Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Micah 4:13
Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hooves brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
13. thresh ] A figurative expression for ‘conquer’ (comp. Isa 41:15, Jer 51:33), based on the barbarous custom of torturing those who had been taken captives in war (2Sa 12:31, Amo 1:3). It may be called a phraseological ‘survival.
horn ] Another figure for victorious might; comp. Deu 33:17.
hoofs ] Alluding to the custom of employing oxen to tread out the corn; comp. Deu 25:4, 1Co 5:9. Sometimes however a machine was used (see above).
many people ] Rather, many peoples.
I will consecrate ] Rather, thou shalt (so the ancient versions rightly render, comp. Gesenius, Hebr. Gram. 47, Rem. 5) devote. See Lev 27:28, “every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord.” The term ‘devoted thing’ is applied sometimes to lifeless objects (e.g. Lev 27:21), and sometimes to living (e.g. 1Sa 15:21, 1Ki 20:42). In the latter case, devotion, strictly speaking, involved destruction, i.e. the restitution to the Lord of life of that breath which He for a time had granted.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Arise – (It may be,) from the dust in which they were lying, I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. Threshing in the East is partly with oxen, partly with wheels of iron, or with planks set with sharp flints on an open place made hard to this end. The prophet joins another image, with this and represents Judah as being by God endued with strength, first as with a horn of iron 1Ki 22:11 to cast the enemy to the ground, and then with hoofs of brass, wherewith to trample them to dust, as the stubble and chaff. And I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, that is, to Myself; the Lord gathered them into the floor by His Providence; the Lord gave His people strength to subdue them; and now, in His own Person, He says, I will complete My own work.
The very image of the threshing implies that this is no mere destruction. While the stubble is beaten or bruised to small pieces, and the chaff is far more than the wheat, and is carried out of the floor, there yet remains the seed-corn. So in the great judgments of God, while most is refuse, there yet remains over, what is severed from the lost heap and wholly consecrated to Him. Whatever things were the object of the cherem Lev 27:28 or thing devoted to the Lord, could not be redeemed, but must remain wholly the Lords. If it had life, it was to be put to death Lev. 29. And so the use of the word here may the rather shew, how those converted to God, and who became gain, hallowed to Him, were to pass through death to life, to die to themselves that they might live to Him: what was evil was to be slain in them, that they themselves might live.
The Israelites and Gods dealings with them are ensamples of us upon whom the ends of the world are come 1Co 10:11. And so the whole section fits wonderfully with the condition of the single soul. She who halteth (Rib.) the soul, who would serve God, yet not so as wholly to give up the service of the world, which it had in Baptism renounced, who, after it had gone astray like a lost sheep, and been scattered amid the manifoldness of earthly things, was gathered again into the fold, to love One only, long for One only, give itself to One, its Good Shepherd, and over it the Lord reigneth forever, if, taught by experience the deceitfulness of Satans promises, and stung by the sense of its own thanklessness and vileness, and conscious of the peril of self confidence, it abideth more closely than others with God. He shall gather her that is driven out, that is, , He shall restore her, from whom He had, for the time, withdrawn His grace, and her that was afflicted, trouble being Gods most effectual instrument, in recalling the soul to Himself. For the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down Psa 146:8.
And will make her that halteth, a remnant, placing her among the elect and holy, and her that was cast off strong; for Christ giveth oft to such souls great richness of divine graces, so that where sin abounded, grace should much more abound Rom 5:20. Rib.: To it, when enlightened and purified by affliction and by repentance, it is promised, that its Lord, the Great King, shall come to it, and again reign in it, which is the great bliss of souls in grace. For then doth the soul really reign, when it submits wholly to Christ, whom to serve is to reign, and so, under Him, receives power to command its wrong desires, and rule itself; that great and wonderful power which the Evangelist expresses in words so brief, To them gave He power to become the sons of God Joh 1:12. Thus He maketh it strong, so that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, can separate it from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom 8:38-39.
