Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
Don't go out into the fields or walk on the roads, because enemies with swords are everywhere and danger surrounds you on all sides.
The writer is warning people to stay indoors because deadly enemies have surrounded them and it's not safe to go anywhere.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of the prophet Jeremiah, Judah was facing invasion from the Babylonian empire, as God used foreign armies to judge the nation for its idolatry and unfaithfulness. Jeremiah warned the people not to go into the fields or travel the roads because enemy soldiers were everywhere, creating an atmosphere of terror and chaos. This message was part of a broader call for repentance amid the escalating threats in the 7th-6th century BC.
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