Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
Feed thy people - prayer of the prophet in the name of his people to God, which, as God fulfils believing prayer, is prophetic of what God would do. When God is about to deliver His people He stirs up their friends to pray for them.
Feed - including the idea of both pastoral rule and care over His people (margin, Micah 5:4), regarded as a flock (Psalms 80:1; Psalms 100:3).
The flock of thine heritage. Our calamity must be fatal to the nation, unless thou, of thy unmerited grace, remembering thy covenant with "thine heritage" (Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 32:9), shalt restore us.
With thy rod - the shepherd's rod, wherewith he directs the flock (Psalms 23:4). No longer the "rod" of punishment (Micah 6:9).
The flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel - let thy people, who have been dwelling as it were in a solitude of woods (in the world, but not of it), scattered among various nations, dwell in Carmel - i:e., where there are fruit-bearing lands and vineyards (Calvin). Rather, 'which are about to dwell
(i:e., that they may dwell) separate in the wood, in ... Carmel' (Maurer); which are to be no longer mingled with the pagan, but are to dwell as a distinct people in their own land. Micah has here Balaam's prophecy in view (cf. Micah 6:5, where also Balaam is referred to). "Lo, the people shall dwell alone" (Numbers 23:9: cf. Deuteronomy 33:28. "Israel shall then dwell in safety alone"). To "feed in the wood in Carmel" is to feed in the rich pastures among its woods. To "sleep in the woods" is the image of most perfect security, which hereafter shall be the portion of restored Israel: "I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods" (Ezekiel 34:25). So that the Jews' security as well as their distinct nationality is here foretold. Also Jeremiah 49:31.
Bashan - famed for its cattle (Psalms 22:12, "strong bulls of Bashan;" Amos 4:1). Parallel to this passage is Jeremiah 50:19. Bashan and Gilead, east of Jordan, were chosen by Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, as abounding in pastures suited for their many cattle (Numbers 32:1-42; Deuteronomy 3:12-17).