5Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. They will strike Israel’s leader in the face with a rod.H1413H1416H1323H1416H7760H4692H5221H8199H3478H7626H3895
A Ruler from Bethlehem
2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.H1035H672H6810H505H3063H3318H4910H3478H4163H6924H3117H57693The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land.H5414H6256H3205H3205H3499H251H7725H1121H34784And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world.H5975H7462H5797H3068H1347H8034H3068H430H3427H1431H657H7765And he will be the source of peace. When the Assyrians invade our land and break through our defenses, we will appoint seven rulers to watch over us, eight princes to lead us.H7965H804H935H776H1869H759H6965H7651H7462H8083H5257H1206They will rule Assyria with drawn swords and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod. He will rescue us from the Assyrians when they pour over the borders to invade our land.H7462H776H804H2719H776H5248H6607H5337H804H935H776H1869H1366
The Remnant Purified
7Then the remnant left in Israel will take their place among the nations. They will be like dew sent by the Lord or like rain falling on the grass, which no one can hold back and no one can restrain.H7611H3290H7130H7227H5971H2919H3068H7241H6212H6960H376H3176H1121H1208The remnant left in Israel will take their place among the nations. They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a strong young lion among flocks of sheep and goats, pouncing and tearing as they go with no rescuer in sight.H7611H3290H1471H7130H7227H5971H738H929H3293H3715H5739H6629H5674H7429H2963H53379The people of Israel will stand up to their foes, and all their enemies will be wiped out.H3027H7311H6862H341H377210“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will slaughter your horses and destroy your chariots.H3117H5002H3068H3772H5483H7130H6H481811I will tear down your walls and demolish your defenses.H3772H6145H5892H776H2040H401312I will put an end to all witchcraft, and there will be no more fortune-tellers.H3772H3785H3027H604913I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars, so you will never again worship the work of your own hands.H6456H3772H4676H7130H7812H4639H302714I will abolish your idol shrines with their Asherah poles and destroy your pagan cities.H5428H842H7130H8045H6145H589215I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me.”H6213H5359H639H2534H1471H8085
Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. They will strike Israel’s leader in the face with a rod.H1413
