the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel--(Compare [Mi 4:7]). The remainder of the Israelites dispersed in foreign lands shall return to join their countrymen in Canaan. The Hebrew for "unto" is, literally, "upon," implying superaddition to those already gathered.
4. he shall stand--that is, persevere: implying the endurance of His kingdom [Calvin]. Rather, His sedulous care and pastoral circumspection, as a shepherd stands erect to survey and guard His flock on every side ([Is 61:5]) [Maurer].
feed--that is, rule: as the Greek word similarly in [Mt 2:6], Margin, means both "feed" and "rule" ([Is 40:11]; ; [Eze 34:23]; compare [2Sa 5:2]; ).
in the majesty of the name of the Lord--possessing the majesty of all Jehovah's revealed attributes ("name") ([Is 11:2]; [Php 2:6], ; [He 2:7-9]).
his God--God is "His God" in a oneness of relation distinct from the sense in which God is our God ([Joh 20:17]).
they shall abide--the Israelites ("they," namely, the returning remnant and the "children of Israel previously in Canaan) shall dwell in permanent security and prosperity ([Mi 4:4]; [Is 14:30]).
unto the ends of the earth--([Mi 4:1]; [Psa 72:8]; [Zec 9:10]).
5. this man--in Hebrew simply "This." The One just mentioned; He and He alone. Emphatical for Messiah (compare [Ge 5:29]).
the peace--the fountainhead of peace between God and man, between Israel and Israel's justly offended God ([Ge 49:10]; [Is 9:6]; [Ep 2:14], ; [Col 1:20]), and, as the consequence, the fountain of "peace on earth," where heretofore all is strife ([Mi 4:3]; [Ho 2:18]; [Zec 9:10]; [Lu 2:14]).
the Assyrian--Being Israel's most powerful foe at that time, Assyria is made the representative of all the foes of Israel in all ages, who shall receive their final destruction at Messiah's appearing ([Eze 38:1-23]).
seven shepherds, and eight--"Seven" expresses perfection; "seven and eight" is an idiom for a full and sufficient number ([Job 5:19]; [Pr 6:16]; [Ec 11:2]).
principal men--literally, "anointed (humble) men" ([Psa 62:9]), such as the apostles were. Their anointing, or consecration and qualification to office, was by the Holy Spirit [Calvin] ([1Jo 2:20], 27). "Princes" also were anointed, and they are mentioned as under Messiah ([Is 32:1]). English Version therefore gives the probable sense.
6. waste--literally, "eat up": following up the metaphor of "shepherds" (compare [Nu 22:4]; [Jr 6:3]).
land of Nimrod--Babylon ([Mi 4:10]; [Ge 10:10]); or, including Assyria also, to which he extended his borders ([Ge 10:11]).
in the entrances--the passes into Assyria ([2Ki 3:21]). The Margin and Jerome, misled by a needless attention to the parallelism, "with the sword," translate, "with her own naked swords"; as in [Psa 55:21] the Hebrew is translated. But "in the entrances" of Assyria, answers to, "within our borders." As the Assyrians invade our borders, so shall their own borders or "entrances" be invaded.
he ... he--Messiah shall deliver us, when the Assyrian shall come.
7. remnant of Jacob--already mentioned in [Mi 5:3]. It in comparative smallness stands in antithesis to the "many people." Though Israel be but a remnant amidst many nations after her restoration, yet she shall exercise the same blessed influence in quickening them spiritually that the small imperceptible dew exercises in refreshing the grass ([De 32:2]; [Psa 72:6]; ). The influence of the Jews restored from Babylon in making many Gentile proselytes is an earnest of a larger similar effect hereafter ([Is 66:19]; [Zec 8:13]).
from the Lord--Israel's restoration and the consequent conversion of the Gentiles are solely of grace.
tarrieth not for man--entirely God's work, as independent of human contrivance as the dew and rains that fertilize the soil.
8. as a lion--In [Mi 5:7] Israel's benignant influence on the nations is described; but here her vengeance on the godless hosts who assail her ([Is 66:15], 16, 19, 24; [Zec 12:3], [6, 8], ; , ). Judah will be "as as lion," not in respect to its cruelty, but in its power of striking terror into all opponents. Under the Maccabees, the Jews acquired Idumea, Samaria, and parts of the territory of Ammon and Moab [Grotius]. But this was only the earnest of their future glory on their coming restoration.
9. Thine hand shall be lifted up--In [Is 26:11] it is Jehovah's hand that is lifted up; here Israel's as [Mi 5:8] implies, just as "Zion" is addressed and directed to "beat in pieces many people" ([Mi 4:13]; compare [Is 54:15], ). For Israel's foes are Jehovah's foes. When her hand is said to be lifted up, it is Jehovah's hand that strikes the foe by her (compare [Ex 13:9], with [Ex 14:8]).
