From: Micah 5:2-5a (Alternate Reading)
The Messiah, the saviour who will be born in Bethlehem
Assyria repulsed
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Commentary:
5:2-4. The scenario, darkened for a moment in the previous three verses (4:9-
5:1), becomes bright again with the announcement of a “ruler” or governor in
Israel, who will be born (“come forth from”0 Bethlehem, the city of David, a city in
the region of “Ephrath” (Gen 35:16). The region is often distinguished from its
leading city (cf. 1 Sam 17:12), but in some passages the region and the city are
treated as one and the same (Gen 35:19).
There are many contrasts here, a typical feature of salvation oracles: the future
king will have humble origins, for he will be born in a small town (“you … who are
little” in v. 2 could also be translated as “you … who are least”); still, Bethlehem is
not without honour, for it was the birthplace of David and is therefore the place
that guaranteed one’s belonging to the line of David; this ruler comes from an
ancient line, but to perceive his presence one must wait until “she who is in travail
has brought forth” (v. 3); all he will do is tend his flock, yet the benefits of his rule
will extend to the ends of the earth (v. 4). No contemporary king could match this
description; the prophet is referring to the future Messiah-king. There are many
elements in this passage that link it to the messianic passages in Isaiah (Is 7:14;
9:5-6; 11:1-4) and to passages about the future offspring of David (2 Sam 7:12-
16; Ps 89:3).
Jewish tradition read this passage as a messianic prophecy, as can be seen from
passages in the Talmud (Pesahim, 51, 1 and Nedarim, 39, 2). The New Testa-
ment contains clear references to it: for example, the verses in the Gospel of St
John that report the opinion of Jesus’ contemporaries as to where the Messiah
would come from: “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture
said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the
village where David was? (Jn 7:40-42); but Matthew 2:4-6 is the main text that
applies the prophecy to Jesus: the evangelist subtly ennobles the city of David
(he says: “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are by no means least
among the rulers of Judah”, instead of Micah’s “who are little” or “least” – in order
to enhance the figure of Jesus, the Messiah).
Going along with this interpretation in St Matthew, Christian tradition has seen the
Micah passage as an announcement of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The Fathers
developed many arguments to try to convince Jews that Jesus was the expected
Messiah. For example, Tertullian wrote: “Since the children of Israel accuse us
of grave error because we believe in Christ, who has come, let us show them
from the Scriptures that the Christ who was foretold has come […]. He was born
in Bethlehem in Judah, as the prophet foretold: But you, O Bethlehem, are by no
means least . . . (v. 2)” (Adversus Iudaeos, 13). And St Irenaeus said: “In his
day, the prophet Micah told us of the place where the Christ would be born:
Bethlehem, in Judah. O Bethlehem . . . , who are little to be among the clans of
Judah, from you shall come forth from me one who is to be ruler of Israel. Beth-
lehem is also in the homeland of David, and Christ comes from the line of David,
not only because he was born of the Virgin, but because he was born in Bethle-
hem” (Demonstratio praedicationis apostolicae, 63).
5:5-6. “This [the Messiah who will be born in Bethlehem] shall be peace” (v. 5).
In the same way as “Egypt” was synonymous with “bondage”, now Assyria has
come to symbolize the oppressive nation. This oracle, then, comes prior to the
appearance of Babylon on the horizon of the chosen people. A Christian reading
of the passage sees in it a description of any crisis experienced by the people of
God or by a sincere believer, who looks to his Lord for peace. Ephesians 2:13-14
echoes 5:4: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been
brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both
one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.”
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Happy Birthday to the Blessed Virgin Mary.