Micah 4:9

9 Now why art thou drawn together with mourning? whether a king is not to thee, either thy counsellor perished? for sorrow hath taken thee as a woman travailing of child. (Now why art thou altogether drawn with mourning? is there not a king for thee, or hath thy counsellor perished? hath sorrow taken thee like a woman with child in labour, or giving birth?)

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 And I shall put the halting into remnants, and her that travailed in[to] a strong folk. And the Lord shall reign (up)on them in the hill of Zion, from this time now and till into without end. (And I shall make the halt into a remnant, and those who laboured, or who struggled, into a strong nation. And the Lord shall reign over them on Mount Zion, from this time now until forever.)

8 And thou, dark tower of the flock of the daughter of Zion, unto thee he shall come, and the first power shall come, the realm of the daughter of Jerusalem. (And O dark tower of the flock of the daughter of Zion, it shall come unto thee, yea, the former power shall come unto the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.)

9 Now why art thou drawn together with mourning? whether a king is not to thee, either thy counsellor perished? for sorrow hath taken thee as a woman travailing of child. (Now why art thou altogether drawn with mourning? is there not a king for thee, or hath thy counsellor perished? hath sorrow taken thee like a woman with child in labour, or giving birth?)

10 Thou daughter of Zion, make sorrow, and haste, as a woman travailing of child; for now thou shalt go out of the city, and shalt dwell in the country, and shalt come unto Babylon; there thou shalt be delivered, there the Lord shall again-buy thee, from the hand of thine enemies. (O daughter of Zion, make sorrow, and make haste, like a woman with child in labour; for now thou shalt go out of the city, and shalt live in the open country, and shalt come to Babylon; there thou shalt be saved, there the Lord shall rescue thee, from the hands of thy enemies.)

11 And now many folks be gathered on thee, which say, Be it stoned, and our eye behold into Zion. (And now many nations be gathered against thee, who say, Let it be stoned, and brought down unto ruins, and then we shall look upon Zion.)