Another feature worthy of notice is that the Phœnicians are accused of selling Jews to the sons of the Jevanîm, Ionians or Greeks.[1247] The latter lie on the far horizon of the prophet,[1248] and we know from classical writers that from the fifth century onwards numbers of Syrian slaves were brought to Greece. The other features of the chapter are borrowed from earlier prophets.
_For, behold, in those days and in that time, When I bring again the captivity[1249] of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all the nations, And bring them down to the Vale of Jehoshaphat;[1250] And I will enter into judgment with them there, For My people and for My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the heathen, And My land have they divided. And they have cast lots for My people:[1251] They have given a boy for a harlot,[1252] And a girl have they sold for wine and drunk it. And again, what are ye to Me, Tyre and Sidon and all circuits of Philistia?[1253] Is it any deed of Mine ye are repaying? Or are ye doing anything to Me?[1254] Swiftly, speedily will I return your deed on your head, Who have taken My silver and My gold, And My goodly jewels ye have brought into your palaces. The sons of Judah and the sons of Jerusalem have ye sold to the sons of the Greeks, In order that ye might set them as far _as possible_ from their own border. Lo! I will stir them up from the place to which ye have sold them, And I will return your deed upon your head. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the sons of Judah, And they shall sell them to the Shebans,[1255] To a nation far off; for Jehovah hath spoken. Proclaim this among the heathen, hallow a war. Wake up the warriors, let all the fighting-men muster and go up.[1256] Beat your ploughshares into swords, And your pruning-hooks into lances. Let the weakling say, I am strong. ...[1257] and come, all ye nations round about, And gather yourselves together. Thither bring down Thy warriors, Jehovah. Let the heathen be roused, And come up to the Vale of Jehoshaphat, For there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put in the sickle,[1258] for ripe is the harvest. Come, get you down; for the press is full, The vats overflow, great is their wickedness. Multitudes, multitudes in the Vale of Decision! For near is Jehovah’s day in the Vale of Decision. Sun and moon have turned black, And the stars withdrawn their shining. Jehovah thunders from Zion, And from Jerusalem gives[1259] forth His voice: Heaven and earth do quake. But Jehovah is a refuge to His people, And for a fortress to the sons of Israel. And ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, Who dwell in Zion, the mount of My holiness; And Jerusalem shall be holy, Strangers shall not pass through her again. And it shall be on that day The mountains shall drop sweet wine, And the hills be liquid with milk, And all the channels of Judah flow with water; A fountain shall spring from the house of Jehovah, And shall water the Wady of Shittim.[1260] Egypt shall be desolation, And Edom desert-land, For the outrage done to the children of Judah, Because they shed innocent blood in their land. Judah shall abide peopled for ever, And Jerusalem for generation upon generation. And I will declare innocent their blood,[1261] which I have not declared innocent, By[1262] Jehovah who dwelleth in Zion._