Discovery BoxMicah 5:5 
ContextShould the Assyrians try to invade our land
and attempt to set foot in our fortresses, 2
we will send 3 against them seven 4 shepherd-rulers, 5
make that eight commanders. 6
Micah 7:3
Context7:3 They are determined to be experts at doing evil; 7
government officials and judges take bribes, 8
prominent men make demands,
and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them. 9
1 tn Heb “and this one will be peace”; ASV “and this man shall be our peace” (cf. Eph 2:14).
2 tc Some prefer to read “in our land,” emending the text to בְּאַדְמָתֵנוּ (bÿ’admatenu).
3 tn Heb “raise up.”
4 sn The numbers seven and eight here symbolize completeness and emphasize that Israel will have more than enough military leadership and strength to withstand the Assyrian advance.
5 tn Heb “shepherds.”
6 tn Heb “and eight leaders of men.”
7 tn Heb “upon evil [are their] hands to do [it] well.”
8 tn Heb “the official asks – and the judge – for a bribe.”
9 tn More literally, “the great one announces what his appetite desires and they weave it together.” Apparently this means that subordinates plot and maneuver to make sure the prominent man’s desires materialize.
