Jeremiah 6:1-10

Jerusalem Under Siege

1 “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem! For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction.
2 I will destroy Daughter Zion, so beautiful and delicate.
3 Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each tending his own portion.”
4 “Prepare for battle against her! Arise, let us attack at noon! But, alas, the daylight is fading, and the shadows of evening grow long.
5 So arise, let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses!”
6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression.
7 As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence and destruction resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
8 Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it.”
9 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Let them glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine; pass your hand over the branches again, like one gathering grapes.”
10 To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed[a]so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Jeremiah 6:1-10 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 20

  • 1. S Numbers 10:7; S Jeremiah 4:21
  • 2. 2 Chronicles 11:6; Amos 1:1
  • 3. Nehemiah 3:14
  • 4. S Jeremiah 4:6
  • 5. S Psalms 9:14
  • 6. Lamentations 4:5
  • 7. Jeremiah 12:10
  • 8. S 2 Kings 25:4; Luke 19:43
  • 9. Jeremiah 15:8; Jeremiah 22:7
  • 10. Deuteronomy 20:19-20
  • 11. S 2 Samuel 20:15; Jeremiah 32:24; Jeremiah 52:4; Ezekiel 26:8
  • 12. S Deuteronomy 28:33; Jeremiah 25:38; Zephaniah 3:1
  • 13. S Psalms 55:9; S Isaiah 58:4; Ezekiel 7:11,23
  • 14. Jeremiah 20:8
  • 15. Ezekiel 23:18; Hosea 9:12
  • 16. S Genesis 45:7
  • 17. Jeremiah 7:13,24; Jeremiah 35:15
  • 18. Jeremiah 4:4; Acts 7:51
  • 19. S Isaiah 42:20
  • 20. Jeremiah 15:10,15; Jeremiah 20:8

Footnotes 1

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