Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 4:13

13 Arise and thresh , O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn Iron , and I will make thy hoofs brass , and thou shalt beat in pieces many people : and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD , and their substance to the LORD of the whole earth .

This imperative may be read in the future tense, and so be an express promise, it is however an implicite promise made to the Daughter of Zion, the Jewish Church, Type of the Gospel Catholick Church, that she shall be raised out of a captive, low and oppressed state, and this shall be by the reviving power of her God.

So in a decorum to the Metaphor ver. 12. used to express the gathering of the Enemy into the floor to be broken▪ the future strength of the Church employed successfully, (more by the arm of her Redeemer then her own) in the subduing and breaking her Enemies is here foretold and promised, as 'tis also Isa. 41.15. Christ will thus punish his Enemies, so Babylon Typical as threatned Ier. 51.33. was beat to pieces, and so shall Antitypical Babylon in due time be broken as straw that is thresht into smallest pieces like chaff.

Some taking this for the horny part of the hoof of the Oxe which did tread out the Corn, make it to be in sense the same with the hoofs made brass, but they that take it as our Version doth for the horn properly taken, with which the horned beasts do push and thrust down, break or wound, do express the power and strength of the Church firm as Iron to beat down her Enemies.

By this figurative speech is the strength of Zion expressed, by which she treads under foot, and breaks the power of Enemies into pieces that it shall never be repaired, as straw that is thresht in the floor and broken like chaffe.

In the times after the rebuilding of Ierusalem the Jews grew to such strength that in their Wars they did especially in the Maccabees times break their Enemies in pieces. But here is a mystical and spiritual sense of these words, as they refer to the Messiah's Kingdom in which he will break hard hearts by the power of his word, and convert sinners to himself. And by the power of his Almighty arm will defend and support his own subjects, whilst he doth by invincible strength throw down and trample into dust his and their Enemies, and this power he hath sometimes evidently exercised already in the various deliverances he hath wrought for his people which stand recorded in the Church Histories, of this strength you may truly say what is reported of the inscription in the cross appearing to Constantine. In this thou shalt conquer.

Such as were Enemies in disposition and carriage towards the Jews though Neighbours in their [illegible: 1 letter]cituation, these were both many and mighty Enemies, such Christs Church hath to contest with, and such Christ will conquer for his Church, for he 'tis who goeth forth conquering and to conquer, Revel. 6.2. And all his Enemies shall be made his footstool, Psal. 110.1.

Some refer this to the Church, and so it may well enough be applyed. The Redeemed of the Lord should by their own act and deed become the Lords. Others refer it to the Lord, he will consecrate, its best, but both together the Lord will, and therefore the Church will, God requires it, they consent to it.

The spoils of their conquered Enemies, what they get out of their hand. So the Tabernacle was enricht with the spoils of Egypt, and the Temple built with that which David did dedicate of the spoiles of Enemies; and Persian bounty built the second Temple.

To the true God, for his honour and in his service.

Their power, glory and wealth, all they have and are.

Zech. 4.14. [illegible: 1 letter]nd 6.5.

With humility and low thoughts of all we do as done to him that doth not need it, being Lord of all.