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How has the city of praise not been abandoned, the town of my joy?
Yahweh uses a question to show surprise that the people have not left the city when danger is coming. He may have meant that they should have left the city. This can also be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “Why have they not abandoned the city of praise, the town of my joy?” or “They should have abandoned the city of praise, the town of my joy.” (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the city of praise ... the town of my joy
These two phrases both refer to Damascus.
the city of praise
“the city that people used to praise” or “the famous city”
the town of my joy
Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh had felt joy because of the town. Alternate translation: “the town that brought me joy” or 2) the people in the town were usually joyful. Alternate translation: “the joyous town” or “the town that had joy”