Then, he describes the condition of the soul fluctuating between good and evil, called one way by God through inward inspirations, and another way by the enticements and habits of sin. And, wishing to follow God, yet not to be without its sinful pleasures, and knowing this to be impossible, it is in anguish and hesitates. Her the prophet justly rebukes, why thus cry aloud, as though thou must be led captive by the Devil, not knowing or unable to extricate thyself? Hast thou no King, aided by whose power, thou mayest fight against all enticements, habit, the flesh? Paul felt this and cried aloud, I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom 7:23-24. You see his grief. But he despairs not. He knows that he has a King. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Or why grievest thou, as if thou hadst no counsellor, by whose counsels to free thee from these snares? Thy Counsellor indeed perished on the Cross, but for thy sake, that thou mayest live.
He died, to destroy him who hath the power of death. But He rose the third day and is still with thee; at the Right Hand of the Father He still reigns Immortal forever. See how many counsels He has left thee in the Gospel, how many admonitions, whereby thou mayest lead a happy and tranquil life. Now pain seizes thee like a woman in travail. For such a soul travails, having conceived inspirations from God, which it wishes to obey, but that the flesh, overcome by concupiscence, resists, and so it never brings forth, nor experiences that joy, whereof the Lord speaketh, When she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world Joh 16:21. Wherefore he adds; be in pain, for thou art indeed in travail; thou wilt not cease to be in pain, until thou bring forth. Thou wilt go forth, etc. God, by a provision of His great mercy, allows lukewarm souls, who will be at no pains to gain grace, to fall into foulest sins, in order that, owning at last their misery, they may cease to be lukewarm, and with great ardor of soul may embrace virtue. For, warned by the result, they understand that they themselves emboldened the tempter, (for he chiefly attacks the lukewarm and remiss,) and they become ardent in the conflict and in well-doing.
Wherefore he says, thou shalt go forth out of the city, that City of God, whereof He is the Builder and Maker Heb 11:10, which is gladdened by the river of His spirit; and it dwells in the open field, unprotected, ready to be a prey, in the broad way of its own concupiscences, out of the narrow road which leadeth to life, and goeth even to Babylon, the city of confusion, in tumult and din and unrest, and the distractions of this life. Yet even there shall it be delivered, like the poor Prodigal, who came to himself in a far country, when worn out by its hard service. Even there it must not despair, but remember, with him, its Fathers house, its former home, the Heavenly Jerusalem. Its pains within or without, whereby it is brought back, are travail-pains. Though all is dark, it must not say, I have no Counsellor. For its Redeemers Name is Counsellor Isa 9:6, one Counsellor of a thousand (Ecclesiasticus 6:6). : Thine Intercessor never dies.
Out of the very depth of misery will the Divine Mercy draw thee. Though thou seem held by the strong hand of the enemy, and he seems to triumph over thee and to jeer thee, There, there so would we have it, we have devoured him Psa 35:25, and hosts of devils seek thy utter destruction, and thou seem to be delivered over 1Co 5:5 to them to the destruction of the flesh; yet is it only that the spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord. Even Satan, when he is tormenting souls, knows not the thoughts of the Lord, nor understands His counsels, how, by the very pain which he inflicts, God is bidding: them, Rise and (Rib.) look up to heaven and long for heavenly things and trample on all which they had hitherto foully served, honor or vain glory or covetousness or lust; how He will exalt their horn in the Lord, make it strong as iron that they should do all things through Christ in strengthening them, and conquer all through the might of Christ; how He should bruise Satan under their feet shortly, and they consecrate wholly to God their whole strength, every power of soul and body which hitherto had been the adversarys.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion] This refers to the subject of the preceding verse. When God shall have gathered together all thy enemies, as into the threshing-floor, he will give thee commission and power to get a complete victory over them, and reduce them to servitude. And that thou mayest be able to do this, he will be on thy side as a powerful helper; here signified by the metaphors, iron horns, and brazen hoofs. Thou shalt have power, authority, and unconquerable strength; for thine enemies shall be no more against thee than the corn against oxen shod with brass, or a puny animal against the horn of a fierce bull tipped with iron.
I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord] What they have taken from thee in the way of spoil shall be restored; and again consecrated unto the service of him who will show himself to be the Lord, the Supreme Governor of the whole earth. Was not this prediction fulfilled when Cyrus gave the Jews permission to return to their own land, and gave them back the sacred vessels of the temple which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away? The Maccabees and their successors recovered much of the booty of which the neighbouring nations had deprived the Jews; and the treasure taken was devoted to Jehovah. The first verse of the next chapter should conclude this. Mic 5:1
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Arise: this imperative may be read in the future tense, and so be an express promise; it is, however, an implicit promise made to the daughter of Zion, the Jewish church, type of the gospel catholic church, that she shall be raised out of a captive, low, and oppressed state, and this shall be by the reviving power of her God.
