Micah 5:9

Shall be cut off. Complete victory was assured (see Isaiah 60:12). This might have been Israel’s privilege following the Exile. However, the people failed, and God is now accomplishing His program of world evangelism through the Christian church (see pp. 35, 36).

Micah 5:10-11

Cut off. Verses 10 and 11 describe the cutting off of those devices of war in which Israel had trusted, when it should have trusted in the Lord.

The cities. The fortified cities and strongholds, being sources of human reliance, would be removed.

Micah 5:12-15

Witchcrafts. Or, “sorceries.” Sorcery, or necromancy—consulting the dead—was common in ancient times (see on Daniel 1:20; 2:2). The Israelites were forbidden to practice sorcery and soothsaying (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).

Graven images. Hebrew pesilim, from pasal, “to cut,” “to hew.” The Ugaritic psl means “stonecutter.” Ancient images (also designated pesel) were cut from stone, formed of clay, carved out of wood, or poured with molten metal. Since earliest times Israel had shown a tendency toward idolatry. The second commandment of the Decalogue forbade the manufacture and worship of a pesel (Exodus 20:4).

Standing images. Hebrew masseboth, “pillars” (see on Deuteronomy 16:22; 1 Kings 14:23). There is also today a deceptive trust in the material and secular, the work of men’s hands, instead of a trust and faith in the God who has given men “richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). In their idolatrous devotion to the things that are made, men have forgotten the One who is the Creator of all things (see Deuteronomy 8:17-20).

Groves. Hebrew ’asherim (see on Deuteronomy 16:21; 2 Kings 17:10).

Such as. The clause thus introduced may also be translated “who have not heard,” or “who have not hearkened.” “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18).