Micah 5:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In this context, the term Assyrian signifies not merely an individual from Babylon but rather symbolizes the embodiment of sin or Satan, or even a ferocious host of demons that spiritually confront and resist all that is sacred and adversarial towards the holy city, spiritual Zion, caressed in the psalmist's words: “glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God” (Ps. 86:3); for in Christ resides the holiest city on earth. The Church, in this sense, becomes part of His city, even as He, by His divine essence, permeates all things. She thus represents the city of God, signifying a land where sanctified individuals are enriched by communion with the Divine. Therefore, when it is stated that the Assyrian approaches your city, it suggests that when vicious and hostile forces attempt to assail the saints, they will not find them forsaken; for “seven shepherds and eight princes of men shall rise against them.” This prophecy seems to allude through the numerals seven and eight to the saints present before Christ’s coming, during His arrival, and thereafter. In prior times, as decreed by the Mosaic Law, the Sabbath honored the sacred rest still associated with a prophetic vision. Subsequently, the holy prophets emerged to guide the faithful towards righteousness and the awareness of future events. When the Only Begotten finally appeared, endured the cross for the salvation of all, and, having conquered hell, resurrected on the eighth day, He commissioned His holy apostles to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and instructing them to obey all that He had commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). These appear to represent the eight princes of men, denoting those present at and following the resurrection.

Thus, when the phrase “Asshur comes” or “the foreigner and barbarian” is mentioned, he will confront the seven shepherds and the eight princes. It becomes evident that even during the age of the law, saints existed, referred to here as the seven shepherds; alongside them were apostles and evangelists, and, dependent upon the needs of the Church, teachers who continually bravely opposed the allure of demons and the incessant malice of the evil one, who continually challenged their vigilant hearts. They safeguarded those dwelling in the holy land, reinforcing them with guidance in righteousness. Furthermore, that the countenance of saints could, in some fashion, outwit Satan and exalt himself through spiritual tribulations is confirmed by God’s pronouncement through the prophet, saying: “Woe to him who increases his own iniquity!” For suddenly those who harm him will rise, and your adversaries will be strengthened, and you will be subjected to them. Because you have ensnared the tongues of many, all the remnants will ensnare you” (Hebrews 2:6-8). Thus, we see that he who multiplies his wickedness, namely Satan, will be despoiled. Consequently, those subjected to his plunder are referred to as “the remnant,” the remnant of Jacob. But should any Assyrian, signifying one who is misguided and lacks true faith, appear; then the power of truth shall oppose him, like a wolf attacking him, driving him away from the flock of spiritual sheep. Therefore, these seven shepherds, and those corresponding to the eight princes, “shall bring down Asshur with weaponry.” The term “shall fall” here is used interchangeably with “will persecute.” Yet, as shepherds are referenced, he continues with this metaphor, stating: “shall fall.” Regarding the weapons utilized by the saints, the psalmist elucidates: “And the sword is sharp in their hands” (Ps. 149:6); “for the word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). Additionally, that Asshur is besieged by the divine and mighty sword, or rather the word of God, is further substantiated by the prophet Isaiah, declaring: “And it shall come to pass, in that day the Lord will bring forth His holy, great, and mighty sword against the dragon...” (Heb. 4:12). ... fleeing.... And He shall slay the dragon” (Isaiah 27:1); again, “And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has accomplished all His work in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, that He shall bring upon the heart, and upon the prince of Assyria, and upon the height of the glory of his eyes a great sword. I will execute it with my strong hand, and by my wise counsel will I overthrow the boundaries of nations, and their might will I bring into captivity; and I will shake the inhabitants of the cities” (Isaiah 10:12-14). Thus, with this sword shall they shepherd Asshur and all the land of Nevrod: he refers to the region of the Assyrians or Babylonians, which is said to be encircled by a profound moat; it is called the land of Nevrod for he was the forefather of this people. In the book of Genesis, it is recorded: “And the sons of Rehman were Sava and Dadan. Hus fathered Nevrod: he began to be a mighty hunter on earth: he was a giant hunter before the Lord God; therefore they said, ‘As Nevrod the mighty hunter before the Lord’” (Genesis 10:7-10). The divine Scriptures also refer to this land as the Persian territory. Hence, the country of Nevrod signifies Babylon, which was surrounded by a moat, as previously noted. Thus, it states that Asshur and all the land of Nevrod will fall, ensuring they remain within the moat and cease to expand their reach beyond cities or regions. It is noted that the forces of demons also feared to remain at home and trembled to obey this command of Christ, no longer lifting themselves above the world.

