Isaiah 27:9

By this, therefore, by the punishment of the exile, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, his guilt expiated, purification brought about; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin, the punishment, if properly effective, shall have the following result: when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalk-stones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up, really, "so that the places of Ashtoreth and the images of the sun shall not rise again. " Israel is shown the condition under which it will be acceptable to God. By dashing to pieces the stones of their idolatrous altars and destroying both the idols and their pedestals, the people of the land will give evidence of the fruit of the expiation that has been rendered and of the forgiveness that has been received. All this is stated in emphatic contrast to the fate which overcame the city of wickedness, the representative of hostility against God.