Micah 5:7 - Exposition

First, Israel in God's hands shall be an instrument of life and health to the nations. The remnant of Jacob. The faithful, Messianic Israel, as Micah 4:7 ; Isaiah 10:21 . Many people; rather; many peoples ( Micah 4:11 , Micah 4:13 ); so in Isaiah 10:8 . The LXX . inserts ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν , "among the nations," as in Isaiah 10:8 . As a dew from the Lord. Converted Israel shall act as Messiah himself in refreshing and stimulating the nations. Receiving grace from him, she shall diffuse it to others. (For the metaphor of dew thus used, comp. Deuteronomy 32:2 ; Hosea 14:6 .) It is especially appropriate in a country where from May to October the life of herbage depends chiefly on the copious dews (comp. Genesis 27:28 ; Deuteronomy 33:13 , Deuteronomy 33:28 ; Haggai 1:10 ). As the showers upon the grass. The dew is called "showers" as appearing to descend in a multitude of drops. That tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. This refers to the dew, which is wholly the gift of God, and is not artificially supplied by man's labour, as Egypt is "watered by the foot" ( Deuteronomy 11:10 ). So grace is God's free, unmerited gift, and will come upon the nation! in his good time and way. The LXX . has here a curious rendering, καὶ ὡς ἄρνες ἐπὶ ἄγρωστιν ὅπως μὴ συναχθῇ μηδεὶς μηδὲ ὑποστῇ ἐν υἱοῖς ἀνθρώπων , which Jerome explains of the obdurate Gentiles who continue in unbelief, "as lambs upon the grass, that none may assemble nor withstand among the sons of men."