Jer 6:1 | KingComments | STEP | Jeremiah here prophetically describes the coming siege of Jerusalem by the armies of the king of Babylon ( ). The prophet empathizes so much with the horror to come that he describes it as if it had already happened. He sees them advancing in spirit toward Jerusalem, ready to take the city. The “sons of Benjamin” – Jeremiah is living in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin – who are in Jerusalem are called upon to get to safety and not to rely on their own strength. Safety is of utmost importance, especially when calamity threatens. They are to blow the trumpet in Tekoa to warn the inhabitants there. Tekoa is the birthplace of Amos ( ). It is a Judaean city about eighteen kilometers south of Jerusalem. In addition to an audible warning signal, a visible signal must raise i.e. in the form of a fire signal. This visible signal is to be raised over Beth-haccerem, which is about five kilometers south of Jerusalem, so that all who see it may flee the calamity. The calamity “looks down from the north”, that is, the armies of Babylon are preparing there to advance toward Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a “comely” and “dainty” woman ( ). The LORD’s care has made her charming, but she has abused her beauty by acting like a harlot ( ). This caused her to receive a lot of attention from the surrounding peoples at first and as a result she became spoiled. The result is that she has begun to behave unruly toward the LORD. Therefore, He will exterminate her. The city will lose everything because of shepherds who graze everything with their flocks ( ). They are a picture of the enemy who will move against her and leave nothing of her beauty. The enemy army captains, the “shepherds”, with their soldiers, “their flocks”, will pitch their tents around Jerusalem. In doing so, each captain will pitch his tents on a piece of land. This will thereby be completely covered with tents and meticulously pastured, making it unusable for God’s people. The enemy comes and declares war. The declaration of war is preceded by preparations and followed by the beginning of war. Their language demonstrates haste and impatience and the thirst for destruction. In broad daylight they want to attack ( ). Then it turns out that the day will pass faster than expected after all. That is a setback. Then they have to march in the night ( ). Thus, for Jerusalem, the day passes when the attack is imminent and there is fear of the night because the city will be attacked. The soldiers are full of war rage and unstoppable. They see the spoils before them. In the night the palaces, which are the mansions, are destroyed. The comfortable homes of those who have feasted on life are being destroyed.

‏ Jeremiah 6:1

The Approaching Invasion

Jeremiah here prophetically describes the coming siege of Jerusalem by the armies of the king of Babylon (Jer 6:1). The prophet empathizes so much with the horror to come that he describes it as if it had already happened. He sees them advancing in spirit toward Jerusalem, ready to take the city. The “sons of Benjamin” – Jeremiah is living in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin – who are in Jerusalem are called upon to get to safety and not to rely on their own strength. Safety is of utmost importance, especially when calamity threatens.

They are to blow the trumpet in Tekoa to warn the inhabitants there. Tekoa is the birthplace of Amos (Amos 1:1). It is a Judaean city about eighteen kilometers south of Jerusalem. In addition to an audible warning signal, a visible signal must raise i.e. in the form of a fire signal. This visible signal is to be raised over Beth-haccerem, which is about five kilometers south of Jerusalem, so that all who see it may flee the calamity. The calamity “looks down from the north”, that is, the armies of Babylon are preparing there to advance toward Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is a “comely” and “dainty” woman (Jer 6:2). The LORD’s care has made her charming, but she has abused her beauty by acting like a harlot (Eze 16:1-16). This caused her to receive a lot of attention from the surrounding peoples at first and as a result she became spoiled. The result is that she has begun to behave unruly toward the LORD. Therefore, He will exterminate her.

The city will lose everything because of shepherds who graze everything with their flocks (Jer 6:3). They are a picture of the enemy who will move against her and leave nothing of her beauty. The enemy army captains, the “shepherds”, with their soldiers, “their flocks”, will pitch their tents around Jerusalem. In doing so, each captain will pitch his tents on a piece of land. This will thereby be completely covered with tents and meticulously pastured, making it unusable for God’s people.

The enemy comes and declares war. The declaration of war is preceded by preparations and followed by the beginning of war. Their language demonstrates haste and impatience and the thirst for destruction. In broad daylight they want to attack (Jer 6:4). Then it turns out that the day will pass faster than expected after all. That is a setback. Then they have to march in the night (Jer 6:5).

Thus, for Jerusalem, the day passes when the attack is imminent and there is fear of the night because the city will be attacked. The soldiers are full of war rage and unstoppable. They see the spoils before them. In the night the palaces, which are the mansions, are destroyed. The comfortable homes of those who have feasted on life are being destroyed.