The Skeptics Annotated Bible (700 page)

(3.9-12) Because the prophets and leaders of the nation were corrupt, God punishes everyone.

9
Hear this
, I pray you,
ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.

(3.9)
“Hear this … ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.”

10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and
the prophets thereof divine for money
: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

(3.11) “The prophets thereof divine for money.” Some things never change.

12
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps
, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

(3.12) “Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps.”

4
But
in the last days
it shall come to pass, that
the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

(4.1) “In the last days … the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.” In the last days God will put “the mountain of the house of the Lord” on “top of the mountains.”

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

(4.3) “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Well, it’s a nice thought, but Joel 3.10 says just the opposite. But what do you expect from a “God of Peace” (Rom 15.33, Heb 13.20) who calls himself a “man of war”? (Ex 15.3)

4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

5 For
all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
for ever and ever.

(4.5)
“All people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God.”
God approves of religious tolerance?

6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.

12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for
I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD
, and their substance unto
the Lord of the whole earth
.

(4.13a)
“I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD.”
God will strengthen the Israelites so they can “beat in pieces many peoples” and give the booty to God.