Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 4:12

12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD , neither understand they his counsel : for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor .

The gathered confederate Nations, Zions Enemies.

Neither discern nor consider.

The design of the holy, just, gracious and faithful God who is God of his people, of Israel, who will humble but not extirpate, who will purifie by, but not consume in, the Furnace; Gods thoughts to Israel is to give him an expected end.

The same thing in somewhat different phrase, this elegancy ever is added to confirm the thing foretold.

By his secret, just, and effectual providence disposing all things to facilitate their gathering together, that they shall do, and yet God also shall do it, he as the first cause, they as the second, he moves according to his own pleasure, they move as they are second and dependent Agents, they shall as a fire purge out the drosse, or a wind blow away the chaff and lightest Corn, which is that God intendeth, but they consult onely to extinguish the people, to cut them off that they be no more a Nation.

A plain and very intelligible simile. The Husbandman gathers the sheaves into the floor to thresh them; so God gathers. i. e. in due time he will do this and bring his Enemies, and his Churches Enemies together that they may be bruised, broken and destroyed utterly. This seems to look to Sennacheribs gathering his power against Ierusalem, and the circumstances [illegible: 1 letter]ell enough suit this, yet is not this to be confined or restrained to Sennacherib, but perhaps to the slaughter made on the Enemies in one hundred twenty seven Provinces in Esthers time, looking to somewhat that is farther off, indeed running through all ages of the Church, and shall be finally accomplisht in the ruin of the Antichristian Kingdom, then shall that of Zech. 12.3. be fulfilled, when though all Nations gather themselves against Ierusalem, yet 'tis that they may be cut in pieces, when the Vine of the Earth shall be gathered into the Winepress of Gods wrath, Revel. 14.19, 20. and chap. 19.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.