Thresh; so in a decorum to the metaphor, Mic 4:12, used to express the gathering of the enemy into the floor to be broken: the future strength of the church, employed successfully (more by the arm of her Redeemer than her own) in the subduing and breaking her enemies, is here foretold and promised, as it is also Isa 41:15. Christ will thus punish his enemies. So Babylon typical, as threatened Jer 2:33, was beat to pieces; and so shall antitypical Babylon in due time be broken as straw that is thrashed into smallest pieces like chaff.
I will make thine horn iron: some taking this for the horny part of the hoof of the ox which did tread out the corn, make it to be in sense the same with the hoofs made brass; but they that take it as our version doth, for the horn properly taken, with which the horned beasts do push and thrust down, break, or wound, do express the power and strength of the church firm as iron to beat down her enemies. I will make thy hoofs brass: by this figurative speech is the strength of Zion expressed, by which she treads under foot, and breaks the power of enemies into pieces that it shall never be repaired, as straw that is thrashed in the floor and broken like chaff.
Thou shalt beat in pieces; in the times after the rebuilding of Jerusalem the Jews grew to such strength, that in their wars they did, especially in the Maccabees time, break their enemies in pieces. But here is a mystical and spiritual sense of these words, as they refer to the Messiahs kingdom, in which he will break hard hearts by the power of his word, and convert sinners to himself; and by the power of his almighty arm will defend and support his own subjects, whilst he doth by invincible strength throw down and trample into dust his and their enemies. And this power he hath sometimes evidently exercised already, in the various deliverances he hath wrought for his people, which stand recorded in the church histories. Of this strength you may truly say what is reported of the inscription in the cross appearing to Constantine, In this thou shalt conquer.
Many people; such as were enemies in disposition and carriage towards the Jews though neighbours in their situation; these were both many and mighty enemies: such Christs church hath to contest with, and such Christ will conqueror for his church, for he it is who goeth forth conquering and to conquer, Rev 6:2; and all his enemies shall be made his footstool, Psa 110:1.
I will consecrate: some refer this to the church, and so it may well enough be applied: the redeemed of the Lord should by their own act and deed become the Lords. Others refer it to the Lord, he will consecrate; this is best: but both together, the Lord will, and therefore the church will; God requires it, they consent to it.
Their gain; the spoils of their conquered enemies, what they get out of their hand. So the tabernacle was enriched with the spoils of Egypt, and the temple built with that which David did dedicate of the spoils of enemies; and Persian bounty built the second temple.
Unto the Lord; to the true God, for his honour and in his service.
Their substance; their power, glory, and wealth, all they have and are.
Unto the Lord of the whole earth; with humility and low thoughts of all we do, as done to him that doth not need it, being Lord of all.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. threshdestroy thy foes”gathered” by Jehovah as “sheaves” (Isa 41:15;Isa 41:16).
thine hornZion beingcompared to an ox treading corn, and an ox’s strength lying in thehorns, her strength is implied by giving her a horn of iron(compare 1Ki 22:11).
beat in pieces many(Da 2:44).
