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The Prophets · Old Testament

Micah 4

Micah 4: the mountain of the house exalted, and Zion in travail

General context

In the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established above the hills and people will flow to it. Many nations will say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and the law will go out from Zion. He will judge among many people; swords become plowshares, spears pruninghooks, and nations no longer learn war. Every man sits under his vine and fig tree with none to make him afraid. All peoples walk in the name of their gods, and "we" in the name of the Lord for ever. In that day the Lord will gather her that halts and her that is driven out, and make the lame a remnant and the far-off a strong nation, reigning in mount Zion for ever. The tower of the flock is told the first dominion will come to the daughter of Jerusalem. Then questions: why does she cry out, is there no king in her? She must labour like a woman in travail, go out of the city, dwell in the field and go even to Babylon; there the Lord will redeem her. Many nations gather against Zion to see her defiled, but they do not know the Lord's thoughts, for he gathers them as sheaves to the floor. The daughter of Zion is told to arise and thresh with an iron horn and brass hoofs, and their gain will be consecrated to the Lord of the whole earth.

Cited passages: Micah 4:1, Micah 4:2, Micah 4:3, Micah 4:4, Micah 4:5, Micah 4:6, Micah 4:7, Micah 4:8, Micah 4:9, Micah 4:10, Micah 4:11, Micah 4:12, Micah 4:13

Micah 4 (KJV)

1But in the last days 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; and people shall flow unto it.

2And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and 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 of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

4But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.

5For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

6In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

7And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

8And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

10Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

11Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.

12But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

13Arise 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.

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Historical context

Verses 1 to 3 closely match Isaiah 2:2 to 4, which reads "the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains" and "they shall beat their swords into plowshares." Neither book says which text quotes the other, and Micah 4:4 adds a line Isaiah lacks, sealed with "for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it." Babylon is named in verse 10 as the place Zion will go and be redeemed; the chapter does not say when or by whom she is carried there, and Micah's heading names kings of Judah without mentioning Babylon. The "tower of the flock" and "strong hold of the daughter of Zion" are addressed without explanation. Verse 9's questions, "is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished?" are rhetorical and name no king. "Many nations" in verse 11 are unnamed. The speaker of "we will walk in the name of the Lord our God" in verse 5 includes himself with his people, distinct from the Lord's first-person speech in verses 6 and 7 marked "saith the Lord." The horn of iron and hoofs of brass are images given to Zion, not a description of any army.

Cited passages: Micah 4:1, Isaiah 2:2, Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:4, Micah 4:10, Micah 1:1, Micah 4:8, Micah 4:9, Micah 4:11, Micah 4:5, Micah 4:6, Micah 4:13

Literary context

The chapter answers 3:12 word for word: the mountain of the house that was to be like forest high places is now established above the hills. The first section moves outward, from the mountain to nations flowing in, then to law going out, then to peace in every man's vineyard. Verse 5 marks a boundary between all peoples and "we." The second section gathers the lame and driven out, the opposite of the flock the rulers devoured in chapter 3. Then the tone breaks with "Now" in verses 9 and 11: a woman in travail, expulsion from the city, Babylon named, then nations gathered to gloat. The birth image is doubled, first as pain and then as deliverance in the same place. The final reversal turns the gathered nations into sheaves and Zion from a woman in labour into an ox that threshes. Chapter 5 continues with siege and a ruler from Beth-lehem.

Cited passages: Micah 3:12, Micah 4:1, Micah 4:2, Micah 4:4, Micah 4:5, Micah 4:6, Micah 3:3, Micah 4:9, Micah 4:10, Micah 4:11, Micah 4:12, Micah 4:13, Micah 5:1

Key moments

  1. The mountain established (Micah 4:1). In the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord is exalted and people flow to it.
  2. Swords into plowshares (Micah 4:3). Nations beat swords into plowshares and learn war no more.
  3. Vine and fig tree (Micah 4:4). Every man sits under his vine and fig tree, and none makes him afraid.
  4. The lame made a remnant (Micah 4:7). The Lord makes her that halted a remnant and reigns in mount Zion.
  5. Pangs as a woman in travail (Micah 4:9). Zion cries out as if there were no king in her.
  6. Even to Babylon (Micah 4:10). The daughter of Zion will go to Babylon and there be redeemed.
  7. Arise and thresh (Micah 4:13). Zion is given an iron horn to beat many people in pieces.

For reflection

The same chapter promises swords beaten into plowshares and tells Zion to thresh many people with an iron horn. How do these two pictures of the nations sit alongside each other, and what does the text do with the tension?

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