²⁰ However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees^(A) and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.

¹⁷ Pharaoh^(A) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps^(B) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.^(C)

⁴ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege^(A) ramps^(B) and the sword

⁶ This is what the Lord Almighty says:

³³ “Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:

¹⁴ There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.

¹⁵ In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.

²⁸ Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller^(A) than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites^(B) there.’”