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An oracle. The word of Yahweh is against the land of Hadrach,

and Damascus is its resting place.
    For to Yahweh belongs the eye of humankind,[a]
        and all the tribes of Israel,
and also Hamath, which borders on it;
    Tyre and Sidon—yes, they are very wise![b]
Tyre has built a fortification for itself,[c]
    and it heaped up silver like dust,
    and gold like the mud of the streets.
Look! The Lord will drive it[d] out
    and will hurl its[e] outer ramparts into the sea,
        and it[f] will be consumed by fire.
Ashkelon will see and will be afraid,
    and Gaza will writhe exceedingly,
    and Ekron also, because its hope is ruined.[g]
And the king from Gaza will perish,
    and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
A mongrel people[h] will dwell in Ashdod,
    and I will cut down the pride of the Philistines.
I will remove its[i] blood from its[j] mouth,
    and its[k] abominations from between its[l] teeth.
And it[m] too will be a remnant for our God;
    and it[n] will be like a tribal chief[o] in Judah,
    and Ekron will be like the Jebusite.
But I will encamp at my temple[p] like a guard,
    against those crossing through and returning;
no oppressor will cross through them again,
    for now I have seen with my own eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 9:1 “Eye of humankind” is difficult to understand in this context; some scholars emend the phrase to “cities of Aram” or “capital of Aram”
  2. Zechariah 9:2 That is, wise in their own eyes (ironic)
  3. Zechariah 9:3 Hebrew “her”
  4. Zechariah 9:4 Hebrew “her”
  5. Zechariah 9:4 Hebrew “her”
  6. Zechariah 9:4 Hebrew “she”
  7. Zechariah 9:5 Traditionally “ashamed”; some presuppose a different Hebrew form and translate “withered”
  8. Zechariah 9:6 That is, a people of mixed marriage; “half-breeds”
  9. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  10. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  11. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  12. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  13. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “he”
  14. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “he”
  15. Zechariah 9:7 This word is sometimes interpreted as “clan”
  16. Zechariah 9:8 Or “house”

Israel Defended Against Enemies

The [a]burden of the word of the Lord
Against the land of Hadrach,
And (A)Damascus its resting place
(For (B)the eyes of men
And all the tribes of Israel
Are on the Lord);
Also against (C)Hamath, which borders on it,
And against (D)Tyre and (E)Sidon, though they are very (F)wise.

For Tyre built herself a tower,
Heaped up silver like the dust,
And gold like the mire of the streets.
Behold, (G)the Lord will cast her out;
He will destroy (H)her power in the sea,
And she will be devoured by fire.

Ashkelon shall see it and fear;
Gaza also shall be very sorrowful;
And (I)Ekron, for He dried up her expectation.
The king shall perish from Gaza,
And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

“A[b] mixed race shall settle (J)in Ashdod,
And I will cut off the pride of the (K)Philistines.
I will take away the blood from his mouth,
And the abominations from between his teeth.
But he who remains, even he shall be for our God,
And shall be like a leader in Judah,
And Ekron like a Jebusite.
(L)I will camp around My house
Because of the army,
Because of him who passes by and him who returns.
No more shall an oppressor pass through them,
For now I have seen with My eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 9:1 oracle, prophecy
  2. Zechariah 9:6 Lit. An illegitimate one