The Skeptics Annotated Bible (710 page)

15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

(1.17-18) God will “bring distress upon men” so that they “walk like blind men.” He will pour out their blood like dust and “their flesh as dung.”

17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

(1.17)
“I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.”

18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

(1.18)
“The whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.”

2
Gather yourselves together
, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff,
before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you.

(2.1-2)
“Gather yourselves together … before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.”

3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness:
it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.

(2.3)
“It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.”

(2. 4-13) God’s hit list: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, the sea coast, Canaan, the Philistines, Moab, the children of Ammon, Ethiopians, Assyrians, and Nineveh.

4 For
Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

(2.4)
“Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.”

5
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast
, the nation of the Cherethites!
the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

(2.5)
“Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast … the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.”

6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely
Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah
, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation:
the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

10 This shall they have for their pride,
because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD
of hosts.

(2.9-10) “Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah … the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them … because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD.”

11
The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth
; and
men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

(2.11a) “The LORD will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth.”
9 How many gods are there?

(2.11b)
“Men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.”