1 O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate [woman].
3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch [their] tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6 For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this [is] the city to be visited; she [is] wholly oppression in the midst of her.
7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually [is] grief and wounds.
8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with [him that is] full of days.
12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, [with their] fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.
13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one [is] given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
14 They have healed also the hurt [of the daughter] of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].
17 Also I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what [is] among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, [even] the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they [are] cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.
24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.
25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy [and] fear [is] on every side.
26 O daughter of my people, gird [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
27 I have set thee [for] a tower [and] a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
28 They [are] all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.
29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30 Reprobate silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
Overview of Jeremiah Chapter 6
Jeremiah Chapter 6 is a poignant reflection on the impending doom facing Jerusalem and the people of Judah due to their disobedience and failure to heed God’s warnings. The chapter serves as both a warning and a call to repentance, emphasizing the consequences of sin and the urgency of returning to God.
Key Themes
- Impending Judgment: The chapter begins with a strong warning about the destruction that is to come upon Jerusalem.
- Call to Repentance: Jeremiah urges the people to turn back to God and abandon their sinful ways.
- Rejection of Prophets: The people’s refusal to listen to the prophets highlights their hardened hearts and spiritual blindness.
- Divine Sovereignty: The chapter underscores God’s control over the nations and His ability to bring about judgment.
Detailed Analysis
Verses 1-5: The Call to Flee
The chapter opens with a call for the people of Benjamin to flee from Jerusalem, indicating that the city is under siege. This urgent plea emphasizes the immediacy of the danger they face.
- The reference to “the trumpet” signifies the alarm of impending danger.
- The imagery of a “great destruction” foreshadows the devastation that will come upon the city.
- Jeremiah describes the invaders as a “great nation,” highlighting the seriousness of the threat.
Verses 6-8: The Reason for Judgment
In these verses, God reveals the reason for the coming judgment: the wickedness of the people. Their refusal to repent and their continued sinfulness provoke God’s anger.
- Jerusalem is likened to a “city of oppression,” indicating the moral decay within its walls.
- The call to “be instructed” reflects God’s desire for His people to learn from their mistakes.
Verses 9-15: The Condition of the People
Jeremiah describes the condition of the people, who are spiritually blind and deaf to God’s warnings. Their leaders and prophets are depicted as corrupt, leading the people astray.
- The phrase “they have healed the wound of my people lightly” indicates a false sense of security among the people.
- God expresses His sorrow over the people’s unrepentant hearts, revealing His desire for their restoration.
Verses 16-19: The Call to Return
In these verses, God invites the people to return to the “ancient paths” and seek the good way. This metaphor emphasizes the importance of adhering to God’s ways and the wisdom of the past.
- The “ancient paths” symbolize the teachings and commandments given by God.
- The promise of rest for their souls is contingent upon their willingness to obey.
Verses 20-26: The Futility of Rituals
God expresses His disdain for the people’s rituals and sacrifices when they are not accompanied by true repentance and righteousness.
- The mention of “incense from Sheba” and “sweet cane from a far country” illustrates the people’s focus on external worship rather than genuine faith.
- God’s rejection of their offerings signifies that He desires a heart of obedience over mere ritual.
Verses 27-30: The Role of the Prophet
Jeremiah is appointed as a “tester” of the people, indicating his role in discerning their true spiritual condition. The chapter concludes with a stark warning about the people’s stubbornness and the consequences of their actions.
- The imagery of “reprobate silver” signifies the people’s unworthiness and the judgment they will face.
- This closing section emphasizes the seriousness of rejecting God’s message and the dire consequences that follow.
Conclusion
Jeremiah Chapter 6 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the urgent call to repentance. The themes of judgment, the need for genuine faith, and the rejection of false security resonate throughout the chapter, urging readers to reflect on their own spiritual condition and relationship with God.
