25:15 “This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘The Philistines 1 have exacted merciless revenge, 2 showing intense scorn 3 in their effort to destroy Judah 4 with unrelenting hostility. 5 25:16 So this is what the sovereign Lord says: Take note, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines. I will kill 6 the Cherethites 7 and destroy those who remain on the seacoast. 25:17 I will exact great vengeance upon them with angry rebukes. 8 Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I exact my vengeance upon them.’”
1 sn The Philistines inhabited the coastal plain by the Mediterranean Sea, west of Judah.
2 tn Heb “have acted with vengeance and taken vengeance with vengeance.” The repetition emphasizes the degree of vengeance which they exhibited, presumably toward Judah.
3 tn Heb “with scorn in (the) soul.”
4 tn The object is not specified in the Hebrew text, but has been clarified as “Judah” in the translation.
5 tn Heb “to destroy (with) perpetual hostility.” Joel 3:4-8 also speaks of the Philistines taking advantage of the fall of Judah.
6 tn In Hebrew the verb “and I will cut off” sounds like its object, “the Cherethites,” and draws attention to the statement.
7 sn This is a name for the Philistines, many of whom migrated to Palestine from Crete.
8 tn Heb “with acts of punishment of anger.”