Micheas iv.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Last days. This sometimes means after this, Isaias ix. 1. But here it denotes the time which shall elapse from Christ till the day of eternity. The Jews allow that this prediction regards the Messias, though they will not explain it of Jesus Christ. Their exceptions are well refuted by Ribera. (Worthington) — It is plain that it can be verified nowhere else, but in the Church of Christ; though some expressions may, as usual, refer to the return of the captives. Isaias, (ii. 2.) &c., had already used the like terms under Ozias. Juda is here comforted, after its ruin had been denounced.
Ver. 2. Jerusalem. No other nation ever embraced the Jewish law. But all received the gospel, (Calmet) which was first preached at Jerusalem, by people of that country. (Haydock) — “We are of yesterday, and we fill all your places.” (Tertullian)
Ver. 3. Judge, or “rule” (Judges viii. 22.) as Christ does over all. (Calmet) — Plough-shares. Hebrew, “scythes,” (Haydock) or “coulters.” (Worthington) (Mart. xiv. 34.) (Calmet) — Learn, &c. The law of Christ is a law of peace; and all his true subjects, as much as lies in them, love and keep peace with all the world. (Challoner) — They will sustain injuries meekly, 1 Corinthians vi. (Worthington) — When Christ appeared, the Roman empire enjoyed peace. (Calmet) — Aspera tum positis mitescent sæcula bellis, &c. (Virgil, Æneid i.)
Ver. 4. Fig-tree. Such a happiness would not suit the ambitious, Zacharias iii. 10.
Ver. 5. And ever. After the captivity the Gentiles continued to worship idols, and the Jews had a greater aversion for them; but when the gospel was propagated, idols fell into contempt, and the Jewish law was at an end, while heretics were varying continually. The Church alone is stable, and built upon the rock. (Calmet) — All such quiet people as walk in the name of the Lord, will keep peace even with those who hate it, (Psalm cxix.) suffering persecution with joy, Hebrews x. 34. (St. Irenæus iv. 67.; St. Cyril, &c.) (Worthington)
Ver. 6. Halteth, as the synagogue did, (3 Kings xviii. 21.) bringing nothing to perfection, (Hebrews vii. 19.) while the Gentiles were abandoned to idolatry. From both Christ chose his Church, Acts xxi. 20., &c. (Calmet) — The Jews will be at last converted. (Worthington)
Ver. 7. Remnant, or numerous progeny. — Afflicted. Hebrew and Septuagint, “repudiated,” (Calmet) or “cast off.” (Haydock)
Ver. 8. Cloudy. Hebrew.” fortress, or ophel,” a tower or wall near the temple, 2 Esdras iii. 27. — Flock. Jerusalem was no better, after the Chaldeans had destroyed it, 4 Kings xvii. 9. Yet there Zorobabel, the Machabees, and Christ displayed their power. It was the cradle of the Church. Some take this to refer to Bethlehem, as [in] chap. v. 2. (Calmet) — Shall it come. Septuagint add, “from Babylon.” After the captivity the Jews shall flourish, as the Church shall prove victorious over all her persecutors. (Haydock)
Ver. 9. No king, after Sedecias was taken. (Calmet) — The two tribes shall be led into captivity and released, ver. 12. (Worthington)
Ver. 11. Sion. Let us enter the sanctuary and plunder it. Cambyses was instigated to fall upon the Jews lately returned, Ezechiel xxxviii. 11. His rapacious designs were frustrated, as those of persecutors will be. (Calmet)
Ver. 12. Hay. Protestants, “sheaves.” (Haydock) — People were thus often trodden to death by oxen. (Athen. xii. 5.)
Ver.13. Brass. Fear nothing. The Jews did not attack the army of Cambyses, (Ezechiel xxxviii. 21., and xxxix. 10.; Calmet) at least at first. (Haydock) — But what God did for them is attributed to them. (Calmet) — Immolate. Septuagint, “devote to the Lord their multitude, and,” &c. Protestants, “gain,” (Haydock) or what spoils they have taken. (Calmet)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The glory of the Church of Christ, by the conversion of the Gentiles. The Jews shall be carried captives to Babylon, and be delivered again.
1 And *it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of mountains, and high above the hills: and people shall flow to it.
2 And many nations shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth out of Sion, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.
3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into spades: nation shall not take sword against nation: neither shall they learn war any more.
4 And every man shall sit under his vine, and under his fig-tree, and there shall be none to make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken.
5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god: but we will walk in the name of the Lord, our God, for ever and ever.
6 In that day, saith the Lord, I will gather up her that halteth: and her that I had cast out, I will gather up: and her whom I had afflicted.
7 *And I will make her that halted, a remnant: and her that hath been afflicted, a mighty nation: **and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Sion, from this time now and for ever.
8 And thou, O cloudy tower of the flock, of the daughter of Sion, unto thee shall it come: yea, the first power shall come, the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now, why art thou drawn together with grief? Hast thou no king in thee, or is thy counsellor perished, because sorrow hath taken thee as a woman in labour?
10 Be in pain and labour, O daughter of Sion, as a woman that bringeth forth: for now shalt thou go out of the city, and shalt dwell in the country, and shalt come even to Babylon, there thou shalt be delivered: there the Lord will redeem thee out of the hand of thy enemies.
11 And now many nations are gathered together against thee, and they say: Let her be stoned: and let our eye look upon Sion.
12 But they have not known the thoughts of the Lord, and have not understood his counsel: because he hath gathered them together as the hay of the floor.
13 Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples, and shalt immolate the spoils of them to the Lord, and their strength to the Lord of the whole earth.
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1: Isaias ii. 2.
7: Sophonias iii. 19. — ** Daniel vii. 14.; Luke i. 32.