I will consecrate their gainunto the LordGod subjects the nations to Zion, not for her ownselfish aggrandizement, but for His glory (Isa 60:6;Isa 60:9; Zec 14:20,with which compare Isa 23:18)and for their ultimate good; therefore He is here called, not merelyGod of Israel, but “Lord of the whole earth.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Arise, and thresh, O daughter of Zion,…. The nations gathered against her, and now laid together on the floor as sheaves to be threshed. Here the people of God are aroused, and called out of a low and weak estate, and are animated and encouraged to exert themselves, and fall upon their enemies, and destroy them; alluding to the threshing of grain on the floor, the metaphor being here carried on from Mic 4:12. The Targum is,
“arise, and kill, O congregation of Zion;”
for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; signifying that the Lord would give them strength sufficient to such work, and such power their enemies should not be able to resist and overcome; and that they should into their hands, and be crushed, trod, and trampled on by them, and utterly subdued. The allusion is to oxen that have horns and hoofs; and it suggests that they should be as strong as they; have horns like them, that is, power to push down their enemies and hoofs to trample upon them: or as these creatures have a horny substance on their feet, or hoofs, which are strong, and fit for the purposes of treading out corn, for which they were used in the eastern countries, drawing after them iron wheels, or planks stuck with flints; so horses and oxen that have strong feet, and hard hoofs, are said to have feet of brass b; thus the Lord’s people should have such courage, force, and power, as not only to withstand their enemies, but to obtain a conquest over them The Targum is,
“I will make the people in them strong as iron, and their remnant firm as brass;”
which was true of, and accomplished in, Judas Maccabeus and his brethren; and will be more clearly fulfilled in the Christian kings and princes in the latter day, when engaged with the antichristian states;
and thou shalt beat in pieces many people; as the Maccabees did subdue many people and nations, as all Palestine, Moab, Idumea, Samaria, and Iturea, as Josephus c relates; and as the Christian princes will beat in pieces, and utterly destroy, all the antichristian kings of the earth, their states and kingdoms, and bring them into subjection to them:
and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth; that is, to Christ, who in the last day will appear to be King and Lord of the whole earth; and all the riches of the antichristian nations, Pagan, Papal, and Mahometan, will be devolved to, and employed in, his interest and service; see
Re 21:24; these are the words of God the Father, with respect to his Son Jesus Christ; who will now have a dominion, glory, and kingdom given him, by the ancient of days, that so all people, nations, and languages, shall serve him, Da 7:14; of which there might be some type and shadow in the times of the Maccabees.
b ‘ “aeripedes equos”, Homer. Iliad. 8. v. 41. c Antiqu. l. 13. c. 15. sect. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion; for I have made thy horn (136) iron, and thy hoofs brass. The Prophet here confirms what he had previously said: and he exhorts the daughter of Zion to arise; for it was necessary for her to have been cast down, so as to lie prostrate on the ground. God did not indeed restore at once his Church, but afflicted her for a time, so that she differed nothing from a dead man. As then a dead body lies on the ground without any feeling, so also did the Church of God lie prostrate. This is the reason why the Prophet now says, Arise, daughter of Zion; as though God, by his voice, roused the dead. We hence see, that the word קומי, kumi, is emphatical; for the Prophet reminds us, that there is no reason for the faithful wholly to despair, when they find themselves thus cast down, for their restoration is in the hand and power of God, as it is the peculiar office of God to raise the dead. And this same truth ought to be applied for our us, whenever we are so cast down, that no strength, no vigor, remains in us. How then can we rise again? By the power of God, who by his voice alone can restore us to life, which seemed to be wholly extinct.
He afterwards subjoins, Thresh, for I have made thy horn iron, and thy hoofs brass. A mode of thrashing, we know, was in use among the Jews the same with that in Italy and at this day in French Provence. We here thrash the corn with flails; but there by treading. The Prophet speaks here of this custom, and compares the Church of God to oxen; as though he said “The Jews shall be like oxen with iron horns and brazen hoofs that they may lay prostrate under them the whole strength of the nations. However much then the nations may now excel, I will subject them under the feet of my people, as if sheaves were thrashed by them.”
He then adds, (137) And thou shalt separate or consecrate their wealth to Jehovah, and their substance (138) to the Lord of the whole earth Here the Prophet specifies the end for which God had purposed to subject the heathen nations to his chosen people, — that he might be glorified. This is the meaning. But they have refined too much in allegories, who have thought that this prophecy ought to be confined to the time of Christ: for the Prophet no doubt meant to extend consolation to the whole kingdom of Christ, from the beginning to the end. Others, not more correctly, say, that this is to be referred to the Babylonian captivity because then Daniel and some others thrashed the people, when heathen kings were induced through their teaching to restore the temple, and also to offer some worship to the God of Israel. But on this point they are both mistaken, because they take the word thrashing in a different sense from the Prophet; for it commonly means that heathen nations are to be subjected to the Church of God: and this takes place, whenever God stretches forth his hand to the faithful, and suffers not the ungodly to exercise their cruelty as they wish; yea, when he makes them humbly to supplicate the faithful. This often happens in the world, as it is written of Christ, ‘thy enemies shall lick the earth,’ (Psa 72:9.) But this prophecy shall not be fulfilled until the last coming of Christ. We indeed begin to tread on our enemies whenever God by his power destroys them, or at least causes them to tremble and to be cast down, as we find that they dread whenever any change takes place; and then they blandly profess that they desire to serve God. So at this day it has happened both in France and in Italy. How many hypocrites, for the sake of an earthly advantage, have submitted themselves to God? and how many such England produced when the Gospel flourished there? All the courtiers, and others who were unwilling to incur the displeasure of the king, professed themselves to be the very best lovers of religion. ( optimos pietatis cultores, — the best observers of piety) But yet this is ever the case,
‘
Aliens have been false to thee,’ (Psa 18:44.)
