“Thus says Yahweh of hosts.
‘Cut down her trees!
Cast up a siege ramp
Against Jerusalem!
This is the city
That must be punished!
There is nothing but oppression
Within her!
As a well keeps its water fresh,
So she keeps fresh her wickedness.
Violence is heard within her.
Destruction is heard within her.
Sickness is ever before me.
Wounds are ever before me.
Take warning!
O Jerusalem!
Otherwise I shall turn from you
In disgust.
I will make you a desolation.
I will make you an uninhabited land.’”
Yahweh, via Jeremiah, warned Jerusalem. They were going to cut down trees in order to make a ramp siege against Jerusalem because this city needed to be punished. There was nothing but oppression and wickedness within her. Jerusalem was a place of violence and destruction with sickness and wounded people all around. Yahweh was going to turn away in disgust against Jerusalem. Thus it would become a desolate uninhabited land, if it did not heed his warning.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 