The Invasion Strategy

¹⁰ “This is what the Lord God says: ‘This is what’s going to happen on the very day that you begin your invasion: You’ll be thinking,^[a] making evil plans, ¹¹ and boasting, “I’m going to invade a land comprised of open country^[b] that is at rest, its people^[c] living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors. ¹² I’m going to confiscate anything I can put my hands on. I’ll attack the restored ruins and the people who have been gathered together from the nations, who are acquiring livestock and other goods, and who live at the center of the world’s attention.”^{[d] 13} ‘Businessmen based in Sheba,^[e] Dedan,^[f] Tarshish,^[g] and all of its growling lions will ask you, “Are you coming for war spoils? Have you assembled your armies to carry off silver and gold, and to gather lots of war booty?”’”