We hence see what the prophet means when he speaks of thrashing: he intimates, that the Lord would often cause that the enemies of the Church should be bruised, though no one crushed them: but, as I have said, we must look forward to the last day, if we wish to see the complete fulfillment of this prophecy.
He afterwards adds, Thou shalt consecrate their wealth to Jehovah, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth The Prophet shows here, that the dominion is not to be hoped for by the children of God, that they may abound in worldly pleasures, and appropriate every thing to themselves and also abuse their power, as ungodly men are wont to do; but that all is to be applied to the worship and the glory of God. For what purpose, then does God design his Church to become eminent? That he himself may alone shine forth, and that the faithful may rightly enjoy their honor, and not become thereby proud. There is, therefore nothing more alien to the power of the Church than pride, or cruelty, or avarice. This, then that is said ought to be carefully observed, their wealth thou shalt consecrate to Jehovah He had spoken before of power, “Thou shalt bind strong people, thou shalt thrash them, and thou shalt tread them under thy feet;” but lest the faithful should turn all this to a purpose the Lord had not designed, a most suitable correction is immediately added, and that is, that this power shall not be exercised according to the will of men, but according to the will of God: Thou shalt then consecrate, etc.; and he uses the word חרם, cherem, which means to make a thing an anathema or an offering; (139) as though he said “God will raise his Church that it may rule over its enemies; but let the faithful at the same time take heed, that they rule not tyrannically; for God designs ever to reign alone: therefore the whole excellency, the whole dignity, the whole power of the Church ought to be applied for this end, — that all things may become subject to God, and every thing among the nations may be altogether sacred to him so that the worship of God may flourish among the conquerors, as well as among the conquered.” We now perceive the Prophet’s object in speaking of consecrating the wealth of the nations. Now follows —
(136) Horn, in Scripture, means often elevation, dignity, power, strength. It means evidently in the last here. Zion was made strong to thrash the nations, and supplied with strong hoofs to tread on them. The Paraphrase of Rabbi Jonathan is to the purpose, Fortes sicut ferrum, et robusti sicut aes — “Strong as iron, and robust as brass.” And that this is the meaning is proved by what follows, Thou shalt beat in pieces, or beat small, or thrash out, strong nations. — Ed.
(137) It is not often that Calvin passes over a sentence without noticing it, but he does so here; and it is this, and thou shalt tear in pieces strong nations. The verb is הדקות, thou shalt beat small, or thrash out; see Isa 28:28; perhaps the latter sense is most suitable to the passage. The meaning is, that a complete subjugation will take place. To thrash and to thrash out, is to conquer and to bring thoroughly under subjection. — Ed.
(138) The Hebrew word for this is חיל, and for “wealth” בצע. The latter means gain, spoil, or what is often unjustly got, or what is scraped together and constitutes the wealth of the covetous; חיל is properly substance, including possessions of all kinds, land, cattle, etc. בצע serves to include money, silver and gold; and חיל, everything else which makes up wealth.
The verb, “consecrate,” is in Hebrew in the first person, as it is in our version. There is no different reading; but the Septuagint and the earlier versions put it in the second person, to correspond with the previous verb, “Thou shalt beat in pieces.” There will be no difference in the sense, if we render it according to the Hiphil form, in which it is found, — “I will cause thee to consecrate.” Jerome, Theodoret, Marckius, Dathius, Newcome, and Henderson, adopt the second person. — This construction renders the passage no doubt more uniform. — Ed.