10. cut off thy horses ... chariots--namely, those used for the purposes of war. Israel had been forbidden the use of cavalry, or to go to Egypt for horses ([De 17:16]), lest they should trust in worldly forces, rather than in God ([Psa 20:7]). Solomon had disregarded this command ([1Ki 10:26], ). Hereafter, saith God, I will remove these impediments to the free course of My grace: horses, chariots, &c., on which ye trust. The Church will never be safe, till she is stripped of all creature trusts, and rests on Jehovah alone [Calvin]. The universal peace given by God shall cause warlike instruments to be needless. He will cut them off from Israel ([Zec 9:10]); as she will cut them off from Babylon, the representative of the nations ([Jr 50:37]; ).
11. cut off ... cities ... strongholds--such as are fortified for war. In that time of peace, men shall live in unwalled villages ([Eze 38:11]; compare [Jr 23:6]; ; [Zec 2:8]).
12. witchcrafts out of thine hand--that is, which thou now usest.
13. graven images ... cut off--(Compare [Is 2:8], 18-21; 30:22; [Zec 13:2]).
standing images--statues.
14. groves ... cities--The "groves" are the idolatrous symbol of Astarte ([De 16:21]; [2Ki 21:7]). "Cities" being parallel to "groves," must mean cities in or near which such idolatrous groves existed. Compare "city of the house of Baal" ([2Ki 10:25]), that is, a portion of the city sacred to Baal.
15. vengeance ... such as they have not heard--or, as the Hebrew order favors, "the nations that have not hearkened to My warnings." So the Septuagint ([Psa 149:7]).
Chapter 6
Mi 6:1-16. Appeal before All Creation to the Israelites to Testify, if They Can, if Jehovah Ever Did Aught but Acts of Kindness to Them from the Earliest Period: God Requires of Them Not So Much Sacrifices, as Real Piety and Justice: Their Impieties and Coming Punishment
1. contend thou--Israel is called by Jehovah to plead with Him in controversy. [Mi 5:11-13] suggested the transition from those happy times described in the fourth and fifth chapters, to the prophet's own degenerate times and people.
before the mountains--in their presence; personified as if witnesses (compare [Mi 1:2]; [De 32:1]; [Is 1:2]). Not as the Margin, "with"; as God's controversy is with Israel, not with them.
2. Lord's controversy--How great is Jehovah's condescension, who, though the supreme Lord of all, yet wishes to prove to worms of the earth the equity of His dealings ([Is 5:3]; ).
3. my people--the greatest aggravation of their sin, that God always treated them, and still treats them, as His people.
what have I done unto thee?--save kindness, that thou revoltest from Me ([Jr 2:5], 31).
wherein have I wearied thee?--What commandments have I enjoined that should have wearied thee as irksome ([1Jo 5:3])?
4. For--On the contrary, so far from doing anything harsh, I did thee every kindness from the earliest years of thy nationality.
Miriam--mentioned, as being the prophetess who led the female chorus who sang the song of Moses ([Ex 15:20]). God sent Moses to give the best laws; Aaron to pray for the people; Miriam as an example to the women of Israel.
5. what Balak ... consulted--how Balak plotted to destroy thee by getting Balaam to curse thee ([Nu 22:5]).
what Balaam ... answered--how the avaricious prophet was constrained against his own will, to bless Israel whom he had desired to curse for the sake of Balak's reward ([Nu 24:9-11]) [Maurer]. Grotius explains it, "how Balaam answered, that the only way to injure thee was by tempting thee to idolatry and whoredom" ([Nu 31:16]). The mention of "Shittim" agrees with this: as it was the scene of Israel's sin ([Nu 25:1-5]; [2Pe 2:15]; [Re 2:14]).
from Shittim unto Gilgal--not that Balaam accompanied Israel from Shittim to Gilgal: for he was slain in Midian ([Nu 31:8]). But the clause, "from Shittim," alone applies to Balaam. "Remember" God's kindnesses "from Shittim," the scene of Balaam's wicked counsel taking effect in Israel's sin, whereby Israel merited utter destruction but for God's sparing mercy, "to Gilgal," the place of Israel's first encampment in the promised land between Jericho and Jordan, where God renewed the covenant with Israel by circumcision ([Jos 5:2-11]).
know the righteousness--Recognize that, so far from God having treated thee harshly ([Mi 6:3]), His dealings have been kindness itself (so "righteous acts" for gracious, [Jud 5:11]; [Psa 24:5], ).
6. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?--The people, convicted by the previous appeal of Jehovah to them, ask as if they knew not (compare [Mi 6:8]) what Jehovah requires of them to appease Him, adding that they are ready to offer an immense heap of sacrifices, and those the most costly, even to the fruit of their own body.
burnt offerings--([Le 1:1-17]).
calves of a year old--which used to be offered for a priest ([Le 9:2], ).