Micah 5:1

This verse is the last one in chapter 4 in the Hebrew Bible. It continues the theme of Zion’s might.

Micah called the Israelites to prepare for war and reminded them that they had often engaged in war by referring to them as a "daughter of troops." This expression means that Jerusalem was a city marked by warfare. Jerusalem’s rich had been at war with the poor (Micah 2:8; Micah 3:2-3; Micah 3:9-10; Micah 7:2-6), but now their external enemies would wage war against them. These enemies had laid siege against them (2 Kings 24:10; 2 Kings 25:1-2; Jeremiah 52:5; Ezekiel 4:3; Ezekiel 4:7; Ezekiel 5:2) and would even smite Israel’s judge on the cheek (Micah 4:2-3), a figure for humiliating him (cf. 1 Kings 22:24; Job 16:10; Lamentations 3:30).

The judge in view appears to be King Zedekiah for the following reasons (cf. 2 Kings 25:1-7). First, according to this verse the time of this smiting is when Israel was under siege. Second, Micah 5:2-6 jump to a time in the distant future whereas Micah 5:1 describes a time in the near future (cf. "But," Micah 5:2). Third, "judge" (Heb. shopet) is different from "ruler" (Heb. moshel) in Micah 5:2 and probably describes a different individual. Micah may have chosen shopet because of its similarity to shebet, "rod." As noted earlier, Micah is famous for his wordplays. Waltke, however, believed the judge to be Messiah. [Note: Ibid., p. 181.]