the advantage which accrues to the daughter of Zion from the spirit of
peace, which, through the powerful influence of Zion's God, has become
prevalent in the heathen world. It is from failing to perceive the
connection of the two verses, that the remark of _Hitzig_ has arisen:
"It is very probable that Micah, if he had been the (original) author,
would rather have mentioned the change and restoration of Jerusalem,
than the change of the arms."--The subject is the Lord. That it was
through _Christ_, who as early as in the Song of Solomon appears as the
true Solomon, that the Lord would carry out what is here announced, the
prophet could, according to his plan, detail only afterwards. In chap.
iv. 1-7, he describes how Zion is glorified by what the Lord does from
thence; in ver. 8, by the restoration of the dominion of the Davidic
race; and in v. 1 ff., by the appearance of the Messiah. It is
especially from v. 3 (4), according to which the Messiah stands and
feeds in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the
Lord His God,--and from v. 4 (5), according [Pg 449] to which He is
the Peace, that we infer with certainty that the judging also shall
be done by His mediation. In Isaiah we meet the person of the Messiah
in the prophecy of chap. iv., which, along with that in chap. ii.,
belongs to one discourse, and supplements it. The judging and rebuking
([Hebrew: hvkiH] with [Hebrew: l], "to rebuke," "to reprove") refer to
the strifes among the nations which hitherto could not be allayed,
because there was wanting the counterpoise to selfishness which was
productive of wrong. But such a counterpoise is now given in the word
of God, which, carried home by His Spirit, penetrates deeply into the
heart.--"_Strong_ nations," who were hitherto most ready to seize the
sword. The words, "And they beat," etc., refer to Joel iv. (iii.)
10, where the heathen beat their ploughshares into swords, their
pruning-knives into spears; and they do so to the prejudice of the
people of God, which the prophet, although apparently he speaks in
general terms, has specially in view. By this allusion Micah indicates
that, with reference to the disposition of the heathen world, Joel has
spoken a word, true, indeed, but giving only a partial view. The words
of _Justinus_ in the _Dialogus cum Tryphone_--"For, having learned the
fear and worship of God from the Law and Gospel which came to us
through the Apostles from Jerusalem, we have fl