Micah 5

5 ¹ Marshal your forces, daughter of troops! A siege has been laid against us. With a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. ^a a v1 'Daughter of troops' is a Hebrew poetic address for a warrior people — here, likely Jerusalem or Judah. ² But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you will come forth for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from ancient times, from the days of eternity. ^b b v2 The chief priests named this verse to Herod as the Messiah's birthplace; it points to Jesus, born in Bethlehem, the Ruler whose origin reaches back into eternity. ³ Therefore he will give them up until the time when the woman in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers will return to the people of Israel. ⁴ And he will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of our Father, in the majesty of the name of his Father. And they will live in safety, for now he will be great to the ends of the earth. ⁵ And he himself will be our peace. When Assyria comes into our land and treads on our fortresses, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men. ⁶ They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances. And he will deliver us from Assyria when it comes into our land and treads within our borders.

The Remnant Restored and Purified

⁷ Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from our Father, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or delay for any person. ⁸ 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, when it passes through, tramples and tears, and no one can rescue. ⁹ Your hand will be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off.

¹⁰ And in that day, declares our Father, I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy your chariots. ¹¹ I will cut off the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. ¹² I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you will have no more fortune-tellers. ¹³ I will cut off your carved images and your sacred pillars from among you, and you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. ¹⁴ I will uproot your Asherah poles from among you and demolish your cities. ^c c v14 Asherah poles were wooden objects set up to worship a Canaanite goddess; our Father removes them so his people worship him alone. ¹⁵ And in anger and fury I will bring judgment on the nations that did not obey.