The opening of this chapter describes the salvation that will come to Yehuda: this time, they will be the ones dividing the spoils (9:2). Instead of a shoulder subject to oppression — “the rod over their shoulders, the oppressor's staff” (9:3) — the shoulder will become something honored and empowered: “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; leadership rests on his shoulders” (9:5). Once again, a child is born with a significant name, and this time, it will be a child who brings salvation. “To instill great leadership, peace without end, on the throne of David, and over his kingdom, founding and supporting it with justice and with righteousness” (9:6). This child will secure the throne of David, threatened by Israel and Aram, and will also rectify the flaws of Yehuda mentioned in the early chapters of the book — he will establish justice and righteousness in Yehuda.

The second part of the chapter describes the calamities that will befall Israel, marked by a refrain repeated three times: “And still He has not turned away His rage, and still He stretches forth His hand” (9:11, 16, 20). At first, the prophet condemns the pride of Israel, who believe they can rebuild their kingdom using cedars, the strongest and most impressive trees. After that, a prophecy foretells the removal of Israel’s leadership. The chapter ends by describing fratricidal wars. The motifs of these last two parts closely parallel the depiction of the Day of the Lord in Chapter 3, suggesting that the principles of the Day of the Lord are applied here to the Kingdom of Israel. The most significant parallel lies in the connection between two factors: the removal of leadership and the resulting chaos, leading to internal conflicts: “The people are nothing but fuel for the fire; brother cares nothing for brother. He on the right carves meat but stays hungry; he on the left will eat but not feel full; a man will eat the flesh of his own arm – Menashe on Efrayim, Efrayim on Menashe, and the two together on Yehuda” (9:18–20). From our studies in Melakhim, we know that the end of the Kingdom of Israel was marked precisely by this: a series of successive revolts, from Efrayim against Menashe and vice versa, culminating in the kingdom’s destruction.