel of what went before. So here the prophet joins on, what to us stands in such contrast, with that simple, And. Yet he describes the two conditions bearing on one another. He had just spoken of the “judge of Israel” smitten on the cheek, and, before Micah 4:9, that Israel had neither king nor “counsellor;” he now speaks of the Ruler in Israel, the Everlasting. He had said, how Judah was to become mere bands of men; he now says, how the “little Bethlehem” was to be exalted. He had said before, that the rule of old was to come to “the tower of the flock, the

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

BUT THOU, BETHLEHEM EPHRATAH,.... But though Jerusalem should be besieged and taken, and the land of Judea laid waste, yet, before all this should be, the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, of which this is a prophecy, as is evident from Matthew 2:4; the place is called by both the names it went by, to point it out the more distinctly, and with the greater certainty, Genesis 35:19; the former signifies "the house of bread", and a proper place for Christ to be born in, who is the bread of life; and it has the name of the latter from its fruitfulness, being a place of pasture, and as we find it was at the time of our Lord's birth; for near it shepherds were then watching over their flocks; and it is here added, to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun,...

EVERLASTING Compare (Isaiah 7:13); (Isaiah 7:14); (Isaiah 9:6); (Isaiah 9:7). The "child" was born in Bethlehem, but the "Son" was "from everlasting....

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,

MESSIANIC ANTICIPATIONS. This paragraph, like the last, seems to consist of several separate prophecies, viz. Micah 5:2, describing the emergence of a triumphant Davidic ruler; Micah 5:5 f., deliverance from the Assyrian through leaders raised by the people; Micah 5:7, the multitude and irresistible might of the remnant of Israel. All these seem to be post-exilic, though some, taking Assyrian literally, refer the second to Micah. The clan of Ephrathah (to whose district Bethlehem belongs; _cf._ Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 17:12;...