(139) The word is very emphatic; it means to devote a thing to a purpose forever, so as to be unchangeably settled. חרם, says Parkhurst, “is anything separated absolutely from its common condition and devoted to Jehovah, so as to be incapable of redemption. See Lev 27:21. As a verb in Hiph. To separate or devote thus to Jehovah. Lev 27:28; Mic 4:12.” It is therefore a sacrilege to take merely to our own use what ought to be, or what we have, thus consecrated to the Lord. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) Arise and thresh.Micah, having likened Israel to the sheaves safely gathered, pursues the metaphor by calling upon the daughter of Zion to thresh her enemies after the manner of oxen treading out the corn; and under the symbolism of the hornthe weapon of strengthhe promises that God will strengthen her for the work
I will consecrate.The better reading is that of the LXX., Vulg., and some ancient versions, which give the second person, Thou shalt consecrate their gain unto the Lord. The termination, indicating the first person in our Hebrew Version, may be a form of the old second person feminine, of which there are other examples.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Mic 4:13. Arise, and thresh The expression alludes to the manner of treading out the corn in the eastern countries; which was done by the feet of oxen. Instead of, And I will consecrate, &c. Houbigant reads, And thou shalt consecrate their prey, &c. which was fulfilled by the Maccabees and their successors.
REFLECTIONS.1st, After the desolations before described, never could a more welcome But come in, than begins the present chapter, where, according to the riches of God’s grace, the former melancholy scene changes, and the Gospel-church, a brighter phoenix, rises from the ashes of Zion.
1. The church of Christ shall be firmly established, and gloriously exalted. In the last days, the days of the Messiah, it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, fixed on a basis immoveable for the benefit of all the faithful; and conspicuous as a city set on a hill. And this had its primary accomplishment when Christ and his apostles first erected this glorious fabric, and shall more eminently be fulfilled when, in the latter day, the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ.
2. Vast multitudes of converts shall flow unto it, numerous as the drops which mighty rivers pour into the ocean; and many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, encouraging each other eagerly to press into the church; and he, Christ the head of his church, will teach us of his ways, by his word and Spirit; and we will walk in his paths, supported by his grace, and strengthened to follow him; for the law shall go forth of Zion, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus; and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; the Gospel there began to be first preached, and thence the healing waters of the sanctuary have flowed into all lands, and through mercy particularly into our own. And they who have an enlightened mind will value the inestimable blessing.
3. The power which will accompany the preaching of the Gospel in these last days, will change men’s hearts, and bring them to mutual love and peace. He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off, convincing the Gentiles of their sin, and the judgment of God against it, and bringing them to repentance and faith; in consequence of which, swords shall be turned into plough-shares, all quarrels and animosities cease, the proud passionate spirits of men be made humble and peaceable, and wars be at an end; whilst each, sitting in comfort under his own vine and fig-tree, shall be quiet from fear of evil; which, so far as the Gospel now prevails, will be the spirit of every converted soul; and it shall universally be diffused in the last days, when this happy state of things shall more gloriously appear; for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it; and therefore, however unlikely it may seem, it shall be fulfilled.
4. There will then be wonderful constancy among Christians in their holy profession. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god. This is usually the case, Jer 2:11 or this will be the case till the Messiah shall convert them to himself. And we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever, with unshaken fidelity and unremitting ardour; such being even now the full purpose of every gracious soul.
5. Though the souls of poor penitent sinners are often now like a poor flock before devouring wolves or roaring lions, worried and tempted, and will be more or less till these last and glorious days; God will then bind Satan; and he will superabundantly strengthen all his people, and they shall be all one fold under one shepherd. And this some commentators particularly refer to the Jews, who shall be recovered from their present dispersion at last, and, after all their afflictions, become a great and glorious people to the Lord.
6. The Lord shall then reign in his church for ever and ever. He has begun to set up his kingdom already in the world; but hereafter he will more eminently display his power and grace, when, the fulness of the Gentiles being come in, and Israel restored, He shall reign in mount Zion and over his ancients gloriously.
2nd, The words, O tower of the flock, Migdal-eder, are left by many untranslated, as the name of a place near Bethlehem, Gen 35:19-21. Others suppose them put for Jerusalem, the strong-hold of the daughter of Zion: whilst others, and with reason, conjecture this to be one of the titles of the Messiah, the tower of his faithful flock, and the strong-hold of his church. And,
1. It is here promised, that in him the kingdom of David, which was fallen, should revive in all its splendour, according to the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. There the Gospel of the kingdom began to be preached; many Jews were admitted members of it; and the apostles, who were of the stock of Israel, were the chief persons in it: perhaps also particular respect may be had to Christ’s coming to them at the time of their last conversion, when the kingdom of the Messiah shall most eminently come to them.
