Micah 5 · The Lantern

A Ruler from Bethlehem

Now you gash yourself, daughter of a raiding band. He has laid a siege against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, little to be among the thousands of Judah — from you one will come out for me to be ruler in Israel, and his goings out are from of old, from days of eternity.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

According to prophecy, Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judah, at the time, as I said, when Herod was king in Judea. At Rome, the republic had given way to the entire empire, and the emperor Caesar Augustus had established a worldwide peace. Christ was born a visible man of a virgin mother, but he was a hidden God because God was his Father.

"But you, O Bethlehem, you are too little for what you are." That is, even though in comparison with your enemies you are little in force and number and incapable to lead "the thousand of Judah," yet, thanks to the help that I give you, the powerful ruler will be able to make war against them.

Therefore he will give them up until the time that she who gives birth has given birth; and the rest of his brothers will return to the sons of Israel.

(Verse 3) Because of this, He will give them until the time when she who is in labor gives birth, and the rest of his brothers shall return to the children of Israel. LXX: Therefore, He will give them until the time of the one giving birth: she shall give birth, and the rest of his brothers shall return to the children of Israel.

But now, the same star which led the magi to the place where the infant God was to be found with his virgin mother could of course have led them right to the very city. But it withdrew, and didn't appear at all to them again, until the Jews themselves had been questioned about the city where Christ was to be born.

"He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth." This is what the prophet calls Jerusalem. This means he will abandon them to the afflictions of captivity until the time of the return. This means that these predictions will not come true before they are back from their captivity.

And he will stand and shepherd in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they will dwell secure, for now he will be great to the ends of the earth.

And this one will be peace. When Assyria comes into our land and when he treads in our citadels, we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men.

And they will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its own gateways; and he will deliver us from Assyria when he comes into our land and when he treads within our border.

The Remnant of Jacob

And the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on grass, which does not wait for a man or delay for the sons of mankind.

And the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which, if he passes through, tramples and tears, and there is no one delivering.

Your hand will be lifted over your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off.

And it will be in that day — the utterance of the LORD — that I will cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots.

And I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your fortifications.

And I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you will have no soothsayers.

And I will cut off your carved images and your standing stones from your midst, and you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.

And I will uproot your Asherahs from your midst, and I will destroy your cities.

And in anger and in wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that have not obeyed.

Micah5

A Ruler from Bethlehem

The Remnant of Jacob