Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, on Mic 7:16

“The nations shall see, and shall be confounded at all their strength: they shall put the hand upon the mouth, their ears shall be deaf.”

“shall see--the "marvellous things" (Mic 7:15; Isa 26:11). confounded at all their might--having so suddenly proved unavailing: that might wherewith they had thought that there is nothing which they could not effect against God's people. lay . . . hand upon . . . mouth--the gesture of silence (Job 21:5; Job 40:4; Psa 107:42; Isa 52:15). They shall be struck dumb at Israel's marvellous deliverance, and no longer boast that God's people is destroyed. ears . . . deaf--They shall stand astounded so as not to hear what shall be said [GROTIUS]. Once they had eagerly drunk in all rumors as so many messages of victories; but then they shall be afraid of hearing them, because they continually fear new disasters, when they see the God of Israel to be so powerful [CALVIN]. They shall close their ears so as not to be compelled to hear of Israel's successes.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.