בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה֙ בֶּן־בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔ה בֶּן־עִדּ֥וֹ הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃ In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, this word of GOD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo:^aA clause like “Say to the people” is here understood; cf. 7.5.

קָצַ֧ף יְהֹוָ֛ה עַל־אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם קָֽצֶף׃ GOD was very angry with your ancestors.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֗ם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת שׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְאָשׁ֣וּב אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ Say to them further:
Thus said GOD of Hosts: Turn back to me—says GOD of Hosts—and I will turn back to you—said GOD of Hosts.

אַל־תִּהְי֣וּ כַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרְאֽוּ־אֲלֵיהֶם֩ הַנְּבִיאִ֨ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת שׁ֤וּבוּ נָא֙ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֣ם הָרָעִ֔ים (ומעליליכם) [וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם] הָֽרָעִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֛וּ וְלֹֽא־הִקְשִׁ֥יבוּ אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Do not be like your ancestors! For when the earlier prophets called to them, “Thus said GOD of Hosts: Come, turn back from your evil ways and your evil deeds, they did not obey or give heed to Me—declares GOD.

אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם אַיֵּה־הֵ֑ם וְהַ֨נְּבִאִ֔ים הַלְעוֹלָ֖ם יִֽחְיֽוּ׃ Where are your ancestors now? And did the prophets live forever?

אַ֣ךְ ׀ דְּבָרַ֣י וְחֻקַּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר צִוִּ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים הֲל֥וֹא הִשִּׂ֖יגוּ אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר זָמַ֜ם יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָ֔נוּ כִּדְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּכְמַ֣עֲלָלֵ֔ינוּ כֵּ֖ן עָשָׂ֥ה אִתָּֽנוּ׃ {פ}
But the warnings and the decrees with which I charged My servants the prophets overtook your ancestors—did they not?—and in the end they had to admit, ‘GOD of Hosts purposed to deal with us according to our ways and our deeds; that is just what has been done to us.’”

בְּיוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לְעַשְׁתֵּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ר חֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ שְׁבָ֔ט בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה֙ בֶּן־בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔הוּ בֶּן־עִדּ֥וֹא הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃ On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month of the second year of Darius—the month of Shebat—this word of GOD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo:

רָאִ֣יתִי ׀ הַלַּ֗יְלָה וְהִנֵּה־אִישׁ֙ רֹכֵב֙ עַל־ס֣וּס אָדֹ֔ם וְה֣וּא עֹמֵ֔ד בֵּ֥ין הַהֲדַסִּ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּמְּצֻלָ֑ה וְאַחֲרָיו֙ סוּסִ֣ים אֲדֻמִּ֔ים שְׂרֻקִּ֖ים וּלְבָנִֽים׃ In the night, I had a vision. I saw a figure, mounted on a bay horse, standing among the myrtles^bamong the myrtles Septuagint reads “between the mountains”; cf. 6.1. In 6.1ff. four teams of horses leave that abode to roam the four quarters of the earth; in 1.8ff. they are about to reenter God’s abode after such a reconnaissance. in the Deep, and behind him were bay,^cbay Septuagint adds “dappled”; cf. 6.3. sorrel,^dsorrel Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “black”; cf. 6.2. and white horses.

וָאֹמַ֖ר מָה־אֵ֣לֶּה אֲדֹנִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֔י אֲנִ֥י אַרְאֶ֖ךָּ מָה־הֵ֥מָּה אֵֽלֶּה׃ I asked, “What are those, my lord?” And the angel who talked with me answered, “I will let you know what they are.”

וַיַּ֗עַן הָאִ֛ישׁ הָעֹמֵ֥ד בֵּין־הַהֲדַסִּ֖ים וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵ֚לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁלַ֣ח יְהֹוָ֔ה לְהִתְהַלֵּ֖ךְ בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ Then the figure who was standing among the myrtles^eamong the myrtles See the first note at v. 8. spoke up and said, “These were sent out by GOD to roam the earth.”

וַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּ אֶת־מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֗ה הָֽעֹמֵד֙ בֵּ֣ין הַהֲדַסִּ֔ים וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ בָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֥ה כׇל־הָאָ֖רֶץ יֹשֶׁ֥בֶת וְשֹׁקָֽטֶת׃ And in fact, they reported to the angel of GOD who was standing among the myrtles,^famong the myrtles See the first note at v. 8. “We have roamed the earth, and have found all the earth dwelling in tranquility.”^gdwelling in tranquility Upheavals at the start of Darius’ reign had encouraged hopes of an early restoration of the Davidic dynasty (cf. Hag. 2.21ff.). Now these hopes were dashed.

וַיַּ֣עַן מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָה֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת עַד־מָתַ֗י אַתָּה֙ לֹֽא־תְרַחֵ֣ם אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְאֵ֖ת עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר זָעַ֔מְתָּה זֶ֖ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃ Thereupon the angel of GOD exclaimed, “O GOD of Hosts! How long will You withhold pardon from Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, which You placed under a curse seventy years ago?”

וַיַּ֣עַן יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֥ר בִּ֖י דְּבָרִ֣ים טוֹבִ֑ים דְּבָרִ֖ים נִחֻמִֽים׃ GODreplied with kind, comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֔י קְרָ֣א לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת קִנֵּ֧אתִי לִירוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם וּלְצִיּ֖וֹן קִנְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃ Then the angel who talked with me said to me: “Proclaim! Thus said GOD of Hosts: I am very jealous for Jerusalem—for Zion—

וְקֶ֤צֶף גָּדוֹל֙ אֲנִ֣י קֹצֵ֔ף עַל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם הַשַּֽׁאֲנַנִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ קָצַ֣פְתִּי מְּעָ֔ט וְהֵ֖מָּה עָזְר֥וּ לְרָעָֽה׃ and I am very angry with those nations that are at ease; for I was only angry a little, but they overdid the punishment.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה שַׁ֤בְתִּי לִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ בְּֽרַחֲמִ֔ים בֵּיתִי֙ יִבָּ֣נֶה בָּ֔הּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת (וקוה) [וְקָ֥ו] יִנָּטֶ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD: I graciously return to Jerusalem. My House shall be built in her—declares GOD of Hosts—the measuring line is being applied to Jerusalem.

ע֣וֹד ׀ קְרָ֣א לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת ע֛וֹד תְּפוּצֶ֥נָה עָרַ֖י מִטּ֑וֹב וְנִחַ֨ם יְהֹוָ֥ה עוֹד֙ אֶת־צִיּ֔וֹן וּבָחַ֥ר ע֖וֹד בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {פ}
Proclaim further: Thus said GOD of Hosts: My towns shall yet overflow with bounty. For GOD will again comfort Zion—and will again choose Jerusalem.”

וָאֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־עֵינַ֖י וָאֵ֑רֶא וְהִנֵּ֖ה אַרְבַּ֥ע קְרָנֽוֹת׃ I looked up, and I saw four horns.^afour horns These correspond to the four winds of v. 10.

וָאֹמַ֗ר אֶל־הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֥ר בִּ֖י מָה־אֵ֑לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י אֵ֤לֶּה הַקְּרָנוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר זֵר֣וּ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֔ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {פ}
I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are those?” “Those,” he replied, “are the horns that tossed Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

וַיַּרְאֵ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֔ה אַרְבָּעָ֖ה חָרָשִֽׁים׃ Then GOD showed me four smiths.

וָאֹמַ֕ר מָ֛ה אֵ֥לֶּה בָאִ֖ים לַֽעֲשׂ֑וֹת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לֵאמֹ֗ר אֵ֣לֶּה הַקְּרָנ֞וֹת אֲשֶׁר־זֵ֣רוּ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֗ה כְּפִי־אִישׁ֙ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ אֵ֙לֶּה֙ לְהַחֲרִ֣יד אֹתָ֔ם לְיַדּ֞וֹת אֶת־קַרְנ֣וֹת הַגּוֹיִ֗ם הַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים קֶ֛רֶן אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָ֖ה לְזָרוֹתָֽהּ׃ {ס}         “What are they coming to do?” I asked. The angel^bThe angel Heb. “he.” replied: “Those are the horns that tossed Judah, so that nobody at all could raise their head; and these [smiths] have come to throw them into a panic,^cto throw them into a panic Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “to sharpen ax heads.” to hew down^dhew down Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the horns of the nations that raise a horn against the land of Judah, to toss it.”

וָאֶשָּׂ֥א עֵינַ֛י וָאֵ֖רֶא וְהִנֵּה־אִ֑ישׁ וּבְיָד֖וֹ חֶ֥בֶל מִדָּֽה׃ I looked up, and I saw a figure holding a measuring line.

וָאֹמַ֕ר אָ֖נָה אַתָּ֣ה הֹלֵ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י לָמֹד֙ אֶת־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לִרְא֥וֹת כַּמָּֽה־רׇחְבָּ֖הּ וְכַמָּ֥ה אׇרְכָּֽהּ׃ “Where are you going?” I asked. “To measure Jerusalem,” he replied, “to see how long and wide it is to be.”

וְהִנֵּ֗ה הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֥ר בִּ֖י יֹצֵ֑א וּמַלְאָ֣ךְ אַחֵ֔ר יֹצֵ֖א לִקְרָאתֽוֹ׃ But the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔ו רֻ֗ץ דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־הַנַּ֥עַר הַלָּ֖ז לֵאמֹ֑ר פְּרָזוֹת֙ תֵּשֵׁ֣ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם מֵרֹ֥ב אָדָ֛ם וּבְהֵמָ֖ה בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃ The former said to him, “Run to that agent^ethat agent I.e., the measurer or the prophet; intended reference uncertain. and tell him:
“Jerusalem shall be peopled as a city without walls, so many shall be the people and cattle it contains.

וַאֲנִ֤י אֶֽהְיֶה־לָּהּ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה ח֥וֹמַת אֵ֖שׁ סָבִ֑יב וּלְכָב֖וֹד אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה בְתוֹכָֽהּ׃ {פ}
And I Myself—declares GOD —will be a wall of fire all around it, and I will be a glory inside it.

ה֣וֹי ה֗וֹי וְנֻ֛סוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ צָפ֖וֹן נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֠י כְּאַרְבַּ֞ע רוּח֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם פֵּרַ֥שְׂתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ “Away, away! Flee from the land of the north—says GOD —though I swept you [there] like the four winds of heaven—declares GOD.”

ה֥וֹי צִיּ֖וֹן הִמָּלְטִ֑י יוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת בַּת־בָּבֶֽל׃ {פ}
Away, escape, O Zion, you who dwell in Fair Babylon!

כִּ֣י כֹ֣ה אָמַר֮ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ אַחַ֣ר כָּב֔וֹד שְׁלָחַ֕נִי אֶל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם הַשֹּׁלְלִ֣ים אֶתְכֶ֑ם כִּ֚י הַנֹּגֵ֣עַ בָּכֶ֔ם נֹגֵ֖עַ בְּבָבַ֥ת עֵינֽוֹ׃ For thus said GOD of Hosts—who sent me after glory^fwho sent me after glory Emendation yields “whose Presence sent me.” —concerning the nations that have taken you as spoil: “Whoever touches you touches the pupil of their own^gtheir own According to ancient Jewish tradition, a scribal change for “My.” eye.

כִּ֠י הִנְנִ֨י מֵנִ֤יף אֶת־יָדִי֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָי֥וּ שָׁלָ֖ל לְעַבְדֵיהֶ֑ם וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁלָחָֽנִי׃ {ס}         For I will lift My hand against them, and they shall be spoil for those they enslaved.”—Then you shall know that I was sent by GOD of Hosts.

רׇנִּ֥י וְשִׂמְחִ֖י בַּת־צִיּ֑וֹן כִּ֧י הִנְנִי־בָ֛א וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֥י בְתוֹכֵ֖ךְ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Shout for joy, Fair Zion! For lo, I come; and I will dwell in your midst—declares GOD.

וְנִלְווּ֩ גוֹיִ֨ם רַבִּ֤ים אֶל־יְהֹוָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י לְעָ֑ם וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֣י בְתוֹכֵ֔ךְ וְיָדַ֕עַתְּ כִּי־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֵלָֽיִךְ׃ In that day many nations will attach themselves to GOD and become God’s^hGod’s Heb. “My.” people, and GodⁱGod Heb. “I.” will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that I was sent to you by GOD of Hosts.

וְנָחַ֨ל יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־יְהוּדָה֙ חֶלְק֔וֹ עַ֖ל אַדְמַ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּבָחַ֥ר ע֖וֹד בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ GODwill claim Judah as a special portion^jclaim Judah as a special portion Emendation yields “allot to Judah its portion”; cf. Num. 34.17. in the Holy Land—and will choose Jerusalem once more.

הַ֥ס כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֖ר מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֥י נֵע֖וֹר מִמְּע֥וֹן קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃ {פ}
Be silent, all flesh, before GOD !
For [God] is roused from the holy habitation.

וַיַּרְאֵ֗נִי אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל עֹמֵ֕ד לִפְנֵ֖י מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהַשָּׂטָ֛ן עֹמֵ֥ד עַל־יְמִינ֖וֹ לְשִׂטְנֽוֹ׃ I was further shown Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of GOD, and the Accuser^aAccuser In contrast to others “Satan.” standing at his right to accuse him.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־הַשָּׂטָ֗ן יִגְעַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה בְּךָ֙ הַשָּׂטָ֔ן וְיִגְעַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ בְּךָ֔ הַבֹּחֵ֖ר בִּירֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם הֲל֧וֹא זֶ֦ה א֖וּד מֻצָּ֥ל מֵאֵֽשׁ׃ But [the angel of] GOD said to the Accuser, “GOD rebukes you, O Accuser; GOD who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you! For this is a brand plucked from the fire.”^ba brand plucked from the fire Joshua’s grandfather had been executed by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25.18–21) and his father was exiled (Hag. 1.1; 1 Chron. 5.40–41), but he himself has returned.

וִיהוֹשֻׁ֕עַ הָיָ֥ה לָבֻ֖שׁ בְּגָדִ֣ים צוֹאִ֑ים וְעֹמֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י הַמַּלְאָֽךְ׃ Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments when he stood before the angel.

וַיַּ֣עַן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶל־הָעֹמְדִ֤ים לְפָנָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הָסִ֛ירוּ הַבְּגָדִ֥ים הַצֹּאִ֖ים מֵעָלָ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו רְאֵ֨ה הֶעֱבַ֤רְתִּי מֵעָלֶ֙יךָ֙ עֲוֺנֶ֔ךָ וְהַלְבֵּ֥שׁ אֹתְךָ֖ מַחֲלָצֽוֹת׃ The latter spoke up and said to his attendants, “Take the filthy garments off him!” And he said to him, “See, I have removed your guilt from you, and you shall be clothed in [priestly] robes.”

וָאֹמַ֕ר יָשִׂ֛ימוּ צָנִ֥יף טָה֖וֹר עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיָּשִׂ֩ימוּ֩ הַצָּנִ֨יף הַטָּה֜וֹר עַל־רֹאשׁ֗וֹ וַיַּלְבִּשֻׁ֙הוּ֙ בְּגָדִ֔ים וּמַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה עֹמֵֽד׃ Then he^che Heb. “I.” gave the order, “Let a pure^dpure I.e., ritually pure. diadem be placed on his head.” And they placed the pure diadem on his head and clothed him in [priestly] garments,^ethey placed the pure diadem on his head and clothed him in [priestly] garments Joshua has now been rendered fit to associate with the heavenly beings (v. 7); cf. Isa. 6.6–8. as the angel of GOD stood by.

וַיָּ֙עַד֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה בִּיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃ And the angel of GOD charged Joshua as follows:

כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת אִם־בִּדְרָכַ֤י תֵּלֵךְ֙ וְאִ֣ם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֔ר וְגַם־אַתָּה֙ תָּדִ֣ין אֶת־בֵּיתִ֔י וְגַ֖ם תִּשְׁמֹ֣ר אֶת־חֲצֵרָ֑י וְנָתַתִּ֤י לְךָ֙ מַהְלְכִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָעֹמְדִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ “Thus said GOD of Hosts: If you walk in My paths and keep My charge, you in turn will rule My House and guard My courts, and I will permit you to move about among these attendants.

שְֽׁמַֽע־נָ֞א יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ ׀ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֗וֹל אַתָּה֙ וְרֵעֶ֙יךָ֙ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֣ים לְפָנֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־אַנְשֵׁ֥י מוֹפֵ֖ת הֵ֑מָּה כִּֽי־הִנְנִ֥י מֵבִ֛יא אֶת־עַבְדִּ֖י צֶֽמַח׃ Hearken well, O High Priest Joshua, you and your fellow priests sitting before you! For those men are a sign that^fyou! For those men are a sign that Or “you—who are men of significance! For.” I am going to bring My servant the Branch.^gthe Branch I.e., the future king of David’s line. See 6.12; Jer. 23.5–6; 33.15–16; cf. Isa. 11.1.

כִּ֣י ׀ הִנֵּ֣ה הָאֶ֗בֶן אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַ֙תִּי֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ עַל־אֶ֥בֶן אַחַ֖ת שִׁבְעָ֣ה עֵינָ֑יִם הִנְנִ֧י מְפַתֵּ֣חַ פִּתֻּחָ֗הּ נְאֻם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וּמַשְׁתִּ֛י אֶת־עֲוֺ֥ן הָאָֽרֶץ־הַהִ֖יא בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃ For mark well this stone that I place before Joshua, a single stone with seven eyes.^hwith seven eyes Meaning of Heb. uncertain. The stone apparently symbolizes the God-given power of the future Davidic ruler; see below 4.6–7. I will execute its engraving—declares GOD of Hosts—and I will remove that country’s guilt in a single day.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נְאֻם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת תִּקְרְא֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ אֶל־תַּ֥חַת גֶּ֖פֶן וְאֶל־תַּ֥חַת תְּאֵנָֽה׃ In that day—declares GOD of Hosts—you will be inviting each other to the shade of vines and fig trees.”

וַיָּ֕שׇׁב הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֑י וַיְעִירֵ֕נִי כְּאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יֵע֥וֹר מִשְּׁנָתֽוֹ׃ The angel who talked with me came back and woke me as someone is wakened from sleep.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י מָ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה רֹאֶ֑ה (ויאמר) [וָאֹמַ֡ר] רָאִ֣יתִי ׀ וְהִנֵּ֣ה מְנוֹרַת֩ זָהָ֨ב כֻּלָּ֜הּ וְגֻלָּ֣הּ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֗הּ וְשִׁבְעָ֤ה נֵרֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ שִׁבְעָ֤ה וְשִׁבְעָה֙ מֽוּצָק֔וֹת לַנֵּר֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹאשָֽׁהּ׃ He said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl above it. The lamps on it are seven in number, and the lamps above it have^alamps above it have Emendation yields “bowl above it has.” seven pipes;

וּשְׁנַ֥יִם זֵיתִ֖ים עָלֶ֑יהָ אֶחָד֙ מִימִ֣ין הַגֻּלָּ֔ה וְאֶחָ֖ד עַל־שְׂמֹאלָֽהּ׃ and by it are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left.”

וָאַ֙עַן֙ וָֽאֹמַ֔ר אֶל־הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֥ר בִּ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר מָה־אֵ֖לֶּה אֲדֹנִֽי׃ I, in turn, asked the angel who talked with me, “What do those things mean, my lord?”

וַ֠יַּ֠עַן הַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֥ר בִּי֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הֲל֥וֹא יָדַ֖עְתָּ מָה־הֵ֣מָּה אֵ֑לֶּה וָאֹמַ֖ר לֹ֥א אֲדֹנִֽי׃ “Do you not know what those things mean?” asked the angel who talked with me; and I said, “No, my lord.”

וַיַּ֜עַן וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר זֶ֚ה דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ Then he explained to me as follows:^bas follows The explanation is given in the last sentence of v. 10.
“This is the word of GOD to Zerubbabel:^cZerubbabel A grandson of King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3.17–19) and the secular head of the repatriated community (Hag. 1.1; etc.). Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit^dby My spirit I.e., Zerubbabel will succeed by means of spiritual gifts conferred upon him by GOD; cf. Isa. 11.2ff. —said GOD of Hosts.

מִֽי־אַתָּ֧ה הַֽר־הַגָּד֛וֹל לִפְנֵ֥י זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל לְמִישֹׁ֑ר וְהוֹצִיא֙ אֶת־הָאֶ֣בֶן הָרֹאשָׁ֔הֿ תְּשֻׁא֕וֹת חֵ֥ן חֵ֖ן לָֽהּ׃ {פ}
Whoever you are, O great mountain in the path of Zerubbabel, turn into level ground! For he shall produce that excellent stone; it shall be greeted with shouts of ‘Beautiful! Beautiful!’”

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ And the word of GOD came to me:

יְדֵ֣י זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל יִסְּד֛וּ הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה וְיָדָ֣יו תְּבַצַּ֑עְנָה וְיָ֣דַעְתָּ֔ כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ “Zerubbabel’s hands have founded this House and Zerubbabel’s hands shall complete it. Then you shall know that it was GOD of Hosts who sent me to you.

כִּ֣י מִ֣י בַז֮ לְי֣וֹם קְטַנּוֹת֒ וְשָׂמְח֗וּ וְרָא֞וּ אֶת־הָאֶ֧בֶן הַבְּדִ֛יל בְּיַ֥ד זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל שִׁבְעָה־אֵ֑לֶּה עֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה הֵ֥מָּה מְשׁוֹטְטִ֖ים בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Does anyone scorn a day of small beginnings? When they see the stone of distinction^estone of distinction Meaning of Heb. uncertain; in contrast to others “plummet.” in the hand of Zerubbabel, they shall rejoice.
“Those seven are the eyes of GOD, ranging over the whole earth.”

וָאַ֖עַן וָאֹמַ֣ר אֵלָ֑יו מַה־שְּׁנֵ֤י הַזֵּיתִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה עַל־יְמִ֥ין הַמְּנוֹרָ֖ה וְעַל־שְׂמֹאולָֽהּ׃ “And what,” I asked him, “are those two olive trees, one on the right and one on the left of the lampstand?”

וָאַ֣עַן שֵׁנִ֔ית וָאֹמַ֖ר אֵלָ֑יו מַה־שְׁתֵּ֞י שִׁבְּלֵ֣י הַזֵּיתִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּיַ֗ד שְׁנֵי֙ צַנְתְּר֣וֹת הַזָּהָ֔ב הַֽמְרִיקִ֥ים מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הַזָּהָֽב׃ And I further asked him, “What are the two tops^ftops Meaning of Heb. uncertain; literally “ears” (as of grain). of the olive trees that feed their gold^ggold Emendation yields “oil”; cf. v. 14. through those two golden tubes?”^htubes Or “funnels”; through them the oil runs from the olive trees into the bowl of vv. 2 and 3.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הֲל֥וֹא יָדַ֖עְתָּ מָה־אֵ֑לֶּה וָאֹמַ֖ר לֹ֥א אֲדֹנִֽי׃ He asked me, “Don’t you know what they are?” And I replied, “No, my lord.”

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵ֖לֶּה שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־הַיִּצְהָ֑ר הָעֹמְדִ֖ים עַל־אֲד֥וֹן כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Then he explained, “They are the two anointed dignitariesⁱanointed dignitaries I.e., the high priest and the king (cf. 3.8–9 with note); lit. “sons of oil.” who attend the Sovereign of all the earth.”

וָאָשׁ֕וּב וָאֶשָּׂ֥א עֵינַ֖י וָֽאֶרְאֶ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה מְגִלָּ֥ה עָפָֽה׃ I looked up again, and I saw a flying scroll.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י מָ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה רֹאֶ֑ה וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ מְגִלָּ֣ה עָפָ֔ה אׇרְכָּהּ֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וְרׇחְבָּ֖הּ עֶ֥שֶׂר בָּאַמָּֽה׃ “What do you see?” he asked. And I replied, “A flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י זֹ֚את הָֽאָלָ֔ה הַיּוֹצֵ֖את עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כׇל־הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֣י כׇל־הַגֹּנֵ֗ב מִזֶּה֙ כָּמ֣וֹהָ נִקָּ֔ה וְכׇ֨ל־הַנִּשְׁבָּ֔ע מִזֶּ֖ה כָּמ֥וֹהָ נִקָּֽה׃ “That,” he explained to me, “is the curse that goes out over the whole land. For everyone who has stolen, as is forbidden on one side [of the scroll], has gone unpunished; and everyone who has sworn [falsely], as is forbidden on the other side of it, has gone unpunished.^aFor everyone who has stolen … and everyone who has sworn … has gone unpunished Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

הוֹצֵאתִ֗יהָ נְאֻם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וּבָ֙אָה֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַגַּנָּ֔ב וְאֶל־בֵּ֛ית הַנִּשְׁבָּ֥ע בִּשְׁמִ֖י לַשָּׁ֑קֶר וְלָ֙נֶה֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ בֵּית֔וֹ וְכִלַּ֖תּוּ וְאֶת־עֵצָ֥יו וְאֶת־אֲבָנָֽיו׃ [But] I have sent it forth—declares GOD of Hosts—and [the curse] shall enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name, and it shall lodge inside their houses and shall consume them to the last timber and stone.”

וַיֵּצֵ֕א הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י שָׂ֣א נָ֤א עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ וּרְאֵ֔ה מָ֖ה הַיּוֹצֵ֥את הַזֹּֽאת׃ Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said, “Now look up and note this other object that is approaching.”

וָאֹמַ֖ר מַה־הִ֑יא וַיֹּ֗אמֶר זֹ֤את הָֽאֵיפָה֙ הַיּוֹצֵ֔את וַיֹּ֕אמֶר זֹ֥את עֵינָ֖ם בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ I asked, “What is it?” And he said, “This tub^btub Heb. ephah, a measure of capacity. that is approaching—this,” said he, “is their eye^ceye Septuagint and Syriac read “guilt.” in all the land.”

וְהִנֵּ֛ה כִּכַּ֥ר עֹפֶ֖רֶת נִשֵּׂ֑את וְזֹאת֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה אַחַ֔ת יוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת בְּת֥וֹךְ הָאֵיפָֽה׃ And behold, a disk of lead was lifted, revealing a female figure^dfemale figure Apparently a purported goddess or her idol; cf. v. 11. seated inside the tub.

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ זֹ֣את הָרִשְׁעָ֔ה וַיַּשְׁלֵ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖הּ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הָֽאֵיפָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁלֵ֛ךְ אֶת־אֶ֥בֶן הָעוֹפֶ֖רֶת אֶל־פִּֽיהָ׃ {ס}         “That,” he said, “is Wickedness”; and, thrusting her back inside the tub, he pressed the leaden weight into the tub’s mouth.

וָאֶשָּׂ֨א עֵינַ֜י וָאֵ֗רֶא וְהִנֵּה֩ שְׁתַּ֨יִם נָשִׁ֤ים יֽוֹצְאוֹת֙ וְר֣וּחַ בְּכַנְפֵיהֶ֔ם וְלָהֵ֥נָּה כְנָפַ֖יִם כְּכַנְפֵ֣י הַחֲסִידָ֑ה וַתִּשֶּׂ֙אנָה֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֵיפָ֔ה בֵּ֥ין הָאָ֖רֶץ וּבֵ֥ין הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ I looked up again and saw two female figures come soaring with the wind in their wings—they had wings like those of a stork—and carry off the tub between earth and sky.

וָאֹמַ֕ר אֶל־הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֑י אָ֛נָה הֵ֥מָּה מֽוֹלִכ֖וֹת אֶת־הָאֵיפָֽה׃ “Where are they taking the tub?” I asked the angel who talked with me.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י לִבְנֽוֹת־לָ֥הֿ בַ֖יִת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ שִׁנְעָ֑ר וְהוּכַ֛ן וְהֻנִּ֥יחָה שָּׁ֖ם עַל־מְכֻנָתָֽהּ׃ {פ}
And he answered, “To build a shrine for it^eit Or “her”; cf. vv. 7–8 and Ibn Ezra. in the land of Shinar;^fShinar I.e., Babylonia; cf. Gen. 10.10; 11.2, 9. [a stand] shall be erected for it, and it^git Or “she”; cf. vv. 7–8. shall be set down there upon the stand.”

וָאָשֻׁ֗ב וָאֶשָּׂ֤א עֵינַי֙ וָֽאֶרְאֶ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה אַרְבַּ֤ע מַרְכָּבוֹת֙ יֹֽצְא֔וֹת מִבֵּ֖ין שְׁנֵ֣י הֶֽהָרִ֑ים וְהֶהָרִ֖ים הָרֵ֥י נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ I looked up again, and I saw: Four chariots were coming out from between the two mountains; the mountains were of copper.

בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה הָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה סוּסִ֣ים אֲדֻמִּ֑ים וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית סוּסִ֥ים שְׁחֹרִֽים׃ The horses of the first chariot were bay, the horses of the second chariot were black;

וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית סוּסִ֣ים לְבָנִ֑ים וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָה֙ הָרְבִעִ֔ית סוּסִ֥ים בְּרֻדִּ֖ים אֲמֻצִּֽים׃ the horses of the third chariot were white, and the horses of the fourth chariot were spotted—dappled.

וָאַ֙עַן֙ וָֽאֹמַ֔ר אֶל־הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֑י מָה־אֵ֖לֶּה אֲדֹנִֽי׃ And I spoke up and asked the angel who talked with me: “What are those, my lord?”

וַיַּ֥עַן הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֑י אֵ֗לֶּה אַרְבַּע֙ רוּח֣וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם יוֹצְא֕וֹת מֵֽהִתְיַצֵּ֖ב עַל־אֲד֥וֹן כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ In reply, the angel said to me, “Those are the four winds of heaven coming out after presenting themselves to the Sovereign of all the earth.

אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֞הּ הַסּוּסִ֣ים הַשְּׁחֹרִ֗ים יֹֽצְאִים֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן וְהַ֨לְּבָנִ֔ים יָצְא֖וּ אֶל־אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וְהַ֨בְּרֻדִּ֔ים יָצְא֖וּ אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ הַתֵּימָֽן׃ The one with the black horses is going out to the region of the north; the white ones have gone out^ahave gone out Change of vocalization yields “will go out.” to what is to the west of them;^bwhat is to the west of them Cf. ʼaḥor, “west,” Isa. 9.11. Emendation yields “the region of the west.” the spotted ones have gone out^chave gone out Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to the region of the south;

וְהָאֲמֻצִּ֣ים יָצְא֗וּ וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ לְהִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לְכ֖וּ הִתְהַלְּכ֣וּ בָאָ֑רֶץ וַתִּתְהַלַּ֖כְנָה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ and the dappled ones have gone out…”^dthe dappled ones have gone out… Emendation yields “the bay ones will go out to the region of the east.” They were ready to start out and range the earth, and he gave them the order, “Start out and range the earth!” And they ranged the earth.

וַיַּזְעֵ֣ק אֹתִ֔י וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר רְאֵ֗ה הַיּֽוֹצְאִים֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן הֵנִ֥יחוּ אֶת־רוּחִ֖י בְּאֶ֥רֶץ צָפֽוֹן׃ {פ}
Then he alerted me, and said to me, “Take good note! Those that went out to the region of the north have done my pleasure^edone my pleasure Cf. postbiblical naḥath ruaḥ, “gratification.” Emendation yields, “done GOD’s pleasure.” in the region of the north.”^fthe region of the north I.e., Babylonia, whose communication with Judah was via North Mesopotamia and Syria; cf. 2.10–11.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

לָק֙וֹחַ֙ מֵאֵ֣ת הַגּוֹלָ֔ה מֵחֶלְדַּ֕י וּמֵאֵ֥ת טוֹבִיָּ֖ה וּמֵאֵ֣ת יְדַֽעְיָ֑ה וּבָאתָ֤ אַתָּה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וּבָ֗אתָ בֵּ֚ית יֹאשִׁיָּ֣ה בֶן־צְפַנְיָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֖אוּ מִבָּבֶֽל׃ Receive from^gfrom Emendation yields “the gift of.” the exiled community—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and you, in turn, proceed the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.

וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ כֶֽסֶף־וְזָהָ֖ב וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ עֲטָר֑וֹת וְשַׂמְתָּ֗ בְּרֹ֛אשׁ יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָ֖ק הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ Take silver and gold and make crowns. Place [one] on the head of High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,

וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּה־אִ֞ישׁ צֶ֤מַח שְׁמוֹ֙ וּמִתַּחְתָּ֣יו יִצְמָ֔ח וּבָנָ֖ה אֶת־הֵיכַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה׃ and say to him, “Thus said GOD of Hosts: Behold, a man called the Branch^hthe Branch See note at 3.8. shall branch out from the place where he is, and he shall build the Temple of GOD.

וְ֠ה֠וּא יִבְנֶ֞ה אֶת־הֵיכַ֤ל יְהֹוָה֙ וְהֽוּא־יִשָּׂ֣א ה֔וֹד וְיָשַׁ֥ב וּמָשַׁ֖ל עַל־כִּסְא֑וֹ וְהָיָ֤ה כֹהֵן֙ עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ וַעֲצַ֣ת שָׁל֔וֹם תִּהְיֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ין שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ He shall build the Temple of GOD and shall assume majesty, and he shall sit on his throne and rule. And there shall also be a priest seated on his throne,ⁱseated on his throne Septuagint reads “on his right side.” and harmonious understanding shall prevail between them.”

וְהָעֲטָרֹ֗ת תִּֽהְיֶה֙ לְחֵ֙לֶם֙ וּלְטוֹבִיָּ֣ה וְלִידַֽעְיָ֔ה וּלְחֵ֖ן בֶּן־צְפַנְיָ֑ה לְזִכָּר֖וֹן בְּהֵיכַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה׃ The crowns shall remain in the Temple of GOD as a memorial to Helem,^jHelem The Syriac version reads “Heldai”; cf. v. 10. Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen^kHen In v. 10, “Josiah.” son of Zephaniah.

וּרְחוֹקִ֣ים ׀ יָבֹ֗אוּ וּבָנוּ֙ בְּהֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁלָחַ֣נִי אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָיָה֙ אִם־שָׁמ֣וֹעַ תִּשְׁמְע֔וּן בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
Peoples from far away shall come and take part in the building of the Temple of GOD, and you shall know that I have been sent to you by GOD of Hosts—if only you will obey the ETERNAL your God!

וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע לְדָרְיָ֖וֶשׁ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ הָיָ֨ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־זְכַרְיָ֗ה בְּאַרְבָּעָ֛ה לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִ֖י בְּכִסְלֵֽו׃ In the fourth year of King Darius, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Kislev, the word of GOD came to Zechariah—

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל שַׂר־אֶ֕צֶר וְרֶ֥גֶם מֶ֖לֶךְ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֑יו לְחַלּ֖וֹת אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ when Bethel-sharezer and Regem-melech and his men sent^aand Regem-melech and his men sent Emendation yields “sent Regem-melech and his men.” to entreat the favor of GOD,

לֵאמֹ֗ר אֶל־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ לְבֵית־יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְאֶל־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר הַֽאֶבְכֶּה֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁ֔י הִנָּזֵ֕ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתִי זֶ֖ה כַּמֶּ֥ה שָׁנִֽים׃ {ס}         [and] to address this inquiry to the priests of the House of GOD and to the prophets: “Shall I weep and practice abstinence in the fifth month,^bweep and practice abstinence in the fifth month Because of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem; cf. 2 Kings 25.8ff. as I have been doing all these years?”

וַיְהִ֛י דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ Thereupon the word of GOD of Hosts came to me:

אֱמֹר֙ אֶל־כׇּל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר כִּֽי־צַמְתֶּ֨ם וְסָפ֜וֹד בַּחֲמִישִׁ֣י וּבַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וְזֶה֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה הֲצ֥וֹם צַמְתֻּ֖נִי אָֽנִי׃ Say to all the people of the land and to the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and seventh months all these seventy years, did you fast for my benefit?

וְכִ֥י תֹאכְל֖וּ וְכִ֣י תִשְׁתּ֑וּ הֲל֤וֹא אַתֶּם֙ הָאֹ֣כְלִ֔ים וְאַתֶּ֖ם הַשֹּׁתִֽים׃ And when you eat and drink, who but you does the eating, and who but you does the drinking?

הֲל֣וֹא אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָרָ֤א יְהֹוָה֙ בְּיַד֙ הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֔ים בִּהְי֤וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ יֹשֶׁ֣בֶת וּשְׁלֵוָ֔ה וְעָרֶ֖יהָ סְבִיבֹתֶ֑יהָ וְהַנֶּ֥גֶב וְהַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה יֹשֵֽׁב׃ {פ}
Look, this is the message that GOD proclaimed through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and the towns about her were peopled and tranquil, when the Negeb and the Shephelah were peopled.

וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־זְכַרְיָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ And the word of GOD to Zechariah continued:

כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר מִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֱמֶת֙ שְׁפֹ֔טוּ וְחֶ֣סֶד וְרַֽחֲמִ֔ים עֲשׂ֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־אָחִֽיו׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts: Execute true justice; deal loyally and compassionately with one another.

וְאַלְמָנָ֧ה וְיָת֛וֹם גֵּ֥ר וְעָנִ֖י אַֽל־תַּעֲשֹׁ֑קוּ וְרָעַת֙ אִ֣ישׁ אָחִ֔יו אַֽל־תַּחְשְׁב֖וּ בִּלְבַבְכֶֽם׃ Do not defraud the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; and do not plot evil^cevil More precisely, “even a hint of evil.” against one another.—

וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֔יב וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ כָתֵ֖ף סֹרָ֑רֶת וְאׇזְנֵיהֶ֖ם הִכְבִּ֥ידוּ מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃ But they refused to pay heed. They presented a balky back and turned a deaf ear.

וְלִבָּ֞ם שָׂ֣מוּ שָׁמִ֗יר מִ֠שְּׁמ֠וֹעַ אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֤ה וְאֶת־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁלַ֜ח יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בְּרוּח֔וֹ בְּיַ֖ד הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים וַֽיְהִי֙ קֶ֣צֶף גָּד֔וֹל מֵאֵ֖ת יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ They hardened their hearts like adamant against heeding the instruction and admonition that GOD of Hosts sent to them by divine spirit through the earlier prophets; and a terrible wrath issued from GOD of Hosts.

וַיְהִ֥י כַאֲשֶׁר־קָרָ֖א וְלֹ֣א שָׁמֵ֑עוּ כֵּ֤ן יִקְרְאוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א אֶשְׁמָ֔ע אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ Even as they were called and they would not listen, “So,” said GOD of Hosts, “let them call and I will not listen.”

וְאֵ֣סָעֲרֵ֗ם עַ֤ל כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יְדָע֔וּם וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ נָשַׁ֣מָּה אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם מֵֽעֹבֵ֖ר וּמִשָּׁ֑ב וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ אֶֽרֶץ־חֶמְדָּ֖ה לְשַׁמָּֽה׃ {פ}
I dispersed them among all those nations that they had not known, and the land was left behind them desolate, without any who came and went. They caused a delightful land to be turned into a desolation.

וַיְהִ֛י דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD of Hosts came [to me]:

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת קִנֵּ֥אתִי לְצִיּ֖וֹן קִנְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וְחֵמָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה קִנֵּ֥אתִי לָֽהּ׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts: I am very jealous for Zion, I am fiercely jealous for her.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שַׁ֚בְתִּי אֶל־צִיּ֔וֹן וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּת֣וֹךְ יְרֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְנִקְרְאָ֤ה יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ עִ֣יר הָֽאֱמֶ֔ת וְהַר־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת הַ֥ר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ Thus said GOD: I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Faithfulness, and the mount of GOD of Hosts the Holy Mount.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת עֹ֤ד יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ זְקֵנִ֣ים וּזְקֵנ֔וֹת בִּרְחֹב֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְאִ֧ישׁ מִשְׁעַנְתּ֛וֹ בְּיָד֖וֹ מֵרֹ֥ב יָמִֽים׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts: There shall yet be elderly men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age.

וּרְחֹב֤וֹת הָעִיר֙ יִמָּ֣לְא֔וּ יְלָדִ֖ים וִֽילָד֑וֹת מְשַׂחֲקִ֖ים בִּרְחֹֽבֹתֶֽיהָ׃ {פ}
And the squares of the city shall be crowded with boys and girls playing in the squares.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת כִּ֣י יִפָּלֵ֗א בְּעֵינֵי֙ שְׁאֵרִית֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵ֑ם גַּם־בְּעֵינַי֙ יִפָּלֵ֔א נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ {פ}
Thus said GOD of Hosts: Though it will seem impossible to the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible to Me?—declares GOD of Hosts.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִנְנִ֥י מוֹשִׁ֛יעַ אֶת־עַמִּ֖י מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִזְרָ֑ח וּמֵאֶ֖רֶץ מְב֥וֹא הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts: I will rescue My people from the lands of the east and from the lands of the west,

וְהֵבֵאתִ֣י אֹתָ֔ם וְשָׁכְנ֖וּ בְּת֣וֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְהָיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֗ם וַֽאֲנִי֙ אֶהְיֶ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת וּבִצְדָקָֽה׃ {פ}
and I will bring them home to dwell in Jerusalem. They shall be My people, and I will be their God—in truth and sincerity.

כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה יְדֵיכֶ֔ם הַשֹּֽׁמְעִים֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֵ֖ת הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה מִפִּי֙ הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר בְּי֞וֹם יֻסַּ֨ד בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת הַהֵיכָ֖ל לְהִבָּנֽוֹת׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts: Take courage, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the House of GOD of Hosts.

כִּ֗י לִפְנֵי֙ הַיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם שְׂכַ֤ר הָֽאָדָם֙ לֹ֣א נִֽהְיָ֔ה וּשְׂכַ֥ר הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה אֵינֶ֑נָּה וְלַיּוֹצֵ֨א וְלַבָּ֤א אֵין־שָׁלוֹם֙ מִן־הַצָּ֔ר וַאֲשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָדָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ בְּרֵעֵֽהוּ׃ ^aCf. Hag. 1.6. For before that time, the earnings from labor^bfrom labor Lit. “of a person.” were nil, and profits from livestock were nothing. It was not safe to go about one’s business on account of enemies; and I set every person against someone else.

וְעַתָּ֗ה לֹ֣א כַיָּמִ֤ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִים֙ אֲנִ֔י לִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as before—declares GOD of Hosts—

כִּֽי־זֶ֣רַע הַשָּׁל֗וֹם הַגֶּ֜פֶן תִּתֵּ֤ן פִּרְיָהּ֙ וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ תִּתֵּ֣ן אֶת־יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְהַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִתְּנ֣וּ טַלָּ֑ם וְהִנְחַלְתִּ֗י אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֛ית הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֶת־כׇּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ but what it sows shall prosper: The vine shall produce its fruit, the ground shall produce its yield, and the skies shall provide their moisture. I will bestow all these things upon the remnant of this people.

וְהָיָ֡ה כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ הֱיִיתֶ֨ם קְלָלָ֜ה בַּגּוֹיִ֗ם בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ וּבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כֵּ֚ן אוֹשִׁ֣יעַ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וִהְיִיתֶ֖ם בְּרָכָ֑ה אַל־תִּירָ֖אוּ תֶּחֱזַ֥קְנָה יְדֵיכֶֽם׃ {ס}         And just as you were a curse^ca curse I.e., a standard by which people curse; cf. Gen. 12.2 and note; Jer. 24.9. among the nations, O House of Judah and House of Israel, so, when I vindicate you, you shall become a blessing.^da blessing I.e., a standard by which people bless; cf. Gen. 12.2 and note. Have no fear; take courage!

כִּ֣י כֹ֣ה אָמַר֮ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר זָמַ֜מְתִּי לְהָרַ֣ע לָכֶ֗ם בְּהַקְצִ֤יף אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ אֹתִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְלֹ֖א נִחָֽמְתִּי׃ For thus said GOD of Hosts: Just as I planned to afflict you and did not relent when your ancestors provoked Me to anger—said GOD of Hosts—

כֵּ֣ן שַׁ֤בְתִּי זָמַ֙מְתִּי֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה לְהֵיטִ֥יב אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה אַל־תִּירָֽאוּ׃ so, at this time, I have turned and planned to do good to Jerusalem and to the House of Judah. Have no fear!

אֵ֥לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשׂ֑וּ דַּבְּר֤וּ אֱמֶת֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ אֱמֶת֙ וּמִשְׁפַּ֣ט שָׁל֔וֹם שִׁפְט֖וּ בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶֽם׃ These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates.

וְאִ֣ישׁ ׀ אֶת־רָעַ֣ת רֵעֵ֗הוּ אַֽל־תַּחְשְׁבוּ֙ בִּלְבַבְכֶ֔ם וּשְׁבֻ֥עַת שֶׁ֖קֶר אַֽל־תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ כִּ֧י אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֛לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂנֵ֖אתִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Not a single one of you shall contrive evil against another; and do not love perjury, because all those are things that I hate—declares GOD.

וַיְהִ֛י דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ And the word of GOD of Hosts came to me, saying,

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת צ֣וֹם הָרְבִיעִ֡י וְצ֣וֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי֩ וְצ֨וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י וְצ֣וֹם הָעֲשִׂירִ֗י יִהְיֶ֤ה לְבֵית־יְהוּדָה֙ לְשָׂשׂ֣וֹן וּלְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּֽלְמֹעֲדִ֖ים טוֹבִ֑ים וְהָאֱמֶ֥ת וְהַשָּׁל֖וֹם אֱהָֽבוּ׃ {פ}
Thus said GOD of Hosts: The fast of the fourth month,^efast of the fourth month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.3–7 (Jer. 52.6ff.). the fast of the fifth month,^ffast of the fifth month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.8–15 (Jer. 52.12ff.). the fast of the seventh month,^gfast of the seventh month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.25–26 (Jer. 41). and the fast of the tenth month^hfast of the tenth month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.1–2 (Jer. 52.4). shall become occasions for joy and gladness, happy festivals for the House of Judah; but you must love honesty and integrity.

כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת עֹ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָבֹ֣אוּ עַמִּ֔ים וְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י עָרִ֥ים רַבּֽוֹת׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts: Peoples and the inhabitants of many cities shall yet come—

וְֽהָלְכ֡וּ יוֹשְׁבֵי֩ אַחַ֨ת אֶל־אַחַ֜ת לֵאמֹ֗ר נֵלְכָ֤ה הָלוֹךְ֙ לְחַלּוֹת֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת אֵלְכָ֖ה גַּם־אָֽנִי׃ the inhabitants of one shall go to the other and say, “Let us go and entreat the favor of GOD, let us seek GOD of Hosts; I will go, too.”

