8:10a–c
Verse 10a describes Israel’s attempts to get help from foreign nations. Verse 10b says that God will respond by gathering them to be punished. Verse 10c describes what that punishment will be like.
10a Though they hire allies among the nations,
10b I will now round them up,
10c and they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.
8:10a–b
There are two main ways to interpret the relationship between 8:10a and 8:10b:
(1) Verse 8:10a describes an existing situation that leads to the unexpected result in 8:10b. Israel paid other nations to protect them and expected to receive their help. They thought that they would be safe. In spite of what Israel expected, God will still gather them to be punished. For example:
10a Though they hire allies among the nations, 10b I will soon gather them up. (English Standard Version)
(2) Verse 8:10a describes a reason for the expected result in 8:10b. Because of the fact that Israel paid other nations to protect them, the expected result is that God will gather them to be punished. For example:
10a because they have so bargained among the nations, 10b I will now round them up. (Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.
Here are some other ways to translate the relationship between these two lines:
Even though…I will gather them (God’s Word)
-or-
They have hired…but I will gather them anyway
8:10a
they hire allies among the nations: This statement refers back to 8:9b. See the note there. In 8:9b, “lovers” is part of a metaphor that refers to the nations. Here the word nations is used literally.
Here are some ways to translate this clause:
they hire allies among the nations (English Standard Version)
-or-
they have hired other countries ⌊to protect them ⌋
In some languages, it may not be natural to repeat the same idea from 8:9b. If that is true in your language, you may leave parts of this statement implied. For example:
they did this
8:10b
I will now round them up: In the OT, the LORD sometimes rounds the people up to do something positive. Here he rounds them up for the purpose of judgment. Some versions make the purpose of rounding up explicit. For example:
I will soon gather them together for judgment. (NET Bible)
now: This word probably indicates here that the LORD will gather the people soon, as in the previous NET Bible quote.
General Comment on 8:9b–10b
If you translated 8:9b similar to the Good News Translation, it may be more natural to combine that verse part with 8:10a–b. For example:
…paid other nations to protect them (8:9b). But now I am going to gather them together and punish them. (Good News Translation)
8:10c
they will begin to diminish: There are textual and interpretation issues in this part of the clause. The notes will first discuss the referent of they. Other issues will be discussed separately.
they: There are two ways to interpret the referent of this pronoun:
(1) It refers to the people of Israel in general. It includes the common people as well as the king and princes. For example:
they (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
you (Contemporary English Version)
(2) It refers only to the king and princes of Israel. For example:
the king and princes (English Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.
will begin to diminish: The issues in this part of the clause involve textual differences between the Hebrew (MT) and Greek (LXX) texts. They also involve textual and interpretation differences in the words used in the MT. Here is a summary of the main issues:
(1) One combination of words in the MT means “will begin ” + “to diminish ” or “to be few.” It refers to a future decrease in numbers or strength. For example:
and they will begin to diminish (Berean Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible)
-or-
They will become weaker and weaker (New Century Version)
(2) Another combination of words in the MT means “will writhe/suffer ” + “soon ” or “a short while.” It refers to future pain and suffering. For example:
They shall soon writhe (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
They will suffer for a while (God’s Word)
(3) The LXX has “they will cease ” + “a little ” + “from anointing.” It refers to a future period of time when the people will no longer appoint their leaders. For example:
And they shall cease for a little while from anointing (Revised Standard Version)
The Display will follow textual/interpretation option (1) along with many versions and commentaries. This option requires no change in the vowels or consonants of the MT. It also allows for the normal meaning of the second word (“few”).
However, you may also follow option (2). This option is supported by a majority of versions and commentaries. Whichever option you choose, it is suggested that you put the other option in a footnote.
under the oppression of the king of princes: In Hebrew, the phrase under the oppression is literally “from the burden.” Here the word “burden” refers figuratively to various kinds of suffering and hardship that the people will experience in Assyria.
of the king of princes: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “king princes.” (For the word princes, see the note on 8:4b.) There are three main ways to interpret this phrase:
(1) It means “king of princes.” This expression indicates the greatest king. For example:
the great king (New Living Translation (2004))
(2) It means “kings and princes.” For example:
kings and rulers (Contemporary English Version)
(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Revised Standard Version)
(3) It means “king and princes.” For example:
king ⌊and ⌋ officers (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
(New American Bible, Revised Edition, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries. This interpretation best fits the historical context in which the people of Israel were deported to Assyria.
Some versions make explicit that this phrase refers to the king of Assyria. For example:
the great king of Assyria (New Century Version)
-or-
the emperor of Assyria (Good News Translation)
In many languages, it will be helpful to make this information explicit.
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