Study Desk

An Oracle The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus- for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD - ^(F16)

and upon Hamath too, which borders on it, and upon Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful.

Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.

But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.

Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted.

Foreigners will occupy Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God and become leaders in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

But I will defend my house against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.