Discovery BoxMicah 5:5-8 
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.
5:7 Those survivors from 11 Jacob will live 12
in the midst of many nations. 13
They will be like the dew the Lord sends,
like the rain on the grass,
that does not hope for men to come
or wait around for humans to arrive. 14
5:8 Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,
which attacks when it passes through;
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.
11 tn Heb “the remnant of” (also in v. 8).
12 tn Heb “will be.”
13 tn This could mean “(scattered) among the nations” (cf. CEV, NLT) or “surrounded by many nations” (cf. NRSV).
14 tn Heb “that does not hope for man, and does not wait for the sons of men.”
sn Men wait eagerly for the dew and the rain, not vice versa. Just as the dew and rain are subject to the
15 tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
16 tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”
