This is the testimony of righteousness against carnal assurance—a prophet amongst them in the Land. The city was smitten then, and so the kingdom of the beast in the Land; but the subject was the city smitten.
24. Note the same principle in this and other passages—the evidence of unbelief or faith, according as proposed by the flesh, or by the Lord, and, on the other hand, that the opposite principles are evidence of unbelief, when the moral circumstances are changed. Thus, here "Abraham was one, and we are many, the land is given us for an inheritance," in the condition of sin and rebellion, was unbelief and wickedness. In Isa. 51:2, it is presented as the warrant and assurance of faith, and they are called to lean upon this warrant—that Abraham was but one, and yet blessed and multiplied. Oh! for faith!
On the other hand, when Israel came out of Egypt, it was just their sin and unbelief to say, "Is the Lord among us or not?" Ex. 17:7. In Mic. 3:11, it is their sin and presumption, to say, "Is not the Lord among us? No evil shall come upon us."