Study Desk

A prophecy:^(a) The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak and will come to rest on Damascus^(b)— for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord —^[a]

and on Hamath^(c) too, which borders on it, and on Tyre^(d) and Sidon,^(e) though they are very skillful.

Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.^(f)

But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy^(g) her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.^(h)

Ashkelon⁽ⁱ⁾ will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted.

A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod, and I will put an end^(j) to the pride of the Philistines.

I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God^(k) and become a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.^(l)

But I will encamp^(m) at my temple to guard it against marauding forces.⁽ⁿ⁾ Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.^(o)

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!^(p) Shout,^(q) Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you,^(r) righteous and victorious,^(s) lowly and riding on a donkey,^(t) on a colt, the foal of a donkey.^(u)

I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.^(v) He will proclaim peace^(w) to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River^[b] to the ends of the earth.^(x)

As for you, because of the blood of my covenant^(y) with you, I will free your prisoners^(z) from the waterless pit.^(aa)

Return to your fortress,^(ab) you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice^(ac) as much to you.

I will bend Judah as I bend my bow^(ad) and fill it with Ephraim.^(ae) I will rouse your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece,^(af) and make you like a warrior's sword.^(ag)

Then the Lord will appear over them;^(ah) his arrow will flash like lightning.^(ai) The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;^(aj) he will march in the storms^(ak) of the south,

and the Lord Almighty will shield^(al) them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones.^(am) They will drink and roar as with wine;^(an) they will be full like a bowl^(ao) used for sprinkling^[c] the corners^(ap) of the altar.

The Lord their God will save his people on that day^(aq) as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.^(ar)

How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.