Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
Why are we just sitting here doing nothing? Let's gather together and go into the fortified cities, and let's be quiet there. The LORD our God has silenced us and given us bitter, poisonous water to drink because we have sinned against the LORD.
The people realize they need to flee to safety because God is punishing them with suffering for their disobedience.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is speaking to the people of Judah during a period of widespread idolatry and moral decay, as they faced the threat of invasion from Babylon due to their unfaithfulness to God. This verse reflects the people's growing awareness of God's judgment for their sins, urging them to seek refuge in fortified cities as a desperate measure. Historically, this occurs in the late 7th century BC, amid the decline of the kingdom of Judah leading to the Babylonian exile.
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