The Book of Micah with Brit-Am/Hebrew Awareness Commentary
Continued from Micah ch.3.
Part One. Micah Verses 4:1 to 4:7.
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Overview from the Malbim (Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser, 1809 - 1879).
Commentary (Translated and Paraphrased by Yair Davidiy) of the Malbim on Micah 4:1-7, Extracts.
3. More Commentary on the Verses.
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1. Introduction
In Principle this Commentary of Brit-Am/Hebrew Awareness is intended to give a very brief overview of the Biblical Passages along with a more detailed explained where the Ten Tribes are concerned.
Here and there we depart from this policy in order to stress certain matters and also to give the reader a taste of what the entire text invovles. Many prophecies about the Lost Ten Tribes involve what will happen in the End Times. These predictions by extrapolation help us confirm our Proofs of identification concerning the Lost Ten Tribes. To fully understand the Prophecies in question it helps to have an overall views of Bible Predictions concerning the End Times in general.
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2. Overview from the Malbim (Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser, 1809 - 1879).
Commentary (Translated and Paraphrased by Yair Davidiy) of the Malbim on Micah 4:1-7, Extracts:
Micah (ESV) 4:
1 It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the House of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it.
Micah 4: 1 It shall come to pass in the latter days. Because of you Zion has remained in its destruction like a ploughed field. This will continue till the End Times. Then it will return and be rebuilt. This will be due to us going in the name of the LORD our God and casting aside our wicked deeds. As its says, "For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever" (Micah 4:5). This same Prophecy with slight differences had already been made by Isaiah (ch. 2) . No two Prophecies are ever exactly the same. The Mountain upon which the Holy Temple will stand will be higher than others, and uplifted over the hills beneath it. Nevertheless, peoples will flow unto it like the stream of a river flowing downwards.
2 and many nations shall come, and say:
'Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the LORD,
to the House of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.'
For out of Zion shall go forth the Law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Many peoples (Micah 4:2) will come and say one to another, 'Let us go with them and ascend with them unto the Mountain of the LORD. From that mountain we will proceed to the Holy Temple. They will teach us there the General Principles of God. Consequently we will ourselves apply these to our own ways and customs.' This means them to be saying, 'Through learning the Principles of True Religions and its Foundations we will endeavor to understand its practical application pertinent to us.' Zion in ancient times was where the Sanhedrin sat. The Word of God, in the form of Divine Prophecy, shall go forth from Jerusalem. Prophets will be present in every city.
3 He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
He shall judge between many peoples (Micah 4:3). The judge who will be there will be the Messiah. He will adjudicate between many nations. Because of this the causes of warfare will be removed. There will no longer be reasons for one people to fight again another, or one kingdom to strive with another one. It happens, in our time, that one nations fights another due to differences in religion and ideology. At that time General Torah Principles of Universal Application shall issue forth from Zion. It might happen that despite this there arise differences between two nations and hostilities break out in an attempt to resolve the matter. The Messiah will then judge between many peoples. It might also occur that within a specific nation there be revolts of the local populace. In such a case the Messiah will reprove the Gentiles and correct them and bring them back on the right path. They shall therefore beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree (Micah 4:4). There will no longer be lack of food and the like that otherwise cause conflict. There will be no need for weapons, "for no one shall make them afraid."
5 For all the peoples walk
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
forever and ever.
Judah will be greatly honored (Micah 4:5). During all the long period of Exile when each of the peoples walked each in the name of its god, Judah still walked in the name of the LORD God. We did not forget the name of our God, even though we were killed all day long (Psalm 44:22). By virtue of this in the End Times "out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem (Micah 4:2). "Forever and ever" (Micah 4:5). [in Hebrew the word used here is "Le-olam." The Malbim explains that this does not necessary mean for eternity. It may also simply connote "for a very long time."]
Micah 4:6 In that day, declares the LORD,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away
and those whom I have afflicted;
[The Malbim in explaining Micah 4:6 refers to his commentary on:
Isaiah (ESV) 11: 12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.
[The Malbim comments] I have already clarified concerning, "will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah" that "Isreal" here refers to the Ten Tribes who were not dispersed in a great scattering among the nations but rather expelled from their place and cast into a far-away land. Their location is lost. They require a re-assembling from being outsiders to come back inside. This is what it means by "assemble the lame" (Micah 4:6). On the other hand the Tribe of Judah were scattered to the four corners of the earth. They need to be ingathered as it says "I will gather those who have been driven away" (Micah 4:6).
The Tribe of Judah suffers from many afflictions and troubles in their lands of their Dispersion. The Ten Tribes are not in such a situation. The expression "those whom I have afflicted" (Micah 4:6) refers to Judah such as what happened to them in the time of the "Yavanim" [i.e. The Greek-Macedonian Kingdom of the Seleucids who persecuted the Jews in the time of the Macabees], and after that by the Romans, and throughout their time of Exile.
Micah (ESV) 4:
7 and the lame I will make the remnant,
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion
from this time forth and forevermore.
The lame I will make the remnant (Micah 4:7) refers to the Ten Tribes. They are described as "lame" [in Hebrew "tsolayah" also connoting "limping"] since they were lost to the Generality of Israel. It was as if they did not exist at all; or that they lost their faith and became like all the Gentiles. I will make them [to appear] as a REMNANT and they shall be revealed.
The Tribe of Judah are "those who were cast off" (Micah 4:7). [In Hebrew the word translated as "cast off" in "Nehalaah" connoting "go further on." They were pushed out from nation to nation, and from place to place, and made to keep moving further on and on. Judah was very weak. Judah suffered from massacres and confusions. I will make them "a strong nation" (Micah 4:7). The LORD will reign over them. They will be in the Kingdom of God "in Mount Zion." Divine Guidance shall be over them. From this time forth and forevermore. From the Time of Redemption until the End of Time they shall not more be exiled.
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3. More Commentary on the Verses.
Micah (ESV) 4:
1 It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the House of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
This present segment of Micah is almost identical to that found in Isaiah ch.2.
In the previous verses (ch. 3) destruction and ruin were spoken of.
After the disaster will come renewal.
2 and many nations shall come, and say:
'Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the LORD,
to the House of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.'
For out of Zion shall go forth the Law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Many peoples will come to Jerusalem for instruction. This could refer to descendants of the Ten Tribes but all the commentaries relate it to non-Israelite entities.
3 He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore;
International disputes will be brought to Jerusalem. Divinely inspired Judges (or judges) will adjudicate.
All the energies and resources that previously went into preparations for warfare will be re-directed for peaceful purposes.
4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
Every person will have their own secure property and possessions.
5 For all the peoples walk
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
forever and ever.
This is somewhat of a break in the previous continuum. It could be understood that Judah will always have remained basically faithful to believe in the God of Israel.
6 In that day, declares the LORD,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away
and those whom I have afflicted;
7 and the lame I will make the remnant,
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion
from this time forth and forevermore.
The LORD will reign over them. The Commentary "Daat Mikra" understands this to mean that they (Judah and Israel)
will no longer sin against the Almighty.
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See Also:
House of Israel. Terminology. When did this term apply ONLY to the Ten Tribes and When Not?
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/hoi.html
Continued at: Micah ch. 4 part 2.