2. The villages around Aroerwill be deserted,with only sheep living thereand no one to bother them.
3. Israel will lose its fortresses.The kingdom of Damascuswill be destroyed;its survivors will sufferthe same fate as Israel.The Lord All-Powerfulhas promised this.
4. When that time comes,the glorious nation of Israelwill be brought down;its prosperous peoplewill be skin and bones.
5. Israel will be like wheat fieldsin Rephaim Valleypicked clean of grain.
6. It will be like an olive treebeaten with a stick,leaving two or three olivesor perhaps four or fiveon the highestor most fruitful branches.The Lord God of Israelhas promised this.
7. At that time the people will turn and trust their Creator, the holy God of Israel.
8. They have built altars and places for burning incense to their goddess Asherah, and they have set up sacred poles for her. But they will stop worshipping at these places.
9. Israel captured powerful cities and chased out the people who lived there. But these cities will lie in ruins, covered over with weeds and undergrowth.
10. Israel, you have forgottenthe God who saves you,the one who is the mighty rockwhere you find protection.You plant the finest flowersto honour a foreign god.