A promise of future blessings for Israel

20 In the future there will be only a few people left in Israel;

not many descendants of Jacob will still be alive.

But they will no longer rely on the king of Assyria,

the king of the nation that tried to destroy them.

Instead, they will faithfully/sincerely trust in Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel.

21 Those Israelis will return to their mighty God.

22 Now, the people of Israel are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore,

but only a few of them will return from the countries to which they were exiled.

Yahweh has decided to destroy most of the Israelis

and that is what he must do because he is completely just/righteous.

23 Yes, the Commander of the armies of angels has already decided to destroy the entire land of Israel.

24 This is what the Commander of the armies of angels says:

“My people in Jerusalem, do not be afraid of the army of Assyria when they beat you with rods and clubs,

like the men of Egypt did to your ancestors long ago.

25 Soon I will no longer be angry with you,

and then I will be angry with the people of Assyria and destroy them!”

26 The Commander of the armies of angels will whip them.

He will do to them like he did when he helped Gideon and his 300 soldiers to defeat the army of the Midian people-group,

and like he did when he showed his mighty power [MTY] by causing the army of Egypt to drown in the Red Sea.

27 Some day, Yahweh will cause the army of Assyria to stop oppressing you, his people;

he will end your suffering and your being slaves of the people of Assyria [MET];

he will take away the load that you people of Judah have been carrying,

and cause things to go well for you.