2:8 They do not jostle one another; 1
each of them marches straight ahead. 2
They burst through 3 the city defenses 4
and do not break ranks.
2:24 The threshing floors are full of grain;
the vats overflow with fresh wine and olive oil.
3:11 Lend your aid 5 and come,
all you surrounding nations,
and gather yourselves 6 to that place.”
Bring down, O Lord, your warriors! 7
1 tn “each one does not crowd his brother.”
2 tn Heb “each warrior walks in his own course.”
3 tn Heb “they fall upon.” This line has been interpreted in two different ways: (1) although they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded (KJV), or (2) when they “burst through” the city’s defenses, they will not break ranks (RSV, NASB, NIV, NIrV).
4 tn Heb “missile” or “javelin.” This term appears to function as a synecdoche for the city’s defenses as a whole (cf. NASB, NIV, TEV). Some scholars instead understand the reference to be an aqueduct by which the locusts (or armies) entered the city.
5 tn This Hebrew verb is found only here in the OT; its meaning is uncertain. Some scholars prefer to read here עוּרוּ (’uru, “arouse”) or חוּשׁוּ (khushu, “hasten”).
6 tc The present translation follows the reading of the imperative הִקָּבְצוּ (hiqqavÿtsu) rather than the perfect with vav (ו) consecutive וְנִקְבָּצוּ (vÿniqbbatsu) of the MT.
7 tc Some commentators prefer to delete the line “Bring down, O