Prophecies against Neighboring Nations
1 Theoracle (a burdensome message) of the word of the Lordis against the land of Hadrach [in Syria], with Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of men, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord),
2 And Hamath also, which borders on it (Damascus),
Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.
3 For Tyre built herself an [impregnable] stronghold [on an island offshore],
And she has heaped up silver like dust
And gold like the mire of the streets.
4 Behold, the Lord willdispossess her
And throw her wealth into the sea;
And Tyre will be devoured by fire.
5 Ashkelon will see it and fear;
Gaza will writhe in pain,
And Ekron, for her hopeandexpectation, has been ruined.
The king will perish from Gaza,
And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
6 And a mongrel race will live in Ashdod,
And I will put an end to the prideandarrogance of the Philistines.
7 I will take the blood from their mouths
And their detestable things from between their teeth [those repulsive, idolatrous sacrifices eaten with the blood].
Then they too will be a remnant for our God,
And be like a clan in Judah,
And Ekron will be like one of theJebusites.
8 Then I will camp around My house [as a guard] because of an army,
Because of him who passes by and returns;
And no oppressor will again overrun them (Israel),
For now My eyes are upon them [providentially protecting them].
9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you;
He is righteous and endowed with salvation,
Humbleandunassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on adonkey,
Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the [war] chariot from Ephraim
And the [war] horse from Jerusalem,
And the bow of war will be cut off.
And He will speak [words of] peace to the nations,
And His dominion shall be from sea to sea [absolutely endless],
And from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.
Salvation of Judah and Ephraim
11 As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you [My chosen people, the covenant that was sealed with blood]
I have freed your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], O prisoners who have the hope;
Even today I am declaring that I will restore double [your former prosperity] to you [as firstborn among nations].
13 For I will bend Judah as My bow,
I will fit the bow with Ephraim [as My arrow].
And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece,
And will make you [Israel] like the sword of a warrior.
14 Then the Lordwill be seen [hovering] over them [protecting His people],
And His arrow will go forth like lightning;
And the Lord Godwill blow the trumpet
And will march in the windstorms of the south.
15 The Lordof hosts shall defendandprotect them;
And they will devour [the enemy] and trample down the slingstones [that have missed their mark],
And they will drink [of victory] and be boisterous as with wine;
And they shall be filled likesacrificialbowls [used to catch the blood],
Drenchedlike the corners of the [sacrificial] altar.
16 And the Lordtheir God shall save them on that day
As the flock of His people;
For they are like the [precious] jewels of a crown,
Displayedandglittering in His land.
17 For how great is God’s goodness and how great is His beauty! And how great [He will make Israel’s] goodliness and [Israel’s] beauty!
Grain and new wine will make the young men and virgins flourish.