Jeremiah 6:1-6

Impending Disaster for Jerusalem

1 Flee for safety, 1O people of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in 2Tekoa, and raise a signal on 3Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms 4out of the north, and great destruction.
2 The lovely and delicately bred I will destroy, 5the daughter of Zion.[a]
3 6Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her; 7they shall pitch their tents around her; they shall pasture, each in his place.
4 8"Prepare war against her; arise, and let us attack 9at noon! Woe to us, for the day declines, for the shadows of evening lengthen!
5 Arise, and let us attack by night and destroy her palaces!"
6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: 10"Cut down her trees; 11cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be 12punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.

Jeremiah 6:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 6

This chapter is of the same argument with the former; and contains two things in it, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and the causes of it, which are intermixedly handled in it; a lively description is made of the notice of the approach of the enemy by blowing of trumpets and firing of beacons, Jer 6:1, and of the siege of the city, by pitching tents around it, casting up a mount against it, and scaling its walls at noon and by night, Jer 6:2-6, and this destruction is illustrated by the simile of gleaning of grapes, Jer 6:9, and amplified by the universality of it, with respect to persons and things; it reaching to persons of every age, and in every state, as old men, young men, and children, husbands and wives, and to all sorts of possessions, houses and fields, Jer 6:11,12,21, a description is given of the instruments of it, the Chaldeans, Jer 6:22,23 and it is aggravated by the anxiety, distress, and sorrow, the Jews would be in on account of it, Jer 6:24-26, the causes of it are in general the great aboundings of sin and wickedness in the midst of them, illustrated by a fountain casting out its waters, Jer 6:6,7, in particular, their neglect and contempt of the word of the Lord, Jer 6:10, the sin of covetousness, which prevailed among all sorts of people, high and low, in civil or religious life, Jer 6:13, the unfaithfulness of the prophets to the people, declaring peace, when there was none, Jer 6:14, their impenitence and hardness, Jer 6:15, their disregard to all instructions and warnings, Jer 6:16,17, their rejection of the law, and the precepts of it, Jer 6:18,19, their hypocritical sacrifices, Jer 6:20, and the chapter is concluded with an address to the prophet, setting forth his character and office, and the end of it, Jer 6:27 and his testimony concerning the people, showing their obstinacy and stubbornness, illustrated by a simile of refining metal in a furnace without success, Jer 6:28-30.

Cross References 12

  • 1. [Judges 1:21]
  • 2. See 2 Samuel 14:2
  • 3. Nehemiah 3:14
  • 4. See Jeremiah 1:14
  • 5. See 2 Kings 19:21
  • 6. [Jeremiah 23:1]
  • 7. Jeremiah 4:17
  • 8. Jeremiah 22:7; Joel 3:9; [Jeremiah 51:27]
  • 9. Jeremiah 15:8
  • 10. [Deuteronomy 20:20]
  • 11. 2 Kings 19:32; Isaiah 37:33; Ezekiel 26:8; Luke 19:43
  • 12. Luke 19:44

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or I have likened the daughter of Zion to the loveliest pasture
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.