1 The prophet Micah was at the time of Isaiah. He also quotes the words of the same prophet, which are written in the second chapter, so that one can well feel how the prophets, who lived in one time, preached almost one and the same word of Christ.
as if they had been talking to each other about it.
berathschlagt.
(2) But of the fine prophets there is one who severely punishes the people because of their idolatry, and the Christ who is to come, and his
*The first three paragraphs of this preface belong to Luther's "Auslegungen über den Propheten Jona", in this volume, in the supplement of the sixth volume, to the interpretation of the first verse. This preface is also found in the Leipzig edition, vol. XII, p. 44 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 63, p. 80.
**) This preface is found in Walch, in the Leipzig edition, vol. XII, p. 45 and in the Erlanger, vol. 63, p. 82.
Kingdom forever. And above all, he is a special prophet in that he so certainly points to and names Bethlehem, the city where Christ was to be born. Therefore he was also highly famous in the Old Testament, as Matth. 2, 6. shows.
3. summa, he reproves, he prophesies, he preaches etc. But finally this is his opinion, even if everything must go to ruins, Israel and Judah, yet the Christ will come, who will make everything good, just as we now have to punish, rebuke, comfort and preach etc..
saying, "If all is lost, Christ will come at the last day and save us from all misfortune.
4. he is heavy in the first chapter; that makes the Hebrew Grammatica, and needs much allusiones, as Zaenan for Schaenan, and Achsib and Maresa etc., which words he shows on evil interpretation, and perverts them. As if I said: Roma, you shall become a room, and well cleared. Wittenberg, thou shalt become a wide mountain etc. The grammarians will notice this and feel our diligence.