The Skeptics Annotated Bible (709 page)

4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

(1.4)
“I will cut off the remnant of Baal.”

5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

(1.5)
“And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops.”
4 Does the Bible condemn astrology?

6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.

(1.6)
“And them … that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.”

7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

(1.7) “The day of the LORD is at hand.”

(1.8-11) God will punish the princes, the king’s children, the merchant people, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel, leap on the threshold, or bear silver.
41 Are we punished for the sins of others?

8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

(1.8)
“I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all that are clothed with strange apparel.”

9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.

(1.9)
“In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold.”

10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.

11 Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

(1.11)
“All the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.”

(1.12-13) God doesn’t have good night-vision, so he needs candles when he comes to rob people of their houses, goods, and wine.

12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

(1.12)
“I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men … that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.”

13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

(1.13)
“Their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.”

14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

(1.14)
“The great day of the LORD is near.”