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33 Behold,
the Lord, ['adown] the LORD [Yahovah] of
hosts, [tsaba'] shall lop [ca`aph] the bough [pa'orah] with
terror: [ma`aratsah] and the high ones [ruwm] of stature [qowmah] shall
be hewn down, [gada`] and the haughty [gaboahh] shall be humbled. [shaphel] KJV-Interlinear
33 Behold,
the Lord, the God of hosts, will lop off the boughs with a terrible crash;
Those also who are tall in stature will be cut down, And those who are lofty
will be abased. NASB
In verses 18 and 19, the northern army was described as a magnificent forest, and here the boughs or branches of the trees of that forest are going to be cut off, destroyed.
The boughs, means to beautify, to adorn, and is the expression of magnificence.
And in the mind of that northern army, and probably most armies of history, they look upon themselves as magnificent when they are arrayed and advancing.
But in Gods mind, they are evil and defeated already.
The northern army has been described as advancing swiftly and successfully. The description of fear at their advance is expressed from the cities that are in their path.
However, here their demise is given, and that demise is intended to give faith and hope to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
A mighty enemy is advancing on them, but they, the mature believers of Jerusalem, will be spared and rescued, and their enemy will be destroyed.
In terror, is ascribed to the enemy of Jerusalem. They will be cut down little by little and great by great, and that will destroy their self-image of magnificence. That will replace their ego with terror.
How can a magnificent army be defeated by such feeble opposition? And yet the defenses of Jerusalem will become an impenetrable barrier and obstacle.
Their belligerence will be frustrated and their arrogance will be humbled.
Lop, hewn, and humbled means total defeat.
This did not occur historically, but it will occur at the end of the Tribulation.
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