וּבָ֨אוּ עַמִּ֤ים רַבִּים֙ וְגוֹיִ֣ם עֲצוּמִ֔ים לְבַקֵּ֛שׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וּלְחַלּ֖וֹת אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         The many peoples and the multitude of nations shall come to seek GOD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of GOD.

כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל לְשֹׁנ֣וֹת הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וְֽהֶחֱזִ֡יקוּ בִּכְנַף֩ אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדִ֜י לֵאמֹ֗ר נֵֽלְכָה֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם כִּ֥י שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ אֱלֹהִ֥ים עִמָּכֶֽם׃ {פ}
Thus said GOD of Hosts: In those days, ten people from nations of every tongue will take hold—they will take hold of every Jew by a corner of their cloak and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

מַשָּׂ֤א דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַדְרָ֔ךְ וְדַמֶּ֖שֶׂק מְנֻחָת֑וֹ כִּ֤י לַֽיהֹוָה֙ עֵ֣ין אָדָ֔ם וְכֹ֖ל שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ A pronouncement: The word of GOD.
[God] will reside in the land of Hadrach and Damascus;
For mortals will turn their eyes to GOD —
Like all the tribes of Israel—

וְגַם־חֲמָ֖ת תִּגְבׇּל־בָּ֑הּ צֹ֣ר וְצִיד֔וֹן כִּ֥י חָֽכְמָ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃ Including Hamath, which borders on that land,^athat land Of Hadrach and Damascus; Heb. “it.”
And Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

וַתִּ֥בֶן צֹ֛ר מָצ֖וֹר לָ֑הּ וַתִּצְבׇּר־כֶּ֙סֶף֙ כֶּֽעָפָ֔ר וְחָר֖וּץ כְּטִ֥יט חוּצֽוֹת׃ Tyre has built herself a fortress;
She has amassed silver like dust,
And gold like the mud in the streets.

הִנֵּ֤ה אֲדֹנָי֙ יֽוֹרִשֶׁ֔נָּה וְהִכָּ֥ה בַיָּ֖ם חֵילָ֑הּ וְהִ֖יא בָּאֵ֥שׁ תֵּאָכֵֽל׃ But my Sovereign will impoverish her;
Her forces shall be defeated at sea,
And she herself shall be consumed by fire.

תֵּרֶ֨א אַשְׁקְל֜וֹן וְתִירָ֗א וְעַזָּה֙ וְתָחִ֣יל מְאֹ֔ד וְעֶקְר֖וֹן כִּֽי־הֹבִ֣ישׁ מֶבָּטָ֑הּ וְאָ֤בַד מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ מֵֽעַזָּ֔ה וְאַשְׁקְל֖וֹן לֹ֥א תֵשֵֽׁב׃ Ashkelon shall see it and be frightened,
Gaza shall tremble violently,
And Ekron, at the collapse of her hopes.
Kingship shall vanish from Gaza,
Ashkelon shall be without inhabitants,

וְיָשַׁ֥ב מַמְזֵ֖ר בְּאַשְׁדּ֑וֹד וְהִכְרַתִּ֖י גְּא֥וֹן פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ And a mongrel people^ba mongrel people Heb. mamzer; cf. note at Deut. 23.3. shall settle in Ashdod.
I will uproot the grandeur of Philistia.

וַהֲסִרֹתִ֨י דָמָ֜יו מִפִּ֗יו וְשִׁקֻּצָיו֙ מִבֵּ֣ין שִׁנָּ֔יו וְנִשְׁאַ֥ר גַּם־ה֖וּא לֵֽאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְהָיָה֙ כְּאַלֻּ֣ף בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְעֶקְר֖וֹן כִּיבוּסִֽי׃ But I will clean out the blood from its mouth,
And the detestable things from between its teeth.
Its survivors, too, shall belong to our God:
They shall become like a clan in Judah,
And Ekron shall be like the Jebusites.

וְחָנִ֨יתִי לְבֵיתִ֤י מִצָּבָה֙ מֵעֹבֵ֣ר וּמִשָּׁ֔ב וְלֹֽא־יַעֲבֹ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם ע֖וֹד נֹגֵ֑שׂ כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה רָאִ֥יתִי בְעֵינָֽי׃ {ס}         And I will encamp in My House against armies,^cagainst armies Change of vocalization yields “as a garrison.”
Against any that come and go,
And no oppressor shall ever overrun them again;
For I have now taken note with My own eyes.^dwith My own eyes Emendation yields “of their suffering”; cf. 1 Sam. 1.11.

גִּילִ֨י מְאֹ֜ד בַּת־צִיּ֗וֹן הָרִ֙יעִי֙ בַּ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם הִנֵּ֤ה מַלְכֵּךְ֙ יָ֣בוֹא לָ֔ךְ צַדִּ֥יק וְנוֹשָׁ֖ע ה֑וּא עָנִי֙ וְרֹכֵ֣ב עַל־חֲמ֔וֹר וְעַל־עַ֖יִר בֶּן־אֲתֹנֽוֹת׃ Rejoice greatly, Fair Zion;
Raise a shout, Fair Jerusalem!
Lo, your king is coming to you.
He is victorious, triumphant,
Yet humble, riding on a donkey,
On a jackass foaled by a jenny.

וְהִכְרַתִּי־רֶ֣כֶב מֵאֶפְרַ֗יִם וְסוּס֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְנִכְרְתָה֙ קֶ֣שֶׁת מִלְחָמָ֔ה וְדִבֶּ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּמׇשְׁלוֹ֙ מִיָּ֣ם עַד־יָ֔ם וּמִנָּהָ֖ר עַד־אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃ He^eHe Heb. “I.” shall banish chariots from Ephraim
And horses from Jerusalem;
The warrior’s bow shall be banished.
He shall call on the nations to surrender,^fcall on the nations to surrender Cf. Deut. 20.10–12 and note.
And his rule shall extend from sea to sea
And from ocean to land’s end.

גַּם־אַ֣תְּ בְּדַם־בְּרִיתֵ֗ךְ שִׁלַּ֤חְתִּי אֲסִירַ֙יִךְ֙ מִבּ֔וֹר אֵ֥ין מַ֖יִם בּֽוֹ׃ ^gExact meaning and connection of this verse and the next uncertain. You, for your part, have released^hreleased Taking shillaḥti as a second-person singular feminine form, with Septuagint; cf. Judg. 5.7 with note.
Your prisoners from the dry pit,ⁱdry pit I.e., a pit that serves as a dungeon rather than a cistern (both are called bor in Heb.).
For the sake of the blood of your covenant,

שׁ֚וּבוּ לְבִצָּר֔וֹן אֲסִירֵ֖י הַתִּקְוָ֑ה גַּם־הַיּ֕וֹם מַגִּ֥יד מִשְׁנֶ֖ה אָשִׁ֥יב לָֽךְ׃ [Saying], “Return to Bizzaron,^jBizzaron Perhaps a nickname (“fortress”) for Samaria (Heb. Shomeron).
You prisoners of hope.”
In return [I] announce this day:
I will repay you double.

כִּֽי־דָרַ֨כְתִּי לִ֜י יְהוּדָ֗ה קֶ֚שֶׁת מִלֵּ֣אתִי אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְעוֹרַרְתִּ֤י בָנַ֙יִךְ֙ צִיּ֔וֹן עַל־בָּנַ֖יִךְ יָוָ֑ן וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ כְּחֶ֥רֶב גִּבּֽוֹר׃ For I have drawn Judah taut,
And applied [My hand] to Ephraim as to a bow,
And I will arouse your sons, O Zion,
Against your sons, O Javan,
And make you like a warrior’s sword.

וַֽיהֹוָה֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם יֵֽרָאֶ֔ה וְיָצָ֥א כַבָּרָ֖ק חִצּ֑וֹ וַֽאדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֣ר יִתְקָ֔ע וְהָלַ֖ךְ בְּסַעֲר֥וֹת תֵּימָֽן׃ And GOD will be made manifest to Judah,^kJudah Heb. “them.”
With arrows that flash like lightning;
My Sovereign GOD shall sound the ram’s horn
And advance in a stormy tempest.^lstormy tempest Lit. “tempests of wind”; for teman in the sense of wind, cf. Job 9.9; 39.26.

יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֮ יָגֵ֣ן עֲלֵיהֶם֒ וְאָכְל֗וּ וְכָֽבְשׁוּ֙ אַבְנֵי־קֶ֔לַע וְשָׁת֥וּ הָמ֖וּ כְּמוֹ־יָ֑יִן וּמָֽלְאוּ֙ כַּמִּזְרָ֔ק כְּזָוִיּ֖וֹת מִזְבֵּֽחַ׃ GOD of Hosts will protect them
^mThe meaning of much of the rest of the chapter is uncertain. With slingstones that devour and conquer;
They shall drink, shall rage as withⁿdrink, shall rage as with Some Septuagint mss. read “drink blood like.” wine,
And be filled [with it] like a dashing bowl,
Like the corners of an altar.

וְֽהוֹשִׁיעָ֞ם יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֛ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כְּצֹ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ כִּ֚י אַבְנֵי־נֵ֔זֶר מִֽתְנוֹסְס֖וֹת עַל־אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ The ETERNAL their God shall make them prosper
On that day,
[Pasturing] this covenanted people like sheep.
[They shall be] like crown jewels glittering on God’s soil.

כִּ֥י מַה־טּוּב֖וֹ וּמַה־יׇּפְי֑וֹ דָּגָן֙ בַּחוּרִ֔ים וְתִיר֖וֹשׁ יְנוֹבֵ֥ב בְּתֻלֽוֹת׃ How lovely, how beautiful they shall be,
Producing young men like new grain,
Young women like new wine!

שַׁאֲל֨וּ מֵיְהֹוָ֤ה מָטָר֙ בְּעֵ֣ת מַלְק֔וֹשׁ יְהֹוָ֖ה עֹשֶׂ֣ה חֲזִיזִ֑ים וּמְטַר־גֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ יִתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֔ם לְאִ֖ישׁ עֵ֥שֶׂב בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ Ask GOD for rain
In the season of late rain.^aseason of late rain Septuagint reads “in its season / The early rain and the late.” Cf. Deut. 11.14.
It is GOD who causes storms—^bstorms Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
providing rainstorms for them,
Grass in the fields for everyone.^cfor them, / Grass in the fields for everyone Emendation yields “[producing] food for men, / Grass in the fields for cattle.” Cf. Deut. 11.14–15.

כִּ֧י הַתְּרָפִ֣ים דִּבְּרוּ־אָ֗וֶן וְהַקּֽוֹסְמִים֙ חָ֣זוּ שֶׁ֔קֶר וַֽחֲלֹמוֹת֙ הַשָּׁ֣וְא יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ הֶ֖בֶל יְנַחֵמ֑וּן עַל־כֵּן֙ נָסְע֣וּ כְמוֹ־צֹ֔אן יַעֲנ֖וּ כִּי־אֵ֥ין רֹעֶֽה׃ {פ}
For the oracle idols^doracle idols Figurines, apparently with a human form, used as a medium for divination in household settings; cf. 1 Sam. 15.23; Ezek. 21.26. spoke delusion,
The augurs predicted falsely;
And dreamers speak lies
And console with illusions.
That is why My people have strayed^estrayed Meaning of Heb. uncertain. like a flock,
They suffer^fsuffer Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for lack of a shepherd.

