הָעִזוּ בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן מִקֶּרֶב יְרוּשָׁלִַם וּבִתְקוֹעַ תִּקְעוּ שׁוֹפָר וְעַל־בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם שְׂאוּ מַשְׂאֵת כִּי רָעָה נִשְׁקְפָה מִצָּפוֹן וְשֶׁבֶר גָּדוֹל

Rally together for cover, children of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem. Part of the tribe of Benjamin dwelled in Jerusalem. And in Tekoa, a town south of Jerusalem, sound a shofar in alarm, and on the hill of Beit HaKerem kindle torches, to inform their residents of the impending danger, for evil has been sighted from the north and great ruin. The inhabitants of these places must prepare for the war that will erupt around Jerusalem. They must leave their towns and attempt to defend themselves.

הַנָּוָה וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָה דָּמִיתִי בַּת־צִיּוֹן

To one of the beautiful and the delicate women I previously likened [damiti] the daughter of Zion, the nation of Israel. Others understand the word damiti to mean “destroyed.” If so, the verse should be translated: I have destroyed the daughter of Zion, who was like one of the beautiful and delicate women.

אֵלֶיהָ יָבֹאוּ רֹעִים וְעֶדְרֵיהֶם תָּקְעוּ עָלֶיהָ אֹהָלִים סָבִיב רָעוּ אִישׁ אֶת־יָדוֹ

But now shepherds and their flocks come to it. They have pitched their tents all around it, and each has grazed in his adjacent area. These coarse people are overrunning Zion, trampling and consuming all the fine crops. The shepherds and flocks represent the conquering enemies of the formerly beautiful daughter of Zion. Another suggestion is that aside from the northern enemy referred to above, Judah will be under the constant threat of plundering by nomadic tribes and their flocks.

קַדְּשׁוּ עָלֶיהָ מִלְחָמָה קוּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶה בַצָּהֳרָיִם אוֹי לָנוּ כִּי־פָנָה הַיּוֹם כִּי־יִנָּטוּ צִלְלֵי־עָרֶב

The enemy declares: Prepare war against it, against the daughter of Zion; go up, and we will ascend to attack at noon. So successful will their attack be that they will complain at the day’s end, when they are forced to retire to their camp: Woe to us, for the day has already waned, for the evening shadows lengthen.

קוּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶה בַלָּיְלָה וְנַשְׁחִיתָה אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ

In their intense desire to destroy the city, they will insist: Arise, we will go up at night, and we will destroy its palaces. We will not delay.

כִּי כֹה אָמַר ה' צְבָאוֹת כִּרְתוּ עֵצָה וְשִׁפְכוּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַם סֹלְלָה הִיא הָעִיר הָפְקַד כֻּלָּהּ עֹשֶׁק בְּקִרְבָּהּ

For so said the Lord of hosts, commanding, as it were, the enemy forces: Cut down its surrounding trees to use the wood in the battle, and erect a ramp of earth against the walls of Jerusalem in order to breach the city. It is the city to be held to a reckoning, punished, due to the fact that throughout it there is exploitation in its midst.

כְּהָקִיר בַּיִר מֵימֶיהָ כֵּן הֵקֵרָה רָעָתָהּ חָמָס וָשֹׁד יִשָּׁמַע בָּהּ עַל־פָּנַי תָּמִיד חֳלִי וּמַכָּה

As a well issues forth its water, so it, the city, has issued forth its evil. Corruption, the illegal appropriation of money, and depredation are heard in it before Me continuously, as are illness and wounds.

הִוָּסְרִי יְרוּשָׁלִַם פֶּן־תֵּקַע נַפְשִׁי מִמֵּךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵךְ שְׁמָמָה אֶרֶץ לוֹא נוֹשָׁבָה

Be chastised, Jerusalem, lest My soul become alienated from you, and lest I render you desolation, a land uninhabited.

כֹּה אָמַר ה' צְבָאוֹת עוֹלֵל יְעוֹלְלוּ כַגֶּפֶן שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל הָשֵׁב יָדְךָ כְּבוֹצֵר עַל סַלְסִלּוֹת

Jeremiah states another prophecy of warning. So said the Lord of hosts: They, the enemy, shall glean like a vine the remnant of Israel, just as leftover grapes are gleaned after the harvest. The enemy gleaner will be told: Return your hand to the vine to glean repeatedly, like a grape harvester who places clusters of grapes into baskets [salsilot]. The term salsilot may refer specifically to small baskets. The enemy will return repeatedly to plunder the people of Israel.