2. The temporal deliverances that God will work for his Israel, are the figure and earnest of the spiritual redemption which he has in store for them.
[1.] They are represented as in a state of great distress, crying aloud as a travailing woman in pangs; their king no more, their counsellors perished, cast out of their cities, and dwelling in the fields, led captive to Babylon, and serving their Chaldean masters.
[2.] God will deliver them thence. Cyrus is his appointed instrument, raised up to rescue them from the house of their prison.The figure of that great Redeemer, who came to preach deliverance to captive souls from the bondage of corruption, and to bring them into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
[3.] When new troubles arise, new helpers shall be given them. The church militant may expect little rest here below till the latter day’s glory arrive. Now also, after their restoration from Babylon, many nations shall be gathered against thee, as particularly was the case in the days of the Maccabees; that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion, pleased with the thoughts of her ruin, and hoping to behold it: but they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel, which were the very opposite to theirs; for, while they designed the destruction of Zion, he intends to overrule their assembling to their own confusion and perdition: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor, ripe for ruin; and then the daughter of Zion shall be strengthened to arise and thresh, pushing her enemies as with horns of iron, treading them under foot as with hoofs of brass, and beating them in pieces. And I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. The spoil, which was gotten by the Lord’s power, ought justly to be devoted to his honour and service. All our gains are from him, and should be employed for him.
This prophesy, some suppose, was literally accomplished in the victories of the Maccabees over Antiochus and the neighbouring nations. Whilst others conceive it to refer to the spiritual conquests of the Redeemer. And some imagine that it relates to the destruction of the anti-christian powers in the latter days, when the kingdom of Jesus shall be triumphantly set up, and all his foes be made his footstool.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
See, Reader, see! what holy triumphs await the Church in the end. It is not enough that Jesus will drive out all the enemies of his people before them; but he will bring all their enemies under them. Satan shall not only be bruised, but bruised under the feet of the poor timid followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The song hath been already sung in heaven, in the assurance of those events; and ere long, the same song shall be sung by all the redeemed upon earth. Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night; and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. Rev 12:10-11 .
REFLECTIONS
READER! do not dismiss this precious Chapter, until you have again and again pondered well the contents of it. Think at what distance this blessed prophecy was delivered. Behold the fulfillment of it in the coming of the Lord Jesus. See what positive assurances are given for its complete accomplishment. Then consider the days in which you live; upon whom the ends of the world are come; and then in fervent earnest prayer, get into the very retirings of the Lord, and give him no rest nor peace until he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Oh! that the cause of Jesus was more generally and warmly taken up, by those who call themselves his people! Oh! that men were less selfish, and instead of seeking their own, would seek the things of Jesus Christ. Reader! let you and I beg of God to give us grace to prefer Jerusalem’s interest above our chief joy. Lord! I would say, Do good in this good pleasure unto Zion! Hasten the blessed hour, when thou wilt establish thine house upon the tops of the mountains, and cause all nations to flow unto it. Lord! cause the law of the glorious gospel to go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem! Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mic 4:13 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 the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
Ver. 13. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion ] “Go in this thy might” (wherewith thou so lustily threshest out thy wheat by the winepress, said the angel to Gideon, Jdg 6:14 ), and thresh the Midianites another while, “thou shalt smite them as one man,” Jdg 6:16 ; thresh them as the sheaves of the floor, that lie ready for the flail, or, as the custom of those countries was, Deu 25:4 1Co 9:9 1Ti 5:18 , for oxen to tread out, or the wheel to turn over, Isa 28:28 .
For I will make thine horn iron, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thresh = tread as oxen.
horn . . . hoofs. Referring to the strength of the oxen, and to the completeness of the destruction. Reference to Pentateuch (Deu 25:4). App-92. Compare Isa 41:15. Jer 51:33.
I will. Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read “thou shalt”.
consecrate = devote; as in Jos 6:19, Jos 6:24. Compare Zec 14:14. Reference to Pentateuch (Lev 27:28).