עַל־הָֽרֹעִים֙ חָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֔י וְעַל־הָעַתּוּדִ֖ים אֶפְק֑וֹד כִּֽי־פָקַד֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֤וֹת אֶת־עֶדְרוֹ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה וְשָׂ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם כְּס֥וּס הוֹד֖וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ My anger is roused against the shepherds,
And I will punish the he-goats.^ghe-goats I.e., oppressive leaders; cf. Ezek. 34.17ff.
For GOD of Hosts has taken thought
In behalf of the flock, the House of Judah;
They will be made like majestic chargers in battle.

מִמֶּ֤נּוּ פִנָּה֙ מִמֶּ֣נּוּ יָתֵ֔ד מִמֶּ֖נּוּ קֶ֣שֶׁת מִלְחָמָ֑ה מִמֶּ֛נּוּ יֵצֵ֥א כׇל־נוֹגֵ֖שׂ יַחְדָּֽו׃ From them shall come cornerstones,
From them tent pegs,^hcornerstones, / From them tent pegs Emendation yields “shields and bucklers.”
From them bows of combat,
And every captain shall also arise from them.

וְהָי֨וּ כְגִבֹּרִ֜ים בּוֹסִ֨ים בְּטִ֤יט חוּצוֹת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְנִ֨לְחֲמ֔וּ כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה עִמָּ֑ם וְהֹבִ֖ישׁוּ רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִֽים׃ And together they shall be like warriors in battle,
Tramping in the dirt of the streets;
They shall fight, for GOD shall be with them,
And they shall put cavalry to shame.

וְגִבַּרְתִּ֣י ׀ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֗ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֤ית יוֹסֵף֙ אוֹשִׁ֔יעַ וְהֽוֹשְׁבוֹתִים֙ כִּ֣י רִֽחַמְתִּ֔ים וְהָי֖וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־זְנַחְתִּ֑ים כִּ֗י אֲנִ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֶעֱנֵֽם׃ I will give victory to the House of Judah,
And triumph to the House of Joseph.
I will restore them, for I have pardoned them,
And they shall be as though I had never disowned them;
For I the ETERNAL One am their God,
And I will answer their prayers.

וְהָי֤וּ כְגִבּוֹר֙ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְשָׂמַ֥ח לִבָּ֖ם כְּמוֹ־יָ֑יִן וּבְנֵיהֶם֙ יִרְא֣וּ וְשָׂמֵ֔חוּ יָגֵ֥ל לִבָּ֖ם בַּיהֹוָֽה׃ Ephraim shall be like a warrior,
And theyⁱEphraim shall be like a warrior, / And they Emendation yields “And when Ephraim is victorious, / They…” shall exult as with wine;
Their children shall see it and rejoice,
They shall exult in GOD.

אֶשְׁרְקָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם וַאֲקַבְּצֵ֖ם כִּ֣י פְדִיתִ֑ים וְרָב֖וּ כְּמ֥וֹ רָבֽוּ׃ I will whistle to them and gather them,
For I will redeem them;
They shall increase and continue increasing.^jand continue increasing Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְאֶזְרָעֵם֙ בָּעַמִּ֔ים וּבַמֶּרְחַקִּ֖ים יִזְכְּר֑וּנִי וְחָי֥וּ אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם וָשָֽׁבוּ׃ For though I sowed them among the nations,
In the distant places they shall remember Me,
They shall escape with their children and shall return.

וַהֲשִֽׁבוֹתִים֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וּמֵאַשּׁ֖וּר אֲקַבְּצֵ֑ם וְאֶל־אֶ֨רֶץ גִּלְעָ֤ד וּלְבָנוֹן֙ אֲבִיאֵ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יִמָּצֵ֖א לָהֶֽם׃ I will bring them back from the land of Egypt
And gather them from Assyria;
And I will bring them to the lands of Gilead and Lebanon,
And even they shall not suffice for them.

וְעָבַ֨ר בַּיָּ֜ם צָרָ֗ה וְהִכָּ֤ה בַיָּם֙ גַּלִּ֔ים וְהֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כֹּ֖ל מְצוּל֣וֹת יְאֹ֑ר וְהוּרַד֙ גְּא֣וֹן אַשּׁ֔וּר וְשֵׁ֥בֶט מִצְרַ֖יִם יָסֽוּר׃ A hemmed-in force shall pass over the sea
And shall stir up waves in the sea;^kA hemmed-in force … waves in the sea Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
And all the deeps of the Nile shall dry up.
Down shall come the pride of Assyria,
And the scepter of Egypt shall pass away.

וְגִבַּרְתִּים֙ בַּיהֹוָ֔ה וּבִשְׁמ֖וֹ יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
But I will make Judah and Ephraim^lJudah and Ephraim Heb. “them”; cf. vv. 6–7. mighty through GOD,
And they shall march proudly^mmarch proudly Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “have glory”; cf. Isa. 45.25. in MyⁿMy Heb. 3rd person. name
—declares GOD.

פְּתַ֥ח לְבָנ֖וֹן דְּלָתֶ֑יךָ וְתֹאכַ֥ל אֵ֖שׁ בַּאֲרָזֶֽיךָ׃ Throw open your gates, O Lebanon,
And let fire consume your cedars!

הֵילֵ֤ל בְּרוֹשׁ֙ כִּֽי־נָ֣פַל אֶ֔רֶז אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַדִּרִ֖ים שֻׁדָּ֑דוּ הֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ אַלּוֹנֵ֣י בָשָׁ֔ן כִּ֥י יָרַ֖ד יַ֥עַר (הבצור) [הַבָּצִֽיר]׃ Howl, cypresses, for cedars have fallen!
How the mighty are ravaged!
Howl, you oaks of Bashan,
For the stately forest is laid low!

ק֚וֹל יִֽלְלַ֣ת הָרֹעִ֔ים כִּ֥י שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה אַדַּרְתָּ֑ם ק֚וֹל שַׁאֲגַ֣ת כְּפִירִ֔ים כִּ֥י שֻׁדַּ֖ד גְּא֥וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ {פ}
Hark, the wailing of the shepherds,
For their rich pastures^arich pastures Meaning of Heb. uncertain. are ravaged;
Hark, the roaring of the great beasts,
For the jungle of the Jordan is ravaged.

כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י רְעֵ֖ה אֶת־צֹ֥אן הַהֲרֵגָֽה׃ Thus said my God the ETERNAL One: Tend the sheep meant for slaughter,

אֲשֶׁ֨ר קֹנֵיהֶ֤ן יַֽהַרְגֻן֙ וְלֹ֣א יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ וּמֹכְרֵיהֶ֣ן יֹאמַ֔ר בָּר֥וּךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה וַאעְשִׁ֑ר וְרֹ֣עֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א יַחְמ֖וֹל עֲלֵיהֶֽן׃ whose buyers will slaughter them with impunity, whose seller will say, “Praised be GOD ! I’ll get rich,” and whose shepherd will not pity them.

כִּ֠י לֹ֣א אֶחְמ֥וֹל ע֛וֹד עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מַמְצִ֣יא אֶת־הָאָדָ֗ם אִ֤ישׁ בְּיַד־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ וּבְיַ֣ד מַלְכּ֔וֹ וְכִתְּתוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹ֥א אַצִּ֖יל מִיָּדָֽם׃ For I will pity the inhabitants of the land no more—declares GOD —but I will place everyone at the mercy of their neighbor and at the mercy of their king; they shall break the country to bits, and I will not rescue it from their hands.

וָֽאֶרְעֶה֙ אֶת־צֹ֣אן הַהֲרֵגָ֔ה לָכֵ֖ן עֲנִיֵּ֣י הַצֹּ֑אן וָאֶקַּֽח־לִ֞י שְׁנֵ֣י מַקְל֗וֹת לְאַחַ֞ד קָרָ֤אתִֽי נֹ֙עַם֙ וּלְאַחַד֙ קָרָ֣אתִי חֹֽבְלִ֔ים וָֽאֶרְעֶ֖ה אֶת־הַצֹּֽאן׃ So I tended the sheep meant for slaughter, for those poor ones of the sheep.^bfor those poor ones of the sheep Emendation yields “for the sheep dealers”; cf. the word rendered “trader” in 14.21. I got two staffs, one of which I named Favor and the other Unity, and I proceeded to tend the sheep.

וָאַכְחִ֛ד אֶת־שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת הָרֹעִ֖ים בְּיֶ֣רַח אֶחָ֑ד וַתִּקְצַ֤ר נַפְשִׁי֙ בָּהֶ֔ם וְגַם־נַפְשָׁ֖ם בָּחֲלָ֥ה בִֽי׃ But I lost the three shepherds^cthe three shepherds Emendation yields “a third of the flock.” in one month; then my patience with them was at an end, and they in turn were disgusted with me.

וָאֹמַ֕ר לֹ֥א אֶרְעֶ֖ה אֶתְכֶ֑ם הַמֵּתָ֣ה תָמ֗וּת וְהַנִּכְחֶ֙דֶת֙ תִּכָּחֵ֔ד וְהַ֨נִּשְׁאָר֔וֹת תֹּאכַ֕לְנָה אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶת־בְּשַׂ֥ר רְעוּתָֽהּ׃ So I declared, “I am not going to tend you; let the one that is to die die and the one that is to get lost get lost; and let the rest devour each other’s flesh!”

וָאֶקַּ֤ח אֶת־מַקְלִי֙ אֶת־נֹ֔עַם וָאֶגְדַּ֖ע אֹת֑וֹ לְהָפֵיר֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖תִּי אֶת־כׇּל־הָעַמִּֽים׃ Taking my staff Favor, I cleft it in two, so as to annul the covenant I had made with all the peoples;^dannul the covenant I had made with all the peoples Perhaps alluding to the prediction of 14.1–3.

וַתֻּפַ֖ר בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֵּדְע֨וּ כֵ֜ן עֲנִיֵּ֤י הַצֹּאן֙ הַשֹּׁמְרִ֣ים אֹתִ֔י כִּ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃ {ס}         and when it was annulled that day, the same poor ones of the sheep^ethe same poor ones of the sheep Emendation yields “the sheep dealers.” who watched^fwatched Emendation yields “hired.” me realized that it was a message from GOD.

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם אִם־ט֧וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֛ם הָב֥וּ שְׂכָרִ֖י וְאִם־לֹ֣א ׀ חֲדָ֑לוּ וַיִּשְׁקְל֥וּ אֶת־שְׂכָרִ֖י שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים כָּֽסֶף׃ Then I said to them, “If you are satisfied, pay me my wages; if not, don’t.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty shekels of silver—

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י הַשְׁלִיכֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר אֶ֣דֶר הַיְקָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָקַ֖רְתִּי מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וָֽאֶקְחָה֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים הַכֶּ֔סֶף וָֽאַשְׁלִ֥יךְ אֹת֛וֹ בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־הַיּוֹצֵֽר׃ the noble sum that I was worth in their estimation.^gthe noble sum that I was worth in their estimation Meaning of Heb. uncertain. GOD said to me, “Deposit it in the treasury.”^htreasury Meaning of Heb. uncertain. And I took the thirty shekels and deposited it in the treasury in the House of GOD.

וָֽאֶגְדַּע֙ אֶת־מַקְלִ֣י הַשֵּׁנִ֔י אֵ֖ת הַחֹֽבְלִ֑ים לְהָפֵר֙ אֶת־הָאַֽחֲוָ֔ה בֵּ֥ין יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבֵ֥ין יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
Then I cleft in two my second staff, Unity, in order to annul the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.ⁱIsrael Two mss. of the Septuagint have “Jerusalem”; cf. 12.2–3; 14.14.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י ע֣וֹד קַח־לְךָ֔ כְּלִ֖י רֹעֶ֥ה אֱוִלִֽי׃ GODsaid to me further: Get yourself the gear of a foolish shepherd.

