3 and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Rivers - Or, "ravines," which were, like the mountains, favorite seats of idol-rites 2-Kings 23:10.
And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the (a) mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, [even] I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.
(a) He speaks of all the places where the Israelites accustomed to commit their idolaters, threatening them with destruction.
And say, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God,.... Since the people of the Jews would not hear the word of the Lord, the mountains are called upon to hear it; unless the inhabitants of the mountains are meant:
thus saith the Lord God to the mountains and to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys: these are addressed, because idols were worshipped here; as upon the mountains and hills, so by rivers of water, and also in valleys, as in the valley of Hinnom idols were worshipped; upon mountains and hills, because they thought themselves nearer to heaven; by rivers, because of purity; and in valleys, because shady and obscure, and had something solemn and venerable in them:
behold I, even I, will bring a sword upon you; that is, upon the idolaters, which worshipped in these places; otherwise different instruments, as pick axes, &c. would have been more proper. The Targum paraphrases it,
"them that kill with the sword;''
meaning the Chaldeans, who doubtless are intended:
and I will destroy your high places; the temples and altars, built on high places, and devoted to idolatrous worship, as follows:
rivers--literally, the "channels" of torrents. Rivers were often the scene and objects of idolatrous worship.
Rivers - To those who dwell by river sides, or in the valleys. High places - The places of your idolatrous worship.
*More commentary available at chapter level.