3 This is what Yahweh says:

“Even if Damascus was three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away their punishment,

for the cruel things they did to the people of Gilead.[ref]

4 I’ll send a fire into King Hazael’s house,

≈ and it will devour King Ben-Hadad’s fortresses.

5 I’ll smash the gate bars of Damascus

and eliminate the ruler of the Aven Valley,

and also the leader of Beyt-Eden.

The people of Aram will go in captivity to Kir,”

says Yahweh.

6 This is what Yahweh says:

“Even if Azzah (Gaza) was three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away their punishment,

because they carried a whole people group away as captives,

to hand them over to Edom.[ref] 7 I’ll send fire onto Azzah’s walls,

and it’ll devour her fortresses. 8 I will cut off those from Ashdod

≈ and the ruler of Ashkelon.

I’ll cause problems for Ekron,

and the rest of the Philistines will die,”

says Yahweh the master.

9 This is what Yahweh says:

“Even if Tsor (Tyre) was three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away their punishment,

because they handed a whole people group over to Edom,

and they didn’t take any notice of their brotherhood agreement.[ref]

10 I’ll send fire onto Tsor’s walls,

and it’ll devour her fortresses.”

11 This is what Yahweh says,

“Even if Edom was three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away their punishment,

because he pursued his brother with the sword and abandoned all pity.

His anger raged continually,

≈ and his rage lasted forever.[ref]

12 I’ll send fire on Teyman,

and it’ll devour Botsrah’s fortresses.”

13 This is what Yahweh says,

“Even if the Ammonites were three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away their punishment,

because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead,

in order to grab territory.[ref]

14 I’ll light a fire in Rabah’s walls,

and it’ll devour its fortresses,

with a shout in the day of battle,

with a storm in the day of the whirlwind.

15 Their king will go into captivity along with his officials,”

says Yahweh.