Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away {the punishment} thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: {and...: or, yea, for four} {turn...: or, convert it, or, let it be quiet}

In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; {to cut: Heb. to cut off the ends}

Who raised up the righteous {man} from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made {him} rule over kings? he gave {them} as the dust to his sword, {and} as driven stubble to his bow. {the righteous...: Heb. righteousness}

Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. {were all...: or, were nourished}

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make {them} swords or spears:

Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. {pledges: or, hostages}

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, {even} all the children of Israel, {being} seven thousand.

Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat {them} small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. {teeth: Heb. mouths}

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD {is} near in the valley of decision. {decision: or, concision, or, threshing}

And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people {that were} present with him, about six hundred men. {present: Heb. found}

Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, {and} did spread them abroad.

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. {after...: or, in the way} {and have...: Heb. with the captivity of your horses}

O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. {corn: Heb. son}

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away {the punishment} thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: {and...: or, yea, for four} {turn...: or, convert it, or, let it be quiet}

In the multitude of people {is} the king's honour: but in the want of people {is} the destruction of the prince.

Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant {places} for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns {shall be} in their tabernacles. {destruction: Heb. spoil} {the...: or, their silver shall be desired, the nettle, etc.: Heb. the desire}

And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, {even} all the children of Israel, {being} seven thousand.

And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

Who raised up the righteous {man} from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made {him} rule over kings? he gave {them} as the dust to his sword, {and} as driven stubble to his bow. {the righteous...: Heb. righteousness}