2:14 Fast runners will find no place to hide; 1
strong men will have no strength left; 2
warriors will not be able to save their lives.
9:12 As a result they 3 will conquer those left in Edom 4
and all the nations subject to my rule.” 5
The Lord, who is about to do this, is speaking!
1 tn Heb “and a place of refuge will perish from the swift.”
2 tn Heb “the strong will not increase his strength.”
3 sn They probably refers to the Israelites or to the Davidic rulers of the future.
4 tn Heb “take possession of the remnant of Edom”; NASB, NIV, NRSV “possess the remnant of Edom.”
5 tn Heb “nations over whom my name is proclaimed.” The Hebrew idiom indicates ownership, sometimes as a result of conquest. See 2 Sam 12:28.
sn This verse envisions a new era of Israelite rule, perhaps patterned after David’s imperialistic successes (see 2 Sam 8-10). At the same time, however, the verse does not specify how this rule is to be accomplished. Note that the book ends with a description of peace and abundance, and its final reference to God (v. 15) does not include the epithet “the Lord who commands armies,” which has militaristic overtones. This is quite a different scene than what the book began with: nations at war and standing under the judgment of God.