Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 4:6

6 In that day, saith the LORD , will I assemble her that halteth , and I will gather her that is driven out , and her that I have afflicted .

Called verse 1. last, or latter dayes, let. b. Vid. in the day wherein I shall restore my captived people, and in the day I shall redeem mine Elect.

First, and in part by the Edicts of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes for the release of the Captives, their return to Jerusalem, and for the rebuilding the Temple, and for restoring the worship of God; But more fully by the Preaching of the Gospel, publishing Salvation by Christ, to whom the gathering of the Gentiles was to be, Gen. 49.10.

Vid. Zeph. 3.19. weakened with the hard usages of oppressing conquerours; who were as lamed ones, unable to walk, such were the impoverisht Jewes in the Babylonish captivity, utterly unprovided for so long a Journey, and its likely, they were unresolved too, whether to go or not go, halted between a desire of going, and a fear of the difficulties that would unavoidably attend their poverty. Now the bounty and favour which God moved in the Persian Kings toward the Jewes, was such, that these poor were encouraged to set forward on the Journey. This word is to this day fulfilled, in that Christ doth by the power of his word and spirit make his people a willing people, determines their resolution, and enables them to perform it, and to give up themselves to God.

In this phrase, I will gather, does God by Ezek. 28.25. promise the recovery of his people from Captivity, and so does Jer. 31.8. almost in the same manner promise the restoring of Captive Judah. Here they are said to be driven out, i. e. of their own Land, into a strange Land, where they are Captives, Jer. 8.3. and 16.15. and 23.3. and 24.8, 9. and 29.15. and Ezek. 4.13. The Lord will by his power and goodness gather those whom Nebuchadnezzar scattered through his Kingdom, and Christ will much more gather to his fold those who were Captives to Satan.

This in the letter refers to wasted and impoverished Israel, on whom God laid an affliction of seventy years.

Marginal references: Ezek. 14.16.