And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
And thou, Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda - the "in" being familiarly left out, as we say, 'London, Middlesex' --
Art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor ... This quotation, though differing verbally, agrees substantially with the Hebrew and Septuagint For says the prophet, "Though thou be little, yet out of thee shall come the Ruler" - this honour more than compensating for its natural insignificance; while our Evangelist, by a lively turn, makes him say, "Thou art not the least: for out of thee shall come a Governor" - this distinction lifting it from the lowest to the highest rank. The "thousands of Juda," in the prophet, mean the subordinate divisions of the tribe: our Evangelist, instead of these, merely names the "princes" or heads of these families, including the districts which they occupied.
That shall rule, х poimanei (G4165)] - or 'feed,' as in the margin - my people Israel. In the Old Testament, That shall rule, х poimanei (G4165)] - or 'feed,' as in the margin - my people Israel. In the Old Testament, kings are, by a beautiful figure, called "shepherds" (Ezekiel 34:1-31, etc.) The classical writers use the same figure. The pastoral rule of Yahweh and Messiah over His people is a representation pervading all Scripture, and rich in import. (See Psalms 23:1-6; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 37:24; John 10:11; Revelation 7:17). That this prophecy of Micah referred to the Messiah, was admitted by the ancient Rabbis.
The Wise Men, despatched to Bethlehem by Herod to see the Babe, and bring him word, make a Religious Offering to the Infant King, but, divinely warned, return home by another way (Matthew 2:7-12).