כִּ֣י הִנֵּֽה־אָנֹכִי֩ מֵקִ֨ים רֹעֶ֜ה בָּאָ֗רֶץ הַנִּכְחָד֤וֹת לֹֽא־יִפְקֹד֙ הַנַּ֣עַר לֹֽא־יְבַקֵּ֔שׁ וְהַנִּשְׁבֶּ֖רֶת לֹ֣א יְרַפֵּ֑א הַנִּצָּבָה֙ לֹ֣א יְכַלְכֵּ֔ל וּבְשַׂ֤ר הַבְּרִיאָה֙ יֹאכַ֔ל וּפַרְסֵיהֶ֖ן יְפָרֵֽק׃ For I am going to raise up in the land a shepherd who will neither miss the lost [sheep], nor seek the strayed,^jseek the strayed Meaning of Heb. uncertain. nor heal the injured, nor sustain the frail,^ksustain the frail Meaning of Heb. uncertain. but will feast on the flesh of the fat ones and tear off their hoofs.^ltear off their hoofs Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

ה֣וֹי רֹעִ֤י הָאֱלִיל֙ עֹזְבִ֣י הַצֹּ֔אן חֶ֥רֶב עַל־זְרוֹע֖וֹ וְעַל־עֵ֣ין יְמִינ֑וֹ זְרֹעוֹ֙ יָב֣וֹשׁ תִּיבָ֔שׁ וְעֵ֥ין יְמִינ֖וֹ כָּהֹ֥ה תִכְהֶֽה׃ {פ}
Oh, the worthless shepherd
Who abandons the flock!
Let a sword descend upon his arm
And upon his right eye!
His arm shall shrivel up;
His right eye shall go blind.

מַשָּׂ֥א דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה נֹטֶ֤ה שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְיֹסֵ֣ד אָ֔רֶץ וְיֹצֵ֥ר רֽוּחַ־אָדָ֖ם בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ A pronouncement: The word of GOD concerning Israel.
The utterance of GOD,
Who stretched out the skies
And made firm the earth,
And created mortals’ breath within them:

הִנֵּ֣ה אָ֠נֹכִ֠י שָׂ֣ם אֶת־יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֧͏ִם סַף־רַ֛עַל לְכׇל־הָעַמִּ֖ים סָבִ֑יב וְגַ֧ם עַל־יְהוּדָ֛ה יִהְיֶ֥ה בַמָּצ֖וֹר עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Behold, I will make Jerusalem a bowl of reeling for the peoples all around. Judah shall be caught up in the siege upon Jerusalem,

וְהָיָ֣ה בַיּוֹם־הַ֠ה֠וּא אָשִׂ֨ים אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם אֶ֤בֶן מַֽעֲמָסָה֙ לְכׇל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים כׇּל־עֹמְסֶ֖יהָ שָׂר֣וֹט יִשָּׂרֵ֑טוּ וְנֶאֶסְפ֣וּ עָלֶ֔יהָ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ when all the nations of the earth gather against her. In that day, I will make Jerusalem a stone for all the peoples to lift; all who lift it shall injure themselves.

בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה אַכֶּ֤ה כׇל־סוּס֙ בַּתִּמָּה֔וֹן וְרֹכְב֖וֹ בַּשִּׁגָּע֑וֹן וְעַל־בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ אֶפְקַ֣ח אֶת־עֵינַ֔י וְכֹל֙ ס֣וּס הָעַמִּ֔ים אַכֶּ֖ה בַּעִוָּרֽוֹן׃ In that day—declares GOD —I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness. But I will watch over the House of Judah while I strike every horse of^awatch over the House of Judah while I strike every horse of Emendation yields “open the eyes of Judah while I strike all.” the peoples with blindness.

וְאָ֥מְר֛וּ אַלֻּפֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּלִבָּ֑ם אַמְצָ֥ה לִי֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם בַּיהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ And the clans of Judah will say to themselves, “The dwellers of Jerusalem are a task set for us by^bThe dwellers of Jerusalem are a task set for us by Emendation yields “We will save the dwellers of Jerusalem with the help of.” their God, GOD of Hosts.”

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֡וּא אָשִׂים֩ אֶת־אַלֻּפֵ֨י יְהוּדָ֜ה כְּֽכִיּ֧וֹר אֵ֣שׁ בְּעֵצִ֗ים וּכְלַפִּ֥יד אֵשׁ֙ בְּעָמִ֔יר וְאָ֨כְל֜וּ עַל־יָמִ֧ין וְעַל־שְׂמֹ֛אול אֶת־כׇּל־הָעַמִּ֖ים סָבִ֑יב וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה יְרוּשָׁלַ֥͏ִם ע֛וֹד תַּחְתֶּ֖יהָ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ In that day, I will make the clans of Judah like a flaming brazier among sticks and like a flaming torch among sheaves. They shall devour all the besieging peoples right and left; and Jerusalem shall continue on its site, in Jerusalem.^cJerusalem Emendation yields “safety.”

וְהוֹשִׁ֧עַ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־אׇהֳלֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה לְמַ֨עַן לֹֽא־תִגְדַּ֜ל תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת בֵּית־דָּוִ֗יד וְתִפְאֶ֛רֶת יֹשֵׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם עַל־יְהוּדָֽה׃ GODwill give victory to the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the House of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be too great for Judah.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יָגֵ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ בְּעַד֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְהָיָ֞ה הַנִּכְשָׁ֥ל בָּהֶ֛ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כְּדָוִ֑יד וּבֵ֤ית דָּוִיד֙ כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים כְּמַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ In that day, GOD will shield the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and the feeblest of them shall be in that day like David, and the House of David like a divine being—like an angel of GOD —at their head.

וְהָיָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֲבַקֵּ֗שׁ לְהַשְׁמִיד֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם הַבָּאִ֖ים עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ In that day I will all but annihilate^dall but annihilate For the idiom cf. Gen. 43.30; it is also attested in postbiblical Hebrew. all the nations that came up against Jerusalem.

וְשָׁפַכְתִּי֩ עַל־בֵּ֨ית דָּוִ֜יד וְעַ֣ל ׀ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם ר֤וּחַ חֵן֙ וְתַ֣חֲנוּנִ֔ים וְהִבִּ֥יטוּ אֵלַ֖י אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־דָּקָ֑רוּ וְסָפְד֣וּ עָלָ֗יו כְּמִסְפֵּד֙ עַל־הַיָּחִ֔יד וְהָמֵ֥ר עָלָ֖יו כְּהָמֵ֥ר עַֽל־הַבְּכֽוֹר׃ But I will fill the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem with a spirit of pity and compassion; and they shall lament^elament Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to Me about those who are slain, wailing over them as over a favorite son and showing bitter grief as over a first-born.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִגְדַּ֤ל הַמִּסְפֵּד֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם כְּמִסְפַּ֥ד הֲדַד־רִמּ֖וֹן בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹן׃ In that day, the wailing in Jerusalem shall be as great as the wailing at Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddon.^fMegiddon Usually “Megiddo.”

וְסָפְדָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ מִשְׁפָּח֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּח֖וֹת לְבָ֑ד מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת בֵּית־דָּוִ֤יד לְבָד֙ וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם לְבָ֔ד מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת בֵּית־נָתָן֙ לְבָ֔ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָֽד׃ The land shall wail, each family by itself: The family of the House of David by themselves, and their womenfolk by themselves; the family of the House of Nathan by themselves, and their womenfolk by themselves;

מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת בֵּית־לֵוִי֙ לְבָ֔ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָ֑ד מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת הַשִּׁמְעִי֙ לְבָ֔ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָֽד׃ the family of the House of Levi by themselves, and their womenfolk by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by themselves, and their womenfolk by themselves;

כֹּ֗ל הַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת֙ הַנִּשְׁאָר֔וֹת מִשְׁפָּחֹ֥ת מִשְׁפָּחֹ֖ת לְבָ֑ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָֽד׃ and all the other families, every family by itself, with their womenfolk by themselves.^gIn this way, apparently, they will prevail upon GOD to spare the remnant of the besieging nations; cf. v. 10.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ מָק֣וֹר נִפְתָּ֔ח לְבֵ֥ית דָּוִ֖יד וּלְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לְחַטַּ֖את וּלְנִדָּֽה׃ In that day a fountain shall be open to the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for purging and lustration.^alustration Lit. “for impurity”; cf. Num. 19.9.

וְהָיָה֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא נְאֻ֣ם ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת אַכְרִ֞ית אֶת־שְׁמ֤וֹת הָֽעֲצַבִּים֙ מִן־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יִזָּכְר֖וּ ע֑וֹד וְגַ֧ם אֶת־הַנְּבִיאִ֛ים וְאֶת־ר֥וּחַ הַטֻּמְאָ֖ה אַעֲבִ֥יר מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ In that day, too—declares GOD of Hosts—I will erase the very names of the idols from the land; they shall not be uttered anymore. And I will also make the “prophets” and the impure spirit^bimpure spirit To which abnormal human behavior was attributed. vanish from the land.

וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־יִנָּבֵ֣א אִישׁ֮ עוֹד֒ וְאָמְר֣וּ אֵ֠לָ֠יו אָבִ֨יו וְאִמּ֤וֹ יֹֽלְדָיו֙ לֹ֣א תִֽחְיֶ֔ה כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וּדְקָרֻ֜הוּ אָבִ֧יהוּ וְאִמּ֛וֹ יֹלְדָ֖יו בְּהִנָּֽבְאֽוֹ׃ If some man “prophesies” thereafter, his own father and mother, who brought him into the world, will say to him, “You shall die, for you have lied in the name of GOD ”; and his own father and mother, who brought him into the world, will put him to death when he “prophesies.”

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יֵבֹ֧שׁוּ הַנְּבִיאִ֛ים אִ֥ישׁ מֵחֶזְיֹנ֖וֹ בְּהִנָּֽבְאֹת֑וֹ וְלֹ֧א יִלְבְּשׁ֛וּ אַדֶּ֥רֶת שֵׂעָ֖ר לְמַ֥עַן כַּחֵֽשׁ׃ In that day, every such “prophet” will be ashamed of the “visions” [he had] when he “prophesied.” In order to deceive, he^che Heb. “they.” will not wear a hairy mantle,^dwear a hairy mantle In imitation of Elijah; cf. 2 Kings 1.8.

וְאָמַ֕ר לֹ֥א נָבִ֖יא אָנֹ֑כִי אִישׁ־עֹבֵ֤ד אֲדָמָה֙ אָנֹ֔כִי כִּ֥י אָדָ֖ם הִקְנַ֥נִי מִנְּעוּרָֽי׃ and he will declare, “I am not a ‘prophet’; I am a tiller of the soil;^eI am a tiller of the soil I.e., I was addicted to wine like Noah, the tiller of the soil (cf. Gen. 9.20–21), hence my hallucinations and ravings; cf. Prov. 23.33. you see, I was plied with the red stuff^fI was plied with the red stuff Connecting ʼadam with ʼadom “red” (cf. Prov. 23.31); but meaning of Heb. uncertain. from my youth on.”

וְאָמַ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו מָ֧ה הַמַּכּ֛וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה בֵּ֣ין יָדֶ֑יךָ וְאָמַ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֻכֵּ֖יתִי בֵּ֥ית מְאַהֲבָֽי׃ {פ}
And if he is asked, “What are those sores on your back?”^gsores on your back Lit. “sores between your arms”; cf. 2 Kings 9.24. Sores are sometimes symptoms of hysteria. he will reply, “From being beaten in the homes of my friends.”^hbeaten in the homes of my friends Presumably for making drunken scenes; cf. Prov. 23.35.

חֶ֗רֶב עוּרִ֤י עַל־רֹעִי֙ וְעַל־גֶּ֣בֶר עֲמִיתִ֔י נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת הַ֤ךְ אֶת־הָרֹעֶה֙ וּתְפוּצֶ֣יןָ הַצֹּ֔אן וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י יָדִ֖י עַל־הַצֹּעֲרִֽים׃ ⁱVerses 7–9 would read well after 11.17. O sword!
Rouse yourself against My shepherd,
The man in charge of My flock^jin charge of My flock Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
—says GOD of Hosts.
Strike down the shepherd
And let the flock scatter;
And I will also turn My hand
Against all the shepherd boys.

