3:4 many days. The “many days” thus prophesied have continued now for almost two thousand years. The children of Israel have been without a king and a prince ever since Nebuchadnezzar deposed and blinded King Zedekiah, after slaying his sons before his eyes (II Kings 25:7). So far as known, the children of Israel also abandoned their pagan images and teraphim when the Babylonians took them into captivity about 590 B.C. Furthermore, they have been without sacrifices and priestly ephods ever since the Romans destroyed the temple in A.D. 70.

3:4 ephod. The embroidered outer vest worn by the Israelite priests.

3:4 teraphim. Small images, representing gods; also used as tokens of ownership.