3:3 Do two walk together without having met? 1
9:14 I will bring back my people, Israel; 2
they will rebuild the cities lying in rubble 3 and settle down. 4
They will plant vineyards and drink the wine they produce; 5
they will grow orchards 6 and eat the fruit they produce. 7
1 sn The rhetorical questions in vv. 3-5 expect the answer, “No, of course not!” Those in v. 6 anticipate the answer, “Yes, of course they do/he is.” They all draw attention to the principle of cause and effect and lay the logical foundation for the argument in vv. 7-8. Also note the progression from a general question in v. 3 to the “meetings” of two animals (v. 4), to that of an animal and a human trap (v. 5), to a climax with the confrontation with the Lord (v. 6). Each of these meetings is disastrous.
2 tn This line can also be translated “I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel” and is a common idiom (e.g., Deut 30:3; Jer 30:3; Hos 6:11; Zeph 3:20). This rendering is followed by several modern English versions (e.g., NEB, NRSV, NJPS).
3 tn Or “the ruined [or “desolate”] cities.”
4 tn Or “and live [in them].”
5 tn Heb “drink their wine.”
6 tn Or “gardens.”
7 tn Heb “eat their fruit.”