Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 7:4

4 The best of them is as a briar : the most upright is sharper then a thornhedge : the day of thy watchmen , and thy visitation cometh ; now shall be their perplexity .

Among all naught, who is lest naught passeth for best, and so must it be here, not one Good; but the lest evil man is by the Prophet called the best.

Of People, Prophets, Judges, Great Men and Princes.

Mischievous and hurtful to all that meddle with them; and perhaps the Prophet alludes to Briars infolded in each other that shall so be devoured at last.

In the same sense upright as they are said to be best.

The same in different words, i. e. hurtful and mischievous to all.

Literally taken for such as on the Watch-towers observe whither Enemies approach, the day in which they shall give the affrighting intelligence, and sound the Alarm. Or else Figuratively, watchmen, i. e. Governours, Prophets, and Teachers either good and faithful, or evil and unfaithful: The day which the true Prophets foretold would come, which faithful Teachers confirm'd, good Governours believed, fear'd, and as Hezekiah endeavour'd to prevent, will certainly overtake you, that day of evil which your sins have provok'd God to appoint. Or else that day of good, which your false Prophets have promis'd, your corrupt Princes, Judges, Great Men do expect and hope for,

Shall be a day of grievous punishment, by which the falshood of flattering Prophe[illegible: 1 letter]s shall be discovered, and the Truth of Micah, and Isaiah, &c. true Prophets be confirmed.

i. e. Surely, speedily, and unavoidably on impenitent ones, how many or how great soever.

When the day is come as to Samaria in its captivity, by the Assyrian Tyrant, and to Ierusalem in the Babylonish captivity, by Nebuchadnezzar; and in many other Nows intervening between the time of Micah's Minatory predictions and the full accomplishment of them.

The astonishing over-whelming sorrows, fears, and confusions which shall wrack these great, notorious, and impudent Oppressors, hunters and sellers of Justice. They shall be perplexed because the sore evils foretold by the true Prophets of God shall overwhelm them, and because the peace and prosperity promis'd by the false Prophets is unexpectedly turned into troubles, desolation, and utter ruine to their State, Cities and Families.

Marginal references: Ezek. [illegible: 2 letters]