Zephaniah 2:9

Therefore, as surely as I live,” says the Lord who commands armies, the God of Israel, “be certain that Moab will become like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah. They will be overrun by weeds, ¹  filled with salt pits, ²  and permanently desolate. Those of my people who are left ³  will plunder their belongings; ⁴  those who are left in Judah ⁵  will take possession of their land.”

Ge 19:24,25; Nu 14:21; De 29:23; Isa 11:14; Isa 13:19,20; Isa 15:1-16:14; Isa 25:10; Isa 34:9-13; Isa 49:18; Jer 46:18; Jer 48:1-49:7; Jer 49:18; Jer 50:40; Eze 25:1-26:21; Joe 3:19,20; Am 1:13-15; Am 2:1-3; Mic 5:7,8; Zep 2:7; Zep 2:14; Zep 3:13; Ro 14:11

¹ tn The Hebrew text reads מִמְשַׁק חָרוּל (mimshaq kharul, “[?] of weeds”). The meaning of the first word is unknown. The present translation (“They will be overrun by weeds”) is speculative, based on the general sense of the context. For a defense of “overrun” on linguistic grounds, see R. D. Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (WEC), 347. Cf. NEB “a pile of weeds”; NIV “a place of weeds”; NRSV “a land possessed by nettles.”

² tn The Hebrew text reads וּמִכְרֵה־מֶלַח (umikhreh-melakh, “and a [?] of salt”). The meaning of the first word is unclear, though “pit” (NASB, NIV, NRSV; NKJV “saltpit”), “mine,” and “heap” (cf. NEB “a rotting heap of saltwort”) are all options. The words “filled with” are supplied for clarification.

³ tn Or “The remnant of my people.”

⁴ tn Heb “them.” The actual object of the plundering, “their belongings,” has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Heb “[the] nation.” For clarity the “nation” has been specified as “Judah” in the translation.