What the Lord Says about the Philistines

1 Before the king of Egypt attacked the town of Gaza,+ the Lord told me to say to the Philistines:

2I, the Lord, tell you

that your land will be flooded

with an army from the north.

It will destroy your towns

and sweep you away,

moaning and screaming.

3When you hear the thunder

of horses and chariots,

your courage will vanish,

and parents will even abandon

their own children.

4You refugees from Crete,+

your time has now come,

and I will destroy you.

None of you will be left

to help the cities

of Tyre and Sidon.

5The Anakim who survive+

in Gaza and Ashkelon

will mourn for you

by shaving their heads

and sitting in silence.

6You ask how long will I continue

to attack you with my sword,

then you tell me to put it away

and leave you alone.

7But how can my sword rest,

when I have commanded it

to attack Ashkelon

and the seacoast?