From Defeated Ruler to Conquering King
1 Now, daughter who is under attack,
you slash yourself in grief;
a siege is set against us!
They are striking the judge 5:1 1Kg 22:24; Jb 16:10; Lm 3:30 of Israel
on the cheek with a rod.
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah, 5:2 Gn 35:19; Ru 4:11; 1Sm 17:12; Mt 2:6
you are small among the clans of Judah;
one will come from you 5:2 Is 11:1; Lk 2:4
to be ruler over Israel for me. 5:2 2Ch 7:18; Is 11:1; Jr 30:21; Zch 9:9; Mt 2:6
His origin 5:2 Lit His going out is from antiquity, 5:2 Ps 74:2; 102:25; Pr 8:22–23; Hab 1:12
from ancient times.
3 Therefore, Israel will be abandoned 5:3 Hs 11:8; Mc 4:10; 7:13 until the time
when she who is in labor 5:3 Mc 4:9–10 has given birth;
then the rest of the ruler’s brothers 5:3 Is 10:20–22; Mc 5:7–8 will return
to the people of Israel. 5:3 Mc 4:6–7
4 He will stand and shepherd them 5:4 Is 40:11; 49:9; Ezk 34:13–15,23–24; Mc 7:14
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord his God.
They will live securely,
for then his greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth. 5:4 Is 45:22; 52:10
5 He will be their peace. 5:5 Is 9:6
When Assyria invades our land, 5:5 Is 8:7–8; 10:24–27
when it marches against our fortresses,
we will raise against it seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.
6 They will shepherd 5:6 Nah 2:11–13; Zph 2:13 the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod 5:6 Gn 10:8–12 with a drawn blade. 5:6 Aq, Vg; MT, Sym read Nimrod at its gateways
So he will rescue us 5:6 Is 14:25; 37:36–37 from Assyria
when it invades our land,
when it marches against our territory.
The Glorious and Purified Remnant
7 Then the remnant of Jacob 5:7 Is 10:21; Mc 2:12; 4:7; 7:18
will be among many peoples
like dew from the Lord, 5:7 Dt 32:2; 2Sm 17:12; Ps 110:3; Hs 14:5
like showers on the grass, 5:7 Ps 72:6; Is 44:3
which do not wait for anyone
or linger for mankind.
8 Then the remnant of Jacob
will be among the nations, among many peoples,
like a lion among animals of the forest, 5:8 Gn 49:9; Nm 24:9
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which tramples 5:8 Ps 44:5; Is 41:15–16; Mc 4:13; Zch 10:5 and tears 5:8 Hs 5:14 as it passes through,
and there is no one to rescue them. 5:8 Ps 50:22
9 Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, 5:9 Ps 10:12; 21:8; Is 26:11
and all your enemies will be destroyed.
10 In that day —
this is the Lord’s declaration —
I will remove your horses from you 5:10 Dt 17:16; Is 2:7; Hs 14:3
and wreck your chariots.
11 I will remove the cities of your land 5:11 Is 1:7; 6:11
and tear down all your fortresses. 5:11 Is 2:12–17; Hs 10:14; Am 5:9
12 I will remove sorceries from your hands, 5:12 Dt 18:10–12; Is 2:6; 8:19
and you will not have any more fortune-tellers.
13 I will remove your carved images 5:13 Is 2:18,20; 17:8; Ezk 6:9
and sacred pillars from you
so that you will no longer worship
the work of your hands.
14 I will pull up the Asherah poles 5:14 Dt 16:21 from among you 5:14 Ex 34:13; Is 27:9
and demolish your cities. 5:14 Or shrines
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath 5:15 Is 1:24; 65:12
against the nations that have not obeyed me.