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So, ·strong city [L daughter of troops], ·gather [marshal; muster] your ·soldiers [troops] together,
    because we are ·surrounded and attacked [besieged].
They will ·hit [strike] the ·leader [ruler; judge] of Israel
    ·in the face [on the cheek] with a ·club [rod; or scepter].

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are ·too small to be [or small; insignificant] among the ·army groups from [clans of] Judah,
from you will come one who will rule Israel for me [C the Messiah; Is. 9:1–7; 11:1–16; Matt. 2:6].
    ·He comes [His origins are; L His goings out are] from ·very old [ancient] times,
from days long ago.”

The Lord will ·give up [abandon] his people
    until the one who is ·having a baby [in labor] gives birth;
then the rest of his ·relatives [brothers] will return
    to the people of Israel.
At that time ·the ruler of Israel [L he] will stand
    and ·take care of his people [L shepherd his flock]
with the Lord’s strength
    and with the ·power [majesty] of the name of the Lord his God.
·The Israelites [L They] will live in safety,
    because his greatness will reach ·all over [L to the ends of] the earth.

Rescue and Punishment

He will ·bring [L be] peace.
·Assyria will surely [or When the Assyrians…; or If the Assyrians should…] come into our ·country [land]
    and ·walk over [march through] our ·large buildings [fortresses].
We will ·set up [raise against them] seven shepherds [C symbolic of completeness],
    eight ·leaders [princes] of the people.
They will ·destroy [or rule; shepherd] the Assyrians with their swords;
    they will ·conquer [or rule; shepherd] the land of ·Assyria [L Nimrod; C a famous hunter, said to have founded Assyria; Gen. 10:8–9] ·with their swords drawn [or at its gates].
They will rescue us from the Assyrians when they come into our land,
    when they ·walk [march] over our borders.

Then the ·people of Jacob who are left alive [remnant of Jacob]
    will be ·to other [L in the midst of many] people
like dew from the Lord
    or ·rain [showers] on the grass—
it does not wait for human beings;
    it does not pause for ·any person [L the sons/children of man/Adam].
·Those of Jacob’s people who are left alive [The remnant of Jacob]
    will be scattered among many nations and [L in the midst of many] peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
    like a young lion in a flock of sheep:
As it goes, it jumps on them
    and tears them to pieces,
    and no one can ·save [rescue] them.
So ·you will raise your fist in victory [L your hand will be lifted] over your ·enemies [adversaries],
    and all your enemies will be ·destroyed [L cut off].

10 The Lord says, “·At that time [L In that day],
    I will ·take [L cut off; destroy] your horses from you
    and destroy your chariots.
11 I will destroy the cities in your ·country [land]
    and tear down all your ·defenses [strongholds; fortresses].
12 I will ·take away [destroy] ·the magic charms you use [your sorcery/witchcraft]
    so you will have no more fortune-tellers.
13 I will destroy your ·statues of gods [carved images]
    and the stone pillars you worship
so that you will no longer ·worship [bow down to]
    what your hands have made.
14 I will ·tear down [uproot your] ·Asherah idols [L Asherahs; C sacred trees or poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah] from you
    and destroy your cities.
15 In my anger and ·rage [wrath],
    I will ·pay back [seek vengeance on] the nations that have not ·listened [obeyed].”

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