Jeremiah 6:1
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 Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.
Original Language Analysis
הָעִ֣זוּ׀
gather yourselves to flee
H5756
הָעִ֣זוּ׀
gather yourselves to flee
Strong's:
H5756
Word #:
1 of 19
to be strong; causatively, to strengthen, i.e., (figuratively) to save (by flight)
בְּנֵ֣י
O ye children
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
O ye children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בִניָמִ֗ן
of Benjamin
H1144
בִניָמִ֗ן
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
3 of 19
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙
out of the midst
H7130
מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙
out of the midst
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
4 of 19
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
5 of 19
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
תִּקְע֣וּ
and blow
H8628
תִּקְע֣וּ
and blow
Strong's:
H8628
Word #:
7 of 19
to clatter, i.e., slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become
שׁוֹפָ֔ר
the trumpet
H7782
שׁוֹפָ֔ר
the trumpet
Strong's:
H7782
Word #:
8 of 19
a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַכֶּ֖רֶם
of fire in Bethhaccerem
H1021
הַכֶּ֖רֶם
of fire in Bethhaccerem
Strong's:
H1021
Word #:
11 of 19
beth-hak-kerem, a place in palestine
שְׂא֣וּ
and set up
H5375
שְׂא֣וּ
and set up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
12 of 19
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
מַשְׂאֵ֑ת
a sign
H4864
מַשְׂאֵ֑ת
a sign
Strong's:
H4864
Word #:
13 of 19
properly, (abstractly) a raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising (of flame); figuratively, an utterance; concretely, a beacon (as raised); a pr
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
14 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה
appeareth
H8259
נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה
appeareth
Strong's:
H8259
Word #:
16 of 19
properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e., (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle)
מִצָּפ֖וֹן
out of the north
H6828
מִצָּפ֖וֹן
out of the north
Strong's:
H6828
Word #:
17 of 19
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
Cross References
Nehemiah 3:14But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.Jeremiah 6:22Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.2 Chronicles 11:6He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,2 Samuel 14:2And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:Judges 1:21And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
Historical Context
Written before the Babylonian invasion (586 BC), this prophecy gave Judah warning to repent. Tekoa (Amos's hometown) and Beth-haccerem were towns south of Jerusalem used as signal points for military warnings.
Questions for Reflection
- How should the certainty of coming judgment affect the church's evangelistic urgency today?
- What warning signals is God giving our generation about approaching judgment?
- How can we faithfully sound the alarm about sin's consequences while maintaining hope in Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
This urgent warning calls for flight from Jerusalem, employing three methods of alarm: gathering, trumpet blowing, and fire signals. The tribe of Benjamin, whose territory included Jerusalem, receives special address as judgment approaches 'out of the north'—a reference to Babylon. The Hebrew imperative mood throughout this verse creates urgency, emphasizing that God's judgment, though patient, eventually arrives with certainty. This reflects Reformed theology's teaching on God's wrath: it is not capricious but measured, giving opportunity for repentance before executing justice.