2:4 Indeed, 1 Gaza will be deserted 2
and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. 3
Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, 4
and Ekron will be overthrown. 5
2:8 “I have heard Moab’s taunts
and the Ammonites’ insults.
They 6 taunted my people
and verbally harassed those living in Judah. 7
2:10 This is how they will be repaid for their arrogance, 8
for they taunted and verbally harassed 9 the people of the Lord who commands armies.
3:12 I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, 10
and they will find safety in the Lord’s presence. 11
1 tn Or “for” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV).
2 tn There is a sound play here in the Hebrew text: the name Gaza (עַזָּה, ’azzah) sounds like the word translated “deserted” (עֲזוּבָה, ’azuvah).
3 tn Or “a desolate place.”
4 tn Heb “[As for] Ashdod, at noon they will drive her away.”
sn The reference to noon may suggest a sudden, quick defeat (see Jer 6:4; 15:8).
5 tn Heb “uprooted.” There is a sound play here in the Hebrew text: the name “Ekron” (עֶקְרוֹן, ’eqron) sounds like the word translated “uprooted” (תֵּעָקֵר, te’aqer).
6 tn Heb “who.” A new sentence was begun here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
7 tn Heb “and they made great [their mouth?] against their territory.” Other possible translation options include (1) “they enlarged their own territory” (cf. NEB) and (2) “they bragged about [the size] of their own territory.”
8 tn Heb “this is for them in place of their arrogance.”
9 tn Heb “made great [their mouth?] against” (cf. the last phrase of v. 8).
10 tn Heb “needy and poor people.” The terms often refer to a socioeconomic group, but here they may refer to those who are humble in a spiritual sense.
11 tn Heb “and they will take refuge in the name of the
sn Safety in the