HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

MICHEAS 4

CHAPTER IV.

Ver. 1. Last days. This sometimes means after this. Is. ix. 1. But here it denotes the time which shall elapse from Christ till the day of eternity. The Jews allow that this prediction regards the Messias, though they will not explain it of Jesus Christ. Their exceptions are well refuted by Ribera. W. --- It is plain that it can be verified nowhere else, but in the Church of Christ; though some expressions may, as usual, refer to the return of the captives. Isaias, (ii. 2.) &c. had already used the like terms under Ozias. Juda is here comforted, after its ruin had been denounced.

Ver. 2. Jerusalem. No other nation ever embraced the Jewish law. But all received the gospel, (C.) which was first preached at, Jerusalem, by people of that country. H. --- "We are of yesterday, and we fill all your places." Tert.

Ver. 3. Judge, or "rule" (Judg. viii. 22.) as Christ does over all. C. --- Plough-shares. Heb. "scythes," (H.) or "coulters." W. Mart. xiv. 34. C. --- Learn, &c. The law of Christ is a law of peace; and all his true subjects, as much as lies in them, love and keep peace with all the world. Ch. --- They will sustain injuries meekly. 1 Cor. vi. W. --- When Christ appeared, the Roman empire enjoyed peace. C. --- Aspera tum positis mitescent sÃ¦cula bellis, &c. Ã†n. i.

Ver. 4. Fig-tree. Such a happiness would not suit the ambitious. Zac. iii. 10.

Ver. 5. And ever. After the captivity the Gentiles continued to worship idols, and the Jews had a greater aversion for them; but when the gospel was propagated, idols fell into contempt, and the Jewish law was at an end, while heretics were varying continually. The Church alone is stable, and built upon the rock. C. --- All such quiet people as walk in the name of the Lord, will keep peace even with those who hate it, (Ps. cxix.) suffering persecution with joy. Heb. x. 34. S. IrÃ¦n. iv. 67. S. Cyr. &c. W.

Ver. 6. Halteth, as the synagogue did, (3 K. xviii. 21.) bringing nothing to perfection, (Heb. vii. 19.) while the Gentiles were abandoned to idolatry. From both Christ chose his Church. Acts xxi. 20. &c. C. --- The Jews will be at last converted. W.

Ver. 7. Remnant, or numerous progeny. --- Afflicted. Heb. and Sept. "repudiated," (C.) or "cast off." H.

Ver. 8. Cloudy. Hebrew." fortress, or ophel," a tower or wall near the temple. 2 Esd. iii. 27. --- Flock. Jerusalem was no better, after the Chaldeans had destroyed it. 4 K. xvii. 9. Yet there Zorobabel, the Machabees, and Christ displayed their power. It was the cradle of the Church. Some take this to refer to Bethlehem, as C. v. 2. C. --- Shall it come. Sept. add, "from Babylon." After the captivity the Jews shall flourish, as the Church shall prove victorious over all her persecutors. H.

Ver. 9. No king, after Sedecias was taken. C. --- The two tribes shall be led into captivity and released. v. 12. W.

Ver. 11. Sion. Let us enter the sanctuary and plunder it. Cambyses was instigated to fall upon the Jews lately returned. Ezec. xxxviii. 11. His rapacious designs were frustrated, as those of persecutors will be. C.

Ver. 12. Hay. Prot. "sheaves." H. --- People were thus often trodden to death by oxen. Athen. xii. 5.

Ver. 13. Brass. Fear nothing. The Jews did not attack the army of Cambyses, (Ezec. xxxviii. 21. and xxxix. 10. C.) at least at first. H. --- But what God did for them is attributed to them. C. --- Immolate. Sept. "devote to the Lord their multitude, and," &c. Prot. "gain," (H.) or what spoils they have taken. C.