An Oracle Concerning Damascus

17 An soracle concerning tDamascus.

Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city

and will become a heap of ruins.

2  The cities of uAroer are deserted;

they will be for flocks,

which will lie down, and vnone will make them afraid.

3  The fortress will disappear from wEphraim,

and the kingdom from wDamascus;

and the remnant of Syria will be

like xthe glory of the children of Israel,

declares the Lord of hosts.

4  And in that day xthe glory of Jacob will be brought low,

and ythe fat of his flesh will grow lean.

5  And it shall be zas when the reaper gathers standing grain

and his arm harvests the ears,

and as when one gleans the ears of grain

in athe Valley of Rephaim.

6  bGleanings will be left in it,

as when an olive tree is beaten—

two or three berries

in the top of the highest bough,

four or five

on the branches of a fruit tree,

declares the Lord God of Israel.