“Therefore thus says Yahweh!
The God of hosts!
‘Because they have spoken this word,
I am making my words
In your mouth a fire.
This people shall be wood.
The fire shall devour them.
I am going to bring upon you
A nation from far away.
O house of Israel!’
Says Yahweh.
‘It is an enduring nation,
It is an ancient nation,
It is a nation whose language
You do not know.
You cannot understand what they say.
Their quiver is
Like an open tomb.
All of them are mighty warriors.
They shall eat up your harvest.
They shall eat your food.
They shall eat up your sons.
They shall eat up your daughters.
They shall eat up your flocks.
They shall eat up your herds.
They shall eat up your vines.
They shall eat up your fig trees.
They shall destroy with the sword
Your fortified cities
In which you trust.’”
Yahweh tells Jeremiah about the impending destructive invasion. They would be set on fire from their mouths. A nation from far away would come upon the house of Israel. They would not understand the language of this ancient enduring nation. This nation’s mighty warriors had many arrows to hit them. They would come and eat up the food of their harvest. They would devour their sons and daughters. They would eat up their flocks, herds, vines, and fig trees. They would destroy their trusted fortified cities with the sword. Destruction was coming.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 