1 Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.
7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.
8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.
11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.
<html><b>Request rain from the Lord</b> if you need it. <b>rain-clouds</b> Clouds that bring rain <b>for each person, grass in the field</b> For one man and for one grass that requires rain.</html>
<html><b>For the teraphim, etc., and the soothsayers envisioned lies, and dreamers</b> who misled your forefathers, saying, “I dreamt.” They would encourage [your forefathers] to rebel against the Holy One, blessed be He. They spoke futility, and they spoke vanity, saying “peace” - but there was no peace. <b>Therefore, they traveled.</b> I, however, am a true prophet for them. <b>they were humbled</b> “to humble yourself before Me.” An expression of humility.</html>
<html><b>My wrath is kindled against the shepherds</b> Against the kings of Greece. <b>upon the goats</b> Against their princes, and so did Jonathan render it: My wrath was against the kings and upon the rulers I visit. The Greeks were likened to goats in (Dan. 8:21), “And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece.” Whoever wishes to explain the matter [otherwise] (not as referring to the kings of Greece) will say that הָעַתּוּדִים is an expression of princes, as in (Isa. 14:9), “It aroused the giants for you, all the chiefs of the earth.” <b>as His majestic horse in battle</b> As the horse whose majesty is recognized in battle.</html>
<html><b>Out of them shall come the cornerstone</b> Out of them shall come their kings; out of them shall come their princes, and out of them shall come those who wage their wars.</html>
<html><b>And they shall be like mighty men, treading the mire of the streets in battle</b> This verse is inverted. It should be understood: And they shall be in battle, walking and treading people as mighty men tread the mire of the streets. <b>treading</b> as in (Ps. 60:14), “And He shall tread down our enemies,” and (Jer. 12:10) “They have trampled My field.” <b>and they shall shame the riders of horses</b> The house of Judah shall shame the riders of horses who come to wage war with them.</html>
<html><b>And I will strengthen the house of Judah</b> in the war against the Greeks. <b>and the house of Joseph I will save</b> in the place where they were exiled - in Halah and in Habor in the days of Sennacherib. <b>And I will cause them to settle</b> Like וְהוֹשַּׁבְתִּים, an expression of settling. <b>And they shall be as though I had not forsaken them</b> As though I had never forsaken them.</html>
<html><b>I will whistle to them</b> in the manner of those who whistle as a sign and a signal for those straying on their way to him. <b>and I will gather them</b> at the time of the end in the future. <b>for I have redeemed them</b> When I will redeem them. <b>And they shall multiply</b> in exile as they multiplied in Egypt.</html>
<html><b>And I will sow them</b> first among the peoples, as a person sows a seah to bring in many korim. <b>And they shall live with their children</b> אֶת-בְנֵיהֶם</html>
<html><b>and the Lebanon</b> This is the Temple. <b>and it shall not suffice for them</b> Heb. וְלֹא יִמָּצֵא לָהֶם</html>
<html><b>And trouble shall pass through the sea</b> And the trouble shall pass through Tyre, which is situated in the midst of the sea, it is the head of Edom. <b>and He shall strike</b> The Holy One, blessed be He, Who is the One Who strikes <b>the waves of the sea</b> to sink Tyre. <b>all the depths of the river</b> That is, Egypt.</html>