en_tn/amo/02/09.md

General Information:

The words "them" and "you" in these verses both refer to the people of Israel.

Connecting Statement:

Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Israel.

whose height was like the height of cedars; he was strong as the oaks

This is an exaggeration. It describes how tall and strong the Amorite people were and compares them to the tallest and strongest trees in that region. Alternate translation: "who were tall and strong like great trees" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)

cedars

cedar trees

oaks

oak trees

Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below

How Yahweh completely destroyed the Amorites is pictured as a tree being destroyed from top to bottom. Alternate translation: "Yet I destroyed them completely" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)