Study Desk

"All other kings of the nations, all of them, lie in glory, each in his tomb.

Get ready to slaughter his sons for the iniquity of their fathers; so they won't arise, take over the earth and cover the world with their cities."

I will break Ashur in my land, I will trample him down on my mountains. Then his yoke will fall off them, his burden be removed from their shoulders."

Adonai -Tzva'ot has made his decision. Who is there that can stop him? He has stretched out his hand. Who can turn it back?

Do not rejoice, P'leshet, any of you, that the rod which struck you is broken; for out of the snake's root will come a viper, and his offspring will be a flying fiery serpent.

And what is one to answer the messengers of the nation? That Adonai founded Tziyon, and there the poor of his people will find refuge.

"When that day comes, Ya‘akov's glory will wane, and his full body grow thin,

as when the harvester collects the standing grain, reaping the ears of grain with his arm; yes, as when they glean the grain in the Refa'im Valley.

On that day, a person will heed his Maker and turn his eyes toward the Holy One of Isra'el.

He will pay no heed to the altars made with his own hands, he will not turn toward what his fingers made, the sacred poles and standing-stones for sun-worship.

When that day comes, his strong cities, which others abandoned when Isra'el advanced, will be like abandoned woods and forests; they will be laid waste.

This is a prophecy about Egypt: Look! Adonai is riding a swift cloud, on his way to Egypt. Before him Egypt's idols tremble, Egypt's courage melts within them.

Adonai has mixed up their minds with a spirit that distorts judgment, so they make Egypt stagger in whatever she does, like a drunk staggering in his vomit.

On that day Egypt will be like women trembling with fear, because Adonai -Tzva'ot is shaking his fist at them.

In the year that Sargon the king of Ashur sent his commander-in-chief to attack Ashdod, he captured it.

I will place the key of David's house on his shoulder; no one will shut what he opens; no one will open what he shuts.

"I will fasten him firmly in place like a peg, so that he will become a seat of honor for his clan.

They will hang on him all the weight of his clan, descendants and offspring, as well as all the vessels of small capacity, from pitchers to cups.

He has stretched out his hand against the sea, he has shaken kingdoms; Adonai has ordered that Kena‘an's fortresses be destroyed.

Then the moon will be confused and the sun ashamed, for Adonai -Tzva'ot will rule on Mount Tziyon and in Yerushalayim, with his glory manifest to the rulers of his people.