9:6 Look! 1 Even if 2 they flee from the destruction,
Egypt will take hold 3 of them,
and Memphis will bury them.
The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure 4 –
thorn bushes will occupy their homes. 5
1 tn The deictic particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “Behold!”) is used frequently in prophetic announcements, introducing a solemn or important declaration, particularly in threats of judgment (BDB 244 s.v. הִנֵּה b.β). Many modern English versions leave this particle untranslated here.
2 tn The conjunction כִּי (ki) introduces a concessive clause: “Although, when, if, even if” (BDB 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.β). It has a force approximating “even if” (so NIV, NCV, NRSV, CEV, NLT), but it represents a situation as more likely to occur than אִם (‘im, “if”). The concessive use of כִּי is normally followed by an imperfect, but occasionally a perfect is used, as is the case here (e.g., Mic 7:8; Nah 1:10; Pss 21:12; 119:83).
3 tn The verb קָבַץ (qavats, “to gather together”) should be nuanced “grab hold” in this context (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ). This pictures a personified Egypt taking the fugitives prisoner.
4 tn Heb “the treasured things of their silver”; NASB, NIV, TEV, NLT “treasures of silver.”
5 tn Heb “their tents” (so NIV, NRSV); CEV “your tents.”