7:18 At that time 1 the Lord will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. 2
30:25 On every high mountain
and every high hill
there will be streams flowing with water,
at the time of 3 great slaughter when the fortified towers collapse.
32:20 you will be blessed,
you who plant seed by all the banks of the streams, 4
you who let your ox and donkey graze. 5
35:6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,
the mute tongue will shout for joy;
for water will flow 6 in the desert,
streams in the wilderness. 7
57:5 you who practice ritual sex 8 under the oaks and every green tree,
who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs. 9
1 tn Heb “in that day” (so KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
2 sn Swarming flies are irritating; bees are irritating and especially dangerous because of the pain they inflict with their sting (see Deut 1:44; Ps 118:12). The metaphors are well chosen, for the Assyrians (symbolized by the bees) were much more powerful and dangerous than the Egyptians (symbolized by the flies). Nevertheless both would put pressure on Judah, for Egypt wanted Judah as a buffer state against Assyrian aggression, while Assyrian wanted it as a base for operations against Egypt. Following the reference to sour milk and honey, the metaphor is especially apt, for flies are attracted to dairy products and bees can be found in the vicinity of honey.
3 tn Or “in the day of” (KJV).
4 tn Heb “by all the waters.”
5 tn Heb “who set free the foot of the ox and donkey”; NIV “letting your cattle and donkeys range free.”
sn This verse seems to anticipate a time when fertile land is available to cultivate and crops are so abundant that the farm animals can be allowed to graze freely.
6 tn Heb “burst forth” (so NAB); KJV “break out.”
7 tn Or “Arabah” (NASB); KJV, NIV, NRSV, NLT “desert.”
8 tn Heb “inflame yourselves”; NRSV “burn with lust.” This verse alludes to the practice of ritual sex that accompanied pagan fertility rites.
9 sn This apparently alludes to the practice of child sacrifice (cf. TEV, CEV, NLT).