וְהָיָ֤ה בְכׇל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֣יִם בָּ֔הּ יִכָּרְת֖וּ יִגְוָ֑עוּ וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית יִוָּ֥תֶר בָּֽהּ׃ Throughout the land
—declares GOD —
Two-thirds shall perish, shall die,
And one-third of it shall survive.

וְהֵבֵאתִ֤י אֶת־הַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ וּצְרַפְתִּים֙ כִּצְרֹ֣ף אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף וּבְחַנְתִּ֖ים כִּבְחֹ֣ן אֶת־הַזָּהָ֑ב ה֣וּא ׀ יִקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֗י וַֽאֲנִי֙ אֶעֱנֶ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ עַמִּ֣י ה֔וּא וְה֥וּא יֹאמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי׃ {פ}
That third I will put into the fire,
And I will smelt them as one smelts silver
And test them as one tests gold.
They will invoke Me by name,
And I will respond to them.
I will declare, “You are My people,”
And they will declare,
“ The ETERNAL is our God!”

הִנֵּ֥ה יֽוֹם־בָּ֖א לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְחֻלַּ֥ק שְׁלָלֵ֖ךְ בְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃ Lo, a day of GOD is coming when your^ayour Jerusalem is addressed. spoil shall be divided in your very midst!

וְאָסַפְתִּ֨י אֶת־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֥ם ׀ אֶֽל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֘͏ִם֮ לַמִּלְחָמָה֒ וְנִלְכְּדָ֣ה הָעִ֗יר וְנָשַׁ֙סּוּ֙ הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים (תשגלנה) [תִּשָּׁכַ֑בְנָה] וְיָצָ֞א חֲצִ֤י הָעִיר֙ בַּגּוֹלָ֔ה וְיֶ֣תֶר הָעָ֔ם לֹ֥א יִכָּרֵ֖ת מִן־הָעִֽיר׃ For I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for war: The city shall be captured, the houses plundered, and the women violated; and a part of the city shall go into exile. But the rest of the population shall not be uprooted from the city.

וְיָצָ֣א יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנִלְחַ֖ם בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם הָהֵ֑ם כְּי֥וֹם הִֽלָּחֲמ֖וֹ בְּי֥וֹם קְרָֽב׃ Then GOD will come forth and make war on those nations as a fighter makes war on a day of battle.

וְעָמְד֣וּ רַגְלָ֣יו בַּיּוֹם־הַ֠ה֠וּא עַל־הַ֨ר הַזֵּיתִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֘͏ִם֮ מִקֶּ֒דֶם֒ וְנִבְקַע֩ הַ֨ר הַזֵּיתִ֤ים מֵֽחֶצְיוֹ֙ מִזְרָ֣חָה וָיָ֔מָּה גֵּ֖יא גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וּמָ֨שׁ חֲצִ֥י הָהָ֛ר צָפ֖וֹנָה וְחֶצְיוֹ־נֶֽגְבָּה׃ On that day, God’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall split across from east to west, and one part of the Mount shall shift to the north and the other to the south, a huge gorge.

וְנַסְתֶּ֣ם גֵּיא־הָרַ֗י כִּי־יַגִּ֣יעַ גֵּֽי־הָרִים֮ אֶל־אָצַל֒ וְנַסְתֶּ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר נַסְתֶּם֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָרַ֔עַשׁ בִּימֵ֖י עֻזִּיָּ֣ה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה וּבָא֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔י כׇּל־קְדֹשִׁ֖ים עִמָּֽךְ׃ ^bVocalizing the repeated verb as (we-)nistam with Targum, Septuagint, and an old Heb. ms. Other mss. and printed editions read “You [pl.] shall flee [to] the Valley in the Hills, for the Valley of the Hills shall reach up to Azal. You shall flee as you fled because of the earthquake.…” And the Valley in the Hills shall be stopped up, for the Valley of the Hills shall reach only to Azal; it shall be stopped up as it was stopped up as a result of the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah.—And the ETERNAL my God, with all the holy beings, will come to you.

וְהָיָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא לֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה א֔וֹר יְקָר֖וֹת (יקפאון) [וְקִפָּאֽוֹן]׃ ^cMeaning of verse uncertain; cf. Job 21.26. In that day, there shall be neither sunlight nor cold moonlight,

וְהָיָ֣ה יוֹם־אֶחָ֗ד ה֛וּא יִוָּדַ֥ע לַיהֹוָ֖ה לֹא־י֣וֹם וְלֹא־לָ֑יְלָה וְהָיָ֥ה לְעֵֽת־עֶ֖רֶב יִֽהְיֶה־אֽוֹר׃ but there shall be a continuous day—only GOD knows when—of neither day nor night, and there shall be light at eventide.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יֵצְא֤וּ מַֽיִם־חַיִּים֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם חֶצְיָ֗ם אֶל־הַיָּם֙ הַקַּדְמוֹנִ֔י וְחֶצְיָ֖ם אֶל־הַיָּ֣ם הָאַחֲר֑וֹן בַּקַּ֥יִץ וּבָחֹ֖רֶף יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ In that day, fresh water shall flow from Jerusalem, part of it to the Eastern Sea^dthe Eastern Sea I.e., the Dead Sea; cf. Joel 2.20. and part to the Western Sea,^ethe Western Sea I.e., the Mediterranean Sea; cf. Joel 2.20. throughout the summer and winter.

וְהָיָ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִהְיֶ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶחָ֖ד וּשְׁמ֥וֹ אֶחָֽד׃ And GOD shall be sovereign over all the earth; in that day there shall be one GOD with one name.^fone GOD with one name I.e., GOD alone shall be worshiped—and shall be invoked by that name only.

יִסּ֨וֹב כׇּל־הָאָ֤רֶץ כָּֽעֲרָבָה֙ מִגֶּ֣בַע לְרִמּ֔וֹן נֶ֖גֶב יְרֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְֽרָאֲמָה֩ וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה תַחְתֶּ֜יהָ לְמִשַּׁ֣עַר בִּנְיָמִ֗ן עַד־מְק֞וֹם שַׁ֤עַר הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ עַד־שַׁ֣עַר הַפִּנִּ֔ים וּמִגְדַּ֣ל חֲנַנְאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יִקְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ Then the whole country shall become like the Arabah,^glike the Arabah I.e., depressed like the Jordan Valley. from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem.^hfrom Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem I.e., from the northern border of the Kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 15.22; 2 Kings 23.8) to the southern border (Josh. 15.32; 19.7). The latter, however, shall perch high up where it is, and shall be inhabitedⁱshall be inhabited Moved up from v. 11 for clarity. from the Gate of Benjamin to the site of the Old Gate, down to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.

וְיָ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֔הּ וְחֵ֖רֶם לֹ֣א יִֽהְיֶה־ע֑וֹד וְיָשְׁבָ֥ה יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לָבֶֽטַח׃ {ס}         Never again shall destruction be decreed, and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.

וְזֹ֣את ׀ תִּהְיֶ֣ה הַמַּגֵּפָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִגֹּ֤ף יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר צָבְא֖וּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם הָמֵ֣ק ׀ בְּשָׂר֗וֹ וְהוּא֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וְעֵינָיו֙ תִּמַּ֣קְנָה בְחֹֽרֵיהֶ֔ן וּלְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ תִּמַּ֥ק בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ As for those peoples that warred against Jerusalem, GOD will smite them with this plague: Their flesh shall rot away while they stand on their feet; their eyes shall rot away in their sockets; and their tongues shall rot away in their mouths.

וְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא תִּהְיֶ֧ה מְהֽוּמַת־יְהֹוָ֛ה רַבָּ֖ה בָּהֶ֑ם וְהֶחֱזִ֗יקוּ אִ֚ישׁ יַ֣ד רֵעֵ֔הוּ וְעָלְתָ֥ה יָד֖וֹ עַל־יַ֥ד רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ In that day, a great panic from GOD shall fall upon them, and everyone shall snatch at the hand of another, and everyone shall raise their hand against everyone else’s hand.

וְגַ֨ם־יְהוּדָ֔ה תִּלָּחֵ֖ם בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְאֻסַּף֩ חֵ֨יל כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֜ם סָבִ֗יב זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֛סֶף וּבְגָדִ֖ים לָרֹ֥ב מְאֹֽד׃ Judah shall join the fighting in Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the nations round about—vast quantities of gold, silver, and clothing—shall be gathered in.

וְכֵ֨ן תִּהְיֶ֜ה מַגֵּפַ֣ת הַסּ֗וּס הַפֶּ֙רֶד֙ הַגָּמָ֣ל וְהַחֲמ֔וֹר וְכׇ֨ל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶ֖ה בַּמַּחֲנ֣וֹת הָהֵ֑מָּה כַּמַּגֵּפָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ The same plague shall strike the horses, the mules, the camels, and the donkeys; the plague shall affect all the animals in those camps.

וְהָיָ֗ה כׇּל־הַנּוֹתָר֙ מִכׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם הַבָּאִ֖ים עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְעָל֞וּ מִדֵּ֧י שָׁנָ֣ה בְשָׁנָ֗ה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺת֙ לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְלָחֹ֖ג אֶת־חַ֥ג הַסֻּכּֽוֹת׃ All who survive of all those nations that came up against Jerusalem shall make a pilgrimage year by year to bow low to the Supreme GOD of Hosts and to observe the Feast of Booths.

וְ֠הָיָ֠ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יַעֲלֶ֜ה מֵאֵ֨ת מִשְׁפְּח֤וֹת הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֔ת לְמֶ֖לֶךְ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְלֹ֥א עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃ Any of the earth’s communities that does not make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to bow low to the Supreme GOD of Hosts shall receive no rain.

וְאִם־מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת מִצְרַ֧יִם לֹֽא־תַעֲלֶ֛ה וְלֹ֥א בָאָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה הַמַּגֵּפָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִגֹּ֤ף יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יַעֲל֔וּ לָחֹ֖ג אֶת־חַ֥ג הַסֻּכּֽוֹת׃ However, if the community of Egypt does not make this pilgrimage, it shall not be visited by the same affliction with which GOD will strike the other nations that do not come up to observe the Feast of Booths.^jBecause Egypt is not dependent on rain, it will suffer some other punishment, presumably that described in v. 12.

זֹ֥את תִּהְיֶ֖ה חַטַּ֣את מִצְרָ֑יִם וְחַטַּאת֙ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יַעֲל֔וּ לָחֹ֖ג אֶת־חַ֥ג הַסֻּכּֽוֹת׃ Such shall be the punishment of Egypt and of all other nations that do not come up to observe the Feast of Booths.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ עַל־מְצִלּ֣וֹת הַסּ֔וּס קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֤ה הַסִּירוֹת֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּמִּזְרָקִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ In that day, even the bells on the horses shall be inscribed “Holy to GOD.” The metal pots in the House of GOD shall be like the basins before the altar;

וְ֠הָיָ֠ה כׇּל־סִ֨יר בִּירוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם וּבִיהוּדָ֗ה קֹ֚דֶשׁ לַיהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וּבָ֙אוּ֙ כׇּל־הַזֹּ֣בְחִ֔ים וְלָקְח֥וּ מֵהֶ֖ם וּבִשְּׁל֣וּ בָהֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֨ה כְנַעֲנִ֥י ע֛וֹד בְּבֵית־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃ indeed, every metal pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy to GOD of Hosts. And all those who sacrifice shall come and take of these to boil [their sacrificial meat] in; in that day there shall be no more traders^ktraders To sell ritually pure vessels. in the House of GOD of Hosts.