From the Gospels to the prophets to the scrolls of Qumran, a consistent thread emerges: the Messiah is not only the fulfillment of birth prophecies, as seen in Matthew which speaks of the birth of Jesus and quotes Isaiah 7 and Michah 5 indicating he is also to be the leader of a divine campaign against forces of injustice and idolatry.
- Isaiah 7 foresees a remnant of Israel returning in faith, no longer trusting foreign powers but leaning on the LORD of Hosts.
- Micah 5 envisions this remnant standing firm against Assyria, raised by divine authority.
- The War Scroll reveals how this battle is fought—with seven priestly leaders at the helm, echoing both the spiritual authority of the past and the prophetic anticipation of the future. This war is not merely military. It is cosmic. Spiritual. The faithful remnant, led by the Shepherd-Messiah and empowered by heaven’s decree, will stand against Assyria in all its forms—and they will not stand alone.
Micah’s Prophecy and the Seven Leaders Who Confront Assyria
Micah 5:5 declares: “Then shall we raise against him seven shepherds and eight principal men.”
This enigmatic prophecy speaks of a future conflict against Assyria, not merely as a historical empire but as a spiritual archetype of oppression. The “seven shepherds” signify divinely appointed leaders who will arise to defend Israel under God’s command.
This vision is echoed in the War Scroll (1QM) from the Dead Sea Scrolls, where seven priests—sons of Aaron—are depicted not as warriors but as spiritual officers overseeing battle:
- “The priests, the sons of Aaron, shall take their stand before the battle formations… Then the priests shall blow the trumpets of remembrance.” — 1QM 2:5–6
These priests sound the trumpets not to rally human strength but to summon divine intervention. Their presence recalls the march around Jericho, where trumpets signaled God’s power to collapse fortified walls. In both cases, seven becomes the number of covenant and completion—underscoring that victory belongs not to military might but to faithfulness to God’s covenant.
