Discovery BoxMicah 5:5-6 
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
5:6 They will rule 7 the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod 8 with a drawn sword. 9
Our king 10 will rescue us from the Assyrians
should they attempt to invade our land
and try to set foot in our territory.
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 Or perhaps “break”; or “defeat.”
8 sn According to Gen 10:8-12, Nimrod, who was famous as a warrior and hunter, founded Assyria.
9 tc The MT reads “in her gates,” but the text should be emended to בַּפְּתִיחָה (baptikhah, “with a drawn sword”).
10 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the coming king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