Thus, God indeed fulfilled the prophecy reflected in the words, "When Asshur comes upon our land, He Himself will deliver us from him." The forces of Sennacherib met their end in the land of Judah. King Sennacherib, having awaited developments in Egypt, hastily returned to his homeland upon hearing of his army's downfall.

Thus, peace will come when the remnant of the brethren of Christ turns to the children of Israel, and the Assyrian invades our land, at which point, with divine assistance, we shall swiftly overcome him who seeks to trample upon our abode. The Lord Himself declares, ‘We will raise up against him seven shepherds and eight noble men, or plagues of men.’ We will stir him up—Myself, My Son, and the Holy Spirit—reflecting what is stated in the Book of Genesis: ‘Let Us make man in Our image and after Our likeness’ (Gen. 1:26), and at the beginning of the Book of Abijah the prophet: ‘Arise and let us go up against him in war’ (Abd. 1). The seven shepherds represent all the patriarchs, prophets, and holy individuals, who labored throughout the Old Testament era. The eight plagues of men, or eight noble figures, or as Simmachus expressed it, ‘the eight anointed ones,’ signify all the saints from the apostles to the present day who have defeated the Assyrian and tormented him. Consequently, Ecclesiastes reminds us, ‘Let us give a portion to the seven, and a portion to the eight’ (Ecclesiastes 11:2). In Ezekiel’s vision of the temple—which signifies the Church and the heavenly Jerusalem—there are seven and eight steps (Ezekiel 40:22, 26, 61, 34). Moreover, the Psalms include fifteen steps, which we ascend as we sing praises to God in groups of seven and eight. On the eighth day, we observe the celebration of spiritual circumcision, and in the Jewish temple, the Sabbath is set aside, with psalms composed for this day (rro ostavah). Thus, these seven shepherds and eight plagues of men will guide the Assyrian with the sword. ‘For the word of God is living and effective, and sharper than any two-edged sword’ (Heb. 4:12); it is from Him who came to bring a sword upon the earth, causing divisions (Matt. 10:34, 35). The land of Nimrod, which translates to ‘downward test,’ shall be tended in his pit; for the domain of the giant, the master of beasts, and the arrogant is not in high places but in caves. He descended from heaven like lightning and continually roams among beasts, for being a trapper, he wanders through barren trees and forests. As far as I can remember, the terms hunter and trapper are rarely, if ever, perceived in a positive light. Ishmael and Esau were considered hunters (Gen. 16 and Gen. 27) and serve as prototypes for the Jewish nation: one being the son of an Egyptian woman, living according to the flesh, and the other, who traded his birthright for a bowl of lentils, jealous of the blessing awarded to his brother, forced him into Mesopotamia. Consequently, the land of Nimrod is brought low into its caves, ‘For he that digs a ditch shall fall into it’ (Proverbs 26:27); and whoever opens a lake and digs it shall fall into the pit they have made, with sorrows returning to them, and their wickedness descending upon their head (Psalm 7:16, 17). In defeating the Assyrian with seven shepherds and eight plagues, Christ has rescued us from the grip of that Asur, who sought to invade our land and trample the borders of Israel. The words of Symmachus, ‘And they shall shepherd the land of Asur with the sword, and the country of Nimrod within its gates,’ indicate that the enemy will be bound and struck down in his own territory. Simultaneously, according to the text of Abila and the Fifth Edition, the adversary will be cast down into the pit by the daggers and spears of the seven shepherds and eight anointed ones.

God declares through the Prophet that seven kings will rise against him, referring to him as a shepherd, and I will strike him with eight plagues upon mankind. This also signals the downfall of Babylon. He proclaims that he will inflict these calamities, and shortly thereafter, he will vanquish his successor, who established Babylon as a royal city, leaving him no benefit from its mighty fortifications or the trench surrounding it. Yet, you will be saved from them, not only when I summon other adversaries against them, but even now, as they approach your city with a great army; for I will send an angel to aid in the invisible destruction of their forces. Thus, the Prophet shifts to a future perspective, revealing how the holy Apostles, who believed in the Lord born in Bethlehem and were afterward appointed as messengers of divine truth, would spread the gospel to the nations. He conveys it in this manner:

Yet, blinded by your own Jewish prejudices, you cannot emulate the faith of the Gentiles and instead resort to wicked plots. Nevertheless, you will never be able to vanquish the one you fear, nor will your actions endanger those whom you seek to harm.