In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Ashur took Shomron, and carried Yisra'el away to Ashur, and placed them in Chalach, and on the Chavor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Madai.
A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, `Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Madai's sighing.
*I have raised up one from the north, and he has come; from the rising of the sun, one who calls on my name; and he shall come on rulers as on mortar, and as the potter treads clay.
For out of the north there comes up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and animal.
They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; and they ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Bavel.
For, behold, I will stir up and cause to come up against Bavel a company of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain.
Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Madai; because his purpose is against Bavel, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.