Bible Strands
Jeremiah 6:5
Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A military commander addresses allied forces during a siege, shifting the coordinated assault from noon to nighttime as daylight fades. The directive occurs at a tactical moment when the attackers plan to exploit darkness to breach defensive positions.
The words — The Hebrew ק֝וּמוּ (Qumu) means "arise," and אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ (armenoteha) translates literally to "its fortresses." These terms establish the command as a direct mobilization order against specific defensive structures.
The thread — The pattern of destroying fortified locations appears in Isaiah 32:14 regarding abandoned watchtowers, Jeremiah 52:13 describing the burning of palaces, and 2 Chronicles 36:19 recording the Chaldeans breaking down Jerusalem's walls. These passages trace a consistent biblical sequence where military action systematically dismantles urban strongholds.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge the tactical reality that coordinated force will overcome physical defenses. It demands a clear-eyed assessment of how strategic timing and unified action execute the stated judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 32:14 For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—
- Jeremiah 52:13 He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.
- 2 Chronicles 36:19 Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.
- Psalms 48:3 God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be a fortress.
- Jeremiah 9:21 For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares.
- Jeremiah 17:27 But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”
- Hosea 8:14 Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has multiplied its fortified cities. But I will send fire upon their cities, and it will consume their citadels.
- Amos 2:5 So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”
- Amos 3:10 “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”
- Zechariah 11:1 Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may consume your cedars!