Commentary on
Micah 4:8-13
8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there Yehuveh shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they know not the thoughts of Yehuveh, neither understand they His counsel: for He shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto Yehuveh, and their substance unto Yehuveh of the whole earth.
Commentary on 4:8 [31 May 2006]: Micah 4-5 are united in presenting the means of restoring Yehuveh’s kingdom. Israel and Jerusalem play key roles in the new kingdom, as they did in the original kingdom, for Yehuveh promises: “. . . strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”
Commentary on 4:11-13 [25 May 2006]: The restoration of Yehuveh’s kingdom to Jerusalem and to Israel is certain, but before this occurs, mighty upheavals are to come that will remove the present governmental systems. While it is clear that “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him,” yet it is equally clear that this will not be a peaceful transition. Because Yehuveh has declared that “the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted,” each nation will have to decide their own destiny. Blaming Israel for their difficulties, Jerusalem will be the focus and target in the “death struggle” of these soon-to-be-destroyed nations. Daniel 7:27; Isaiah 60:12.
But this effort to preserve their former life is wasted, for “they know not the thoughts of Yehuveh, neither understand they His counsel,” and in spite of their effort to survive, they will either yield to Yehuveh or be destroyed. But this passage follows the events of chapter one where Israel was destroyed and of chapter four where Yehuveh gathers His faithful remnant to their homeland and re-established them there. The promise that Israel will “beat in pieces many people” can only be fulfilled by a faithful people.
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 25 May 2006
Latest Update: 19 September 2007
Return to Zadok Home Continue . . . Return One Page Go to Micah Introduction