עַל־מִי אֲדַבְּרָה וְאָעִידָה וְיִשְׁמָעוּ! הִנֵּה עֲרֵלָה אָזְנָם וְלֹא יוּכְלוּ לְהַקְשִׁיב הִנֵּה דְבַר־ה' הָיָה לָהֶם לְחֶרְפָּה לֹא יַחְפְּצוּ־בוֹ

The prophet laments: To whom shall I speak and give warning, and they will heed? Behold, their ear is obstructed, and they are unable to listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become like a disgrace for them; they do not desire it.

ואֵת חֲמַת ה' מָלֵאתִי נִלְאֵיתִי הָכִיל שְׁפֹךְ עַל־עוֹלָל בַּחוּץ וְעַל סוֹד בַּחוּרִים יַחְדָּו כִּי־גַם־אִישׁ עִם־אִשָּׁה יִלָּכֵדוּ זָקֵן עִם־מְלֵא יָמִים

But I am filled with the fury of the Lord upon receiving this prophecy; I am weary of containing it. The power with which I have been filled is liable to erupt. Indeed, the prophecy instructs me to do just that: Pour it out, your wrath, on the infant in the street and on the company of young men conversing together, for both men and women will be captured and killed, the elderly and one whose days are complete. No one will survive.

וְנָסַבּוּ בָתֵּיהֶם לַאֲחֵרִים שָׂדוֹת – לְחֶרְפָּה וְנָשִׁים יַחְדָּו כִּי־אַטֶּה אֶת־יָדִי עַל־יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ נְאֻם־ה'

Their houses will be transferred to others, as will all fields and women together, causing terrible shame. For I will extend My hand against the inhabitants of the land, banishing them – the utterance of the Lord.

כִּי מִקְּטַנָּם וְעַד־גְּדוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בּוֹצֵעַ בָּצַע וּמִנָּבִיא וְעַד־כֹּהֵן כֻּלּוֹ עֹשֶׂה שָּׁקֶר

For all of the Israelites, from their simple to their great, the nation in its entirety, it is a seeker of ill-gotten gain; from prophet to priest, the spiritual leaders, in its entirety, it is one who performs falsehood.

וַיְרַפְּאוּ אֶת־שֶׁבֶר עַמִּי עַל־נְקַלָּה לֵאמֹר שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם

Unlike true prophets, who issue challenging demands to the people, they, the false prophets, healed the injury of My people casually, saying: Peace, peace, everything will be fine. But nevertheless, there is no peace, as they continue to perpetuate falsehoods.

הוֹבִישׁוּ כִּי־תוֹעֵבָה עָשׂוּ גַּם־בּוֹשׁ לֹא־יֵבוֹשׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים לֹא יָדָעוּ לָכֵן יִפְּלוּ בַנֹּפְלִים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּים יִכָּשְׁלוּ אָמַר ה'

They are worthy of being shamed because they performed an abomination, but neither are they ashamed, nor have they known humiliation. They have sunk so low that they are incapable of feeling these emotions. Therefore, they will fall among the fallen, those killed; at the time when I choose to reckon with them they will falter, said the Lord.

כֹּה אָמַר ה' עִמְדוּ עַל־דְּרָכִים וּרְאוּ וְשַׁאֲלוּ לִנְתִבוֹת עוֹלָם אֵי־זֶה דֶרֶךְ הַטּוֹב – וּלְכוּ־בָהּ וּמִצְאוּ מַרְגּוֹעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא נֵלֵךְ

So said the Lord: Ascertain the ways of proper conduct and see, and ask about the ancient paths: Which is the good way? And you should walk on it, and thereby find serenity for all of the doubts of your souls. But they said in response to this advice: We will not go. We are not interested in examining our conduct and following the correct path.

וַהֲקִמֹתִי עֲלֵיכֶם צֹפִים הַקְשִׁיבוּ לְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא נַקְשִׁיב

I posted sentinels over you, to warn you of the impending danger, saying: Heed the sound of the shofar, which alerts the population of a coming battle. But they said: We have no intention of searching for the proper path, and we will not heed any statements of rebuke delivered to us.

לָכֵן שִׁמְעוּ הַגּוֹיִם וּדְעִי עֵדָה אֶת אֲשֶׁר בָּם

Therefore hear, all of the nations, and know, congregation of Israel, about that sin which is in them, that they have committed.

שִׁמְעִי הָאָרֶץ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מֵבִיא רָעָה אֶל הָעָם הַזֶּה פְּרִי מַחְשְׁבוֹתָם כִּי עַל דְּבָרַי לֹא הִקְשִׁיבוּ וְתוֹרָתִי וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־בָהּ

Hear, earth: Behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their designs, the inevitable result of their method of thought and manner of conduct. For they did not listen to My words, and with regard to My Torah, they spurned it.

