1 ASK ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.
7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.
8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.
11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.

1Aske yee of the Lord raine in the time of the latter raine, so the Lord shal make bright clouds, and giue them showres of raine, to euery one grasse in the field.

2For the idoles haue spoken vanitie, and the diuiners haue seene a lye, and haue told false dreames; they comfort in vaine: therefore they went their way as a flocke, they were troubled because there was no shepheard.

3Mine anger was kindled against the shepheards, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hostes hath visited his flocke the house of Iudah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battell.

4Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the naile, out of him the battell bow, out of him euery oppressour together.

5 And they shall bee as mightie men which tread downe their enemies in the myre of the streets in the battell, and they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.

6And I will strengthen the house of Iudah, and I will saue the house of Ioseph, and I will bring them againe to place them, for I haue mercie vpon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, & will heare them.

7And they of Ephraim shall be like a mightie man, and their heart shall reioyce as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad, their heart shall reioyce in the Lord.

8I will hisse for them and gather them, for I haue redeemed them: and they shall increase as they haue increased.

9And I will sow them among the people, and they shall remember me in farre countries, and they shall liue with their children, and turne againe.

10I will bring them againe also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria, and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, and place shall not be found for them.

11And he shall passe through the sea with affliction, & shall smite the waues in the Sea, and all the deepes of the riuer shall dry vp: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought downe, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away.

12And I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walke vp and downe in his name, saith the Lord.

I == Job 29:23 ; Joel 2:23

 

II == Judg 17:5 ; Jer 10:8 ; Ezek 34:5 ; Heb 2:18

 

 

III == Ezek 34:17 ; Luke 1:68

 

 

IV == Num 24:17 ; 1st Sam 14:38 ; Isa 19:13 ; 22:23

 

 

 

 

VI == Jer 3:18 ; Ezek 37:21 ; Hos 1:7 ; Zech 13:9

 

 

VII == Ps 104:15 ; Zech 9:15

 

 

 

VIII == Isa 5:26 ; 49:19 ; Ezek 36:37

IX == Deut 30:1 ; Hos 2:23

 

X == Isa 11:11 , 16 ; 49:20

 

 

 

XI == Isa 11:15-16 ; 14:25 ; Ezek 30:13

 

 

XII == Mic 4:5

 

 

1 Ask of the LORD rain in the spring season! It is the LORD who makes storm clouds. And sends men the pouring rain; for everyone, grassy fields.

2 For the teraphim speak nonsense, the diviners have false visions: Deceitful dreams they tell, empty comfort they offer. This is why they wander like sheep, wretched: they have no shepherd.

3 My wrath is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; For the LORD of hosts will visit his flock, the house of Judah, and make them his stately war horse.

4 From him shall come leader and chief, from him warrior's bow and every officer.

5 They shall all be warriors, trampling the mire of the streets in battle; They shall wage war because the LORD is with them, and shall put the horsemen to rout.

6 I will strengthen the house of Judah, the house of Joseph I will save; I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them, they shall be as though I had never cast them off, for I am the LORD, their God, and I will hear them.

7 Then Ephraim shall be valiant men, and their hearts shall be cheered as by wine. Their children shall see it and be glad, their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.

8 I will whistle for them to come together, and when I redeem them they will be as numerous as before.

9 I sowed them among the nations, yet in distant lands they remember me; they shall rear their children and return.

10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into Gilead and into Lebanon, but these shall not suffice them;

11 I will cross over to Egypt and smite the waves of the sea and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be cast down, and the scepter of Egypt taken away.

12 I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name, says the LORD.

v 1-4. Timely rain was from the Lord, but false prophets had taken the credit and the people were punished. In the Millennium Christ will come out of Judah to be their deliverer as the corner stone, tent peg, battle bow and Micah 5:2, their ruler.

 

 

 

 

v 5-8. The Lord in their midst will enable the people to conquer. All the tribes of Israel will be strengthened, united, and rejoicing in the Lord. God will, as it were, whistle through his teeth to gather them together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 9,10. King of Egypt returned 120,000 captured Jews to Jerusalem. God had caused Jews to be spread over much of the world just before Christ came, so the Gospel could be spread abroad, but they will be regathered.

 

 

v 11,12. Just as Israel came through the Sea on dry land, all obstacles will be removed so she can be regathered, strengthened, and walk with the Lord.