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.
Chapter 6 of the book of Jeremiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a profound chapter that speaks directly to the heart of the people of Jerusalem. It is a prophetic warning from God, delivered by the prophet Jeremiah, about the impending destruction that awaits the people of Jerusalem if they continue to ignore God's commandments and persist in their sinful ways. The chapter is filled with vivid imagery, stark warnings, and a plea for repentance that encapsulates the dire situation that the people of Jerusalem find themselves in.
The chapter begins with a call to the children of Benjamin to flee from the midst of Jerusalem. This is a clear indication of the impending doom that is about to befall the city. The children of Benjamin, who are part of the southern kingdom of Judah, are warned to flee and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, a town in Judah, and set up a signal-fire in Bethhaccerem, another town in Judah. This is a call to prepare for war, for disaster is on the horizon.
The impending destruction is described in vivid detail. God, through Jeremiah, describes it as a "destroying wind" and an "evil out of the north". This is a clear reference to the Babylonians who would later invade Jerusalem and destroy the city. The impending destruction is not just a physical one, but also a spiritual one. The people have turned away from God and have committed grave sins. They have worshipped false gods, ignored the poor and the needy, and have become corrupt and immoral. This impending destruction is God's judgment on their sins.
The people are described as "rebellious children" who do not know the Lord. They have become so engrossed in their sins that they have forgotten God. Their hearts have become hardened and they have become deaf to God's word. This is a sad reflection of the spiritual state of the people of Jerusalem at this time.
Despite the dire situation, there is still a glimmer of hope. God, through Jeremiah, calls the people to repentance. He implores them to "seek the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls". This is a call to return to the ways of the Lord, to the commandments that they have forgotten. It is a plea for the people to turn away from their sins and return to God. It is a promise that if they do so, they will find rest and peace.
However, the people reject this call to repentance. They respond with the words "we will not walk therein". This is a heartbreaking response that shows the extent of their rebellion against God. They have become so engrossed in their sins that they reject even the offer of salvation.
This rebellion against God has severe consequences. God, through Jeremiah, warns that because of their rebellion, He will bring "evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts". This is a clear indication that the people will reap what they have sown. Their sinful thoughts and actions will result in disaster. The chapter ends with a stark warning that the people will be "grieved and pained at heart" because of their rebellion against God.
In conclusion, chapter 6 of the book of Jeremiah in the KJV Holy Bible is a stark warning about the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. It is a call to repentance and a plea for the people to return to God. It is a vivid depiction of the impending destruction that awaits the people of Jerusalem if they continue in their sinful ways. Despite the dire situation, there is still hope. If the people heed the call to repentance, they will find rest and peace. However, if they continue in their rebellion, they will face severe consequences.
The chapter serves as a reminder to us today of the importance of obeying God's commandments and living a life that is pleasing to Him. It is a reminder that while God is a loving and merciful God, He is also a just God who will not tolerate sin and disobedience. It is a call for us to examine our own lives and to turn away from any sinful practices that we may be engaged in. It is a call to return to God and to seek His ways. It is a reminder that true peace and rest can only be found in a relationship with God.
The book of Jeremiah chapter 6 is a powerful chapter that speaks directly to the heart. It is a chapter that challenges us to examine our own lives and to make the necessary changes to align ourselves with God's will. It is a chapter that calls us to repentance and to a life of obedience to God. It is a chapter that reminds us of the consequences of sin and the blessings of obedience. It is a chapter that encourages us to seek God's ways and to find rest in Him.
In essence, the chapter is a call to action. It is a call to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is a call to turn away from sin and to turn to God. It is a call to seek God's ways and to find rest in Him. It is a call to heed the warnings of God and to avoid the consequences of sin. It is a call to live a life of obedience and to enjoy the blessings that come with it. It is a call that we should all heed.
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