לָמָּה־זֶּה לִי לְבוֹנָה משְּׁבָא תָבוֹא וְקָנֶה הַטּוֹב מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק! עֹלוֹתֵיכֶם לֹא לְרָצוֹן וְזִבְחֵיכֶם לֹא־עָרְבוּ לִי

Why do I need this frankincense that comes from the land of Sheba to accompany your offerings, and the good, fragrant cane that comes from a distant land? I do not derive any satisfaction from your efforts. Your burnt offerings are not for propitiation, as they are not desired and you do not find favor in My eyes through them, and your peace offerings are not pleasant for Me, because you do not act properly.

לָכֵן כֹּה אָמַר ה' הִנְנִי נֹתֵן אֶל־הָעָם הַזֶּה מִכְשֹׁלִים וְכָשְׁלוּ בָם אָבוֹת וּבָנִים יַחְדָּו שָׁכֵן וְרֵעוֹ וְאָבָדוּ

Therefore, so said the Lord: Behold, I am placing before this people obstructions. Fathers and sons will falter over them together; a neighbor and his friend will also falter, and they will perish.

כֹּה אָמַר ה' הִנֵּה עַם בָּא מֵאֶרֶץ צָפוֹן וְגוֹי גָּדוֹל יֵעוֹר מִיַּרְכְּתֵי אָרֶץ

Jeremiah issues another threatening prophecy. So said the Lord: Behold, a people is coming from the land of the north, and a great nation will arise from the ends of the earth. This is referring to the Babylonians, and perhaps also to the invasion of the Scythians.

קֶשֶׁת וְכִידוֹן יַחֲזִיקוּ אַכְזָרִי הוּא וְלֹא יְרַחֵמוּ קוֹלָם כַּיָּם יֶהֱמֶה וְעַל־סוּסִים יִרְכָּבוּ עָרוּךְ כְּאִישׁ לַמִּלְחָמָה עָלַיִךְ בַּת־צִיּוֹן

A bow and a spear they will hold; it, this nation, is cruel, and they will not have mercy. Their sound will roar like the sea, and on horses they will ride. The nation is arrayed like a strong man for war against you, daughter of Zion.

שָׁמַעְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְעוֹ רָפוּ יָדֵינוּ צָרָה הֶחֱזִקַתְנוּ חִיל כַּיּוֹלֵדָה

We heard the report of them, and our hands grew feeble due to our terror. Distress took hold of us, and we were trembling like a woman in childbirth.

אַל־תֵּצְאוּ הַשָּׂדֶה וּבַדֶּרֶךְ אַל־תֵּלֵכוּ כִּי חֶרֶב לְאֹיֵב מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב

Do not go out to the field, and on the path do not walk, as there is a sword for the enemy and terror all around.

בַּת־עַמִּי חִגְרִי־שָׂק וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁי בָאֵפֶר אֵבֶל יָחִיד עֲשִׂי־לָךְ מִסְפַּד תַּמְרוּרִים כִּי פִתְאֹם יָבֹא הַשֹּׁדֵד עָלֵינוּ

Daughter of my people, gird yourself with sackcloth and wallow in the ashes. Observe for you the mourning of the death of an only child, an intense mourning for which there is no consolation, a bitter lament, for suddenly the plunderer will come upon us, at which point there will be no time to mourn. Therefore, it is recommended that you begin to eulogize now.

בָּחוֹן נְתַתִּיךָ בְעַמִּי מִבְצָר וְתֵדַע וּבָחַנְתָּ אֶת־דַּרְכָּם

God addresses the prophet: I have set you to be a watchtower or another kind of lookout spot; I have placed you among My people like a fortress, and you will know, and you will assess their way.

כֻּלָּם סָרֵי סוֹרְרִים הֹלְכֵי רָכִיל נְחֹשֶׁת וּבַרְזֶל כֻּלָּם מַשְׁחִיתִם הֵמָּה

God further states to Jeremiah: In this capacity, you will discover that they are all mutinous rebels, gossipers, who not only cause verbal harm but are even comparable to weapons made of bronze and iron, as they are all destroyers who kill one another.

נָחַר מַפֻּחַ מֵאֵשׁ תַּם עֹפָרֶת לַשָּׁוְא צָרַף צָרוֹף וְרָעִים לֹא נִתָּקוּ

The bellows, a tool used to fuel a fire, has dried out and does not work properly, from the presence of too much fire; the lead, which is supposed to facilitate the melting process for metal, has itself been consumed. In vain the smith has refined, and his work has come to naught, as the dross has not been separated from the metal.

כֶּסֶף נִמְאָס קָרְאוּ לָהֶם כִּי־מָאַס ה' בָּהֶם

Spurned, dirty silver they have called them, as their dross cannot be cleaned, for the Lord has spurned them. The rebukes they have received did not lead them to purify themselves. Therefore, they can only be cleansed by their own demise.