Jer 33:13 | NET2full | STEP | I, the Lord , say that shepherds will once again count their sheep as they pass into the fold . They will do this in all the towns in the hill country , the foothills , the Negev , the territory of Benjamin , the villages surrounding Jerusalem , and the towns of Judah .’

‏ Jeremiah 33:13

13 I, the Lord, say that shepherds will once again count their sheep as they pass into the fold. ^{▼▼sn Heb “Sheep will again pass under the hands of the counter.” This appears to be a reference to counting the sheep to make sure that none was missing as they returned to the fold. See the same idiom in Lev 27:32 and in the metaphor in Ezek 20:37.} They will do this in all the towns in the hill country, the foothills, ^{▼▼tn The foothills (שְׁפֵלָה, shephelah) are the transition region between the hill country and the coastal plains.} the Negev, ^{▼▼sn The Negev is the area of central, southern Judah, south of the hill country and Beer Sheba and west of the rift valley.} the territory of Benjamin, the villages surrounding Jerusalem, and the towns of Judah.’ ^{▼▼sn Cf. Jer 32:44.}