¹⁷ The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away^(A) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.^(B)”

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

¹⁸ In that day^(C) the Lord will whistle^(D) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.^{(E) 19} They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices^(F) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes^(G) and at all the water holes. ²⁰ In that day^(H) the Lord will use^(I) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River^(J)—the king of Assyria^(K)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard^(L) also.^(M)