THE LORD. Hebrew. ‘Adon. The Divine title, relating to dominion in the earth. See App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and thresh: Isa 41:15, Isa 41:16, Jer 51:33
hoofs: Deu 33:25, Isa 5:28
thou shalt: Mic 5:8-15, Dan 2:44, Zec 9:13-15, Rev 2:26, Rev 2:27
I will consecrate: Jos 6:19, 2Sa 8:10, 2Sa 8:11, Psa 68:29, Psa 72:10, Isa 18:7, Isa 23:18, Isa 60:6-9, Rom 15:25-28, 1Co 16:2, Rev 21:24-26
the Lord of: Zec 4:14, Zec 6:5
Reciprocal: Jos 3:11 – the Lord Jos 6:17 – accursed Jdg 5:22 – horsehoofs 1Ch 18:11 – dedicated Psa 9:14 – daughter Psa 83:18 – the most Psa 97:5 – the Lord of Isa 21:10 – my threshing Isa 25:10 – trodden down Jer 51:20 – art Dan 2:35 – like Hab 3:12 – thresh Zec 10:6 – I will strengthen Zec 12:6 – they Rev 5:6 – seven horns Rev 11:4 – the God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mic 4:13. Daughter of Zion la an endearing term frequently used to designate the people of God whose headquarters were in Zion, a special spot in Jerusalem. God accomplished much of his plan against the unfaithful Jews through the agency of the heathen nations. Now the order is reversed and He will use the Jews as instruments in bringing the heathen nations into the service of their restoration to the home land; such is the meaning of the figures used in this verse. Since the figure of sheaves was used for the heathen in the preceding vense, it was consistent for the prophet to use thresh in this. In figurative language horn means power, and God here promises to give his people the power to contend with the heathen through their influence and superior wisdom, not necessarily through military action. Sometimes the ox was used in treading out the grain that had been piled upon the floor (Deu 25:4; 1Co 9:9; 1Ti 5:18), so the promise-of brazen hoofs is appropriate in this connection. Consecrate their gain iinto the Lord was to be fulfilled literally and morally. The heathen nation was constrained to contribute material help for the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Ezr 1:2-4; Ezr 6:8-10), and also the same nation was brought lo respect the God of Israel.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mic 4:13. Arise and thrash, O daughter of Zion The daughter of Zion means the Jewish people, whose power and victory over their enemies are here foretold. The expressions made use of are figurative, alluding to the manner of separating the corn from the chaff in Judea, which was done chiefly by treading it with the feet of oxen. The purport of the passage is, that the Jews are here called upon to arise and tread down their enemies. For I will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs brass Thou shalt be enabled to do this with ease and safety. And thou shalt beat in pieces Or, shalt bruise, many people This might be spoken of the victories which the Jewish people, some time after their return, were to gain over the neighbouring nations, especially under the Maccabees and their successors. But the prophecy does not appear to have had a full accomplishment in these victories: nor has any event yet occurred in the history of the Jewish people which fully answers to it. This consideration has induced some commentators to expound the passage in a spiritual sense, namely, of bringing the Gentiles into subjection to Christ and his gospel, and of the victory which the Christian Church should obtain over her persecuting enemies after the conversion of the Roman emperor Constantine to the faith of Christ. Thus Dr. Pocock, Lowth, and many others understand it. The nations thought to have ruined Christianity in its infancy, but it proved victorious over them; those that persisted in their enmity were broken to pieces, Mat 21:44; particularly the Jewish nation: but multitudes, by divine grace, were gained to the church, and, as is signified in the next clause, they and their substance were consecrated to the Lord Jesus, the Lord of the whole earth. We have reason to believe, however, that this prophecy will have a still more eminent and evident accomplishment, when all the enemies of the church shall be subdued, and the saints reigning with Christ shall have complete power over the nations, and shall rule the refractory with a rod of iron, Rev 2:26-27 : compare this text with Mic 5:8-15 of this prophecy, and with Isa 14:2; Isa 41:15; Isa 60:12; Isa 61:5; on which places see the notes.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:13 Arise and thresh, {n} 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 the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
(n) God gives his Church this victory, as often as he overcomes their enemies: but the accomplishment of this will be at the last coming of Christ.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
In the future Israel would be the Lord’s instrument to thresh the nations. He would strengthen Israel to overcome them and to turn over their wealth to Him, namely, to bring them into subjection to the sovereign Lord. Israel has not yet done this, so the fulfillment lies in the future, when Messiah returns to reign (cf. Zec 14:12-15). Universal peace (in the Millennium, Mic 4:3-4) will follow this judgment of the nations.