Judgement on Israel's Neighbors

1:2 He said:
"The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds dry up, {[2] Or <shepherds mourn>}
and the top of Carmel withers."

1:3 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Damascus,
even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath].
Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth, 1:4
I will send fire upon the house of Hazael that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad. 1:5
I will break down the gate of Damascus;
I will destroy the king who is in {[5] Or <the inhabitants of>} the Valley of Aven {[5] <Aven> means <wickedness.>}
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.
The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,"
says the LORD.

1:6 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Gaza,
even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath].
Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom, 1:7
I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza that will consume her fortresses. 1:8
I will destroy the king {[8] Or <inhabitants>} of Ashdod and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.
I will turn my hand against Ekron, till the last of the Philistines is dead," says the Sovereign LORD.

1:9 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Tyre,
even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath].
Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom,
disregarding a treaty of brotherhood, 1:10
I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre that will consume her fortresses."

1:11 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Edom,
even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath].
Because he pursued his brother with a sword,
stifling all compassion, {[11] Or <sword and destroyed his allies>}
because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked, 1:12 |
I will send fire upon Teman that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah."

1:13 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Ammon,
even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath].
Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders, 1:14
I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle,
amid violent winds on a stormy day. 1:15
Her king {[15] Or <Molech>; Hebrew <malcam>} will go into exile,
he and his officials together,"
says the LORD.