Chapter summary

The chapter begins with an instruction to ask the Lord for springtime rain, contrasting His provision with the deceitful words of idols, diviners, and leaders who leave the people wandering like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord states that His anger burns against these leaders and that He will punish them while tending to His flock, the house of Judah, making them like a royal steed in battle. From Judah will come the cornerstone, the tent peg, the battle bow, and every ruler, and these people will fight as mighty men trampling the enemy in the streets because the Lord is with them. The Lord declares that He will strengthen the house of Judah, save the house of Joseph, and restore them out of compassion, causing Ephraim to become like a mighty warrior with joyful children. He announces that He will gather His redeemed people, who will remember Him while scattered among the nations, and bring them back from Egypt and Assyria to settle in Gilead and Lebanon. Finally, the Lord states that they will pass through the sea of distress, dry up the depths of the Nile, bring down the pride of Assyria, and cause the scepter of Egypt to depart, with the people walking in His name.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.