Micah 4:9

9 Why are you now crying out? Don't you have a king? Has your counselor been destroyed, that you are seized with pain like a woman in labor?

Micah 4:9 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 4:9

Now why dost thou cry out aloud?
&c.] Or "cry a cry" ^F23; a vehement one, or set up a most lamentable cry, as if no help or hope were to be had, but as in the most desperate condition: here the prophet represents the Jews as if they were already in captivity, and in the utmost distress, and as they certainly would be; and yet had no reason to despair of deliverance and salvation, since the Messiah would certainly come to them, and his kingdom would be set up among them, The word used has sometimes the notion of friendship and association; hence the Targum renders it,

``now why art thou joined to the people?''

and so Jarchi,

``thou hast no need to seek friends and lovers, the kings of Egypt and Assyria, for help.''

And which sense of the word as approved by Gussetius ^F24. [Is there] no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished?
he it so that they were; as was the case when Zedekiah was taken and carried captive, and his princes, nobles, and counsellors killed; yet God, their King and Counsellor, was with them, to keep and preserve them, counsel, instruct, and comfort them, and at last to deliver and save them; and the King Messiah would be raised up, and sent unto them in due time, who is the Wonderful Counsellor Isaiah had prophesied of: for pangs have taken thee as a worn an in travail;
which is often expressive of great sufferings and sorrows; and yet, as the pangs of a woman in travail do not continue always, but have an end, so would theirs, and therefore there was no reason for despair; and as, when she brings forth her issue, her sorrow is turned into joy, this would be their case.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (er yeyrt hml) "quid vociferabis vociferationem", Pagninus, Montanus. So Vatablus, Drusius.
F24 Ebr. Comment. p. 789.

Micah 4:9 In-Context

7 I will make the lame a remnant and those who were driven off a strong nation." ADONAI will rule them on Mount Tziyon from that time forth and forever.

8 You, tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Tziyon, to you your former sovereignty will return, the royal power of the daughter of Yerushalayim.

9 Why are you now crying out? Don't you have a king? Has your counselor been destroyed, that you are seized with pain like a woman in labor?

10 Be in pain! Work to give birth like a woman in labor, daughter of Tziyon! For now you will go out of the city and live in the wilds till you reach Bavel. There you will be rescued; there ADONAI will redeem you from the power of your enemies.

11 Now many nations have gathered against you; they say, "Let her be defiled, let's gloat over Tziyon."