Micah 5:2

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, etc.] But though Jerusalem should be besieged and taken, and the land of Judea laid waste, yet, before all this should be, the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, of which this is a prophecy, as is evident from (<400204>Matthew 2:4-6); the place is called by both the names it went by, to point it out the more distinctly, and with the greater certainty, (<013519>Genesis 35:19); the former signifies “the house of bread”, and a proper place for Christ to be born in, who is the bread of life; and it has the name of the latter from its fruitfulness, being a place of pasture, and as we find it was at the time of our Lord’s birth; for near it shepherds were then…”

“Beth-lehem Ephratah-- (Gen 48:7), or, Beth-lehem Judah; so called to distinguish it from Beth-lehem in Zebulun. It is a few miles southwest of Jerusalem. Beth-lehem means "the house of bread"; Ephratah means "fruitful": both names referring to the fertility of the region. though thou be little among--though thou be scarcely large enough to be reckoned among, &c. It was insignificant in size and population; so that in Jos 15:21, &c., it is not enumerated among the cities of Judah; nor in the list in Neh 11:25, &c. Under Rehoboam it became a city: Ch2 11:6, "He built Beth-lehem." Mat 2:6 seems to contradict Micah, "thou art not the least," But really he, by an independent testimony of the…”

“But - (And) thou, Bethlehem Ephratah With us, the chequered events of time stand in strong contrast, painful or gladdening. Good seems to efface evil, or evil blots out the memory of the good. God orders all in the continuous course of His Wisdom. All lies in perfect harmony in the Divine Mind. Each event is the sequel of what went before. So here the prophet joins on, what to us stands in such contrast, with that simple, And. Yet he describes the two conditions bearing on one another. He had just spoken of the “judge of Israel” smitten on the cheek, and, before Micah 4:9, that Israel had neither king nor “counsellor;” he now speaks of the Ruler in Israel, the Everlasting. He had said, how…”

“Bethlehem - Bethlehem of Judah was called Ephratah, from the fruitfulness of the land where it stood: the word whence it is derived importing fruitfulness. Art thou little - If thou art the least in other respects in this thou art honoured above them all. Ruler - King and sovereign. In Israel - Amidst the Israel of God. Going forth - Whose generation, as he is the Son of God, equal with his father, is eternal. Micah 5:3”

“5:2 Ephrathah was the ancient name of Bethlehem (Gen 35:16; Ruth 4:11), David’s birthplace. In the future, an even more significant ruler than David would arise from there (Matt 2:5-6; John 7:42). The future king’s activities would stretch from the distant past (Hebrew qedem; cp. Deut 33:27; Prov 8:22-23; Isa 37:26) into a still future time, suggesting a divine-human being.”

“But thou: Mat 2:6; Joh 7:42 Ephratah: Gen 35:19, Gen 48:7, Ephrath, Rut 4:11; Sa1 17:12; Ch1 2:50, Ch1 2:51, Ch1 2:54, Ch1 4:4; Psa 132:6 among: Sa1 10:19, Sa1 23:23 thousands: Exo 18:21, Exo 18:25; Deu 1:15; Sa1 8:12, Sa1 17:18 yet: Isa 11:1, Isa 53:2; Eze 17:22-24; Amo 9:11; Luk 2:4-7; Co1 1:27, Co1 1:28 that is: Gen 49:10; Ch1 5:2; Isa 9:6, Isa 9:7; Jer 13:5, Jer 13:6; Eze 34:23, Eze 34:24, Eze 37:22-25; Zac 9:9; Mat 28:18; Luk 1:31-33, Luk 23:2, Luk 23:38; Joh 19:14-22; Rev 19:16 whose: Psa 90:2, Psa 102:25-27; Pro 8:22; Joh 1:1-3; Col 1:17; Heb 13:8; Jo1 1:1; Rev 1:11-18, Rev 2:8, Rev 21:6 everlasting: or, the days of eternity Micah 5:3”

“The previous announcement of the glory to which Zion is eventually to attain, is now completed by the announcement of the birth of the great Ruler, who through His government will lead Israel to this, the goal of its divine calling. Mic 5:2. "And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too small to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee will He come forth to me who will be Ruler over Israel; and His goings forth are from the olden time, from the days of eternity." The ואתּה, with which this new section of the proclamation of salvation opens, corresponds to the ואתּה in Mic 4:8. Its former government is to return to Zion ( Mic 4:8), and out of little Bethlehem is the possessor of this government to…”