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.
You people of Benjamin, gather together and flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa and light a warning fire on the hill of Beth-haccerem, because disaster is coming from the north, bringing terrible destruction.
God is warning the tribe of Benjamin to evacuate Jerusalem immediately because a devastating enemy army is approaching from the north.
📚 Historical Context
This prophecy was given around 605-586 BC when the Babylonian Empire was rising to power under King Nebuchadnezzar. The tribe of Benjamin lived in and around Jerusalem, making them particularly vulnerable to the coming invasion. Jeremiah repeatedly warned of this 'foe from the north' - the Babylonians who would indeed destroy Jerusalem in 586 BC.
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