When the people of Israel and Judah return from exile, they will no longer fight each other (verse 13); instead they will attack their common enemies together. The nations listed are those that were once under King David’s control, so the prophet foresees a return to the days when the nation of Israel was at the peak of its power under King David.

But they shall swoop down upon the shoulder of the Philistines in the west: The combined forces of Israel and Judah will attack their traditional enemies to the west, the Philistines. The verb phrase swoop down upon, which is literally “fly upon,” recalls a bird of prey that flies down swiftly to pick up its prey. It is a graphic picture of an army on the move. Good News Translation renders it nonfiguratively with “attack.” Bible en français courant has “charge at.” The shoulder of the Philistines is a metaphor for that part of the Philistine territory closest to Israel’s southern hill country. It is known as the Shephelah, the area between the Judean hills and the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. New American Bible suggests “the foothills of the Philistines,” New Jerusalem Bible has “the Philistines’ back” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and Revised English Bible says “the Philistine flank.” Good News Translation simply has “the Philistines,” which is acceptable, but it is better to retain some kind of geographical expression. For this line Bible en français courant has “To the west together they charge at the hills of Philistia,” but that may give the wrong idea because the hills are not really in Philistia. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is better with “Together they storm to the west, down the slopes onto the Philistines.”

In the west is literally “toward the sea.” It means to the west of Israel. Translating compass directions in many languages is a challenge. However, “west” may not be difficult since we may say “toward the place where the sun sets.” If this rendering is used, it should not give the impression that the attack will take place in the evening. For the translation of the four compass points, see 2.6.

And together they shall plunder the people of the east: During David’s reign the countries to the east of the Jordan River were all under Israel’s control. In the ideal future the combined forces of both Israelite kingdoms will attack and plunder those countries. To plunder is to take everything from a country after defeating it. In some languages a verb such as “rob” or “steal” may be the only option. The people of the east generally points to the people who lived on the eastern side of the Jordan River. They are identified by name in the next two lines.

They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab: These two nations were located on the top of the plateau east of the Dead Sea. Edom was the nation to the south, extending to the Gulf of Aqaba. Moab was the nation just north of it. The verb phrase put forth their hand against implies an attack, which may be stated clearly. Good News Translation has “conquer,” and Bible en français courant says “extend their rule over.”

And the Ammonites shall obey them: The country of Ammon was north of Moab and its capital was located on the site of the present capital of Jordan, Amman. The Ammonites shall obey them means they will be subject to the victorious Israelites.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• But together Ephraim and Judah will attack the Philistines down the foothills in the west and plunder the people to the east. They will attack Edom and Moab, and the people of Ammon will have to submit to them.

• But Ephraim and Judah together will sweep down on the Philistines to the west. They will conquer the people to the east of the Jordan: they will attack Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them [or, will obey them].

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .