Jeremiah 6:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Proclaim the call, for the unrighteous have spoken. Observe how this offers them an opportunity to turn back: the wicked has caught a glimpse from a distance, only slightly revealing itself, not arriving to instill despair, yet not so far removed as to encourage indifference. It stands as a sign poised between presence and absence; the wicked seems to be completely laid bare. Ultimately, the choice to remove it lies with you; the power is within your hands.

Arise, O sons of Benjamin, from the heart of Jerusalem... sound a great trumpet and lift a banner over Bethacharim. The prophet summons the children of Benjamin, even though the children of Judah were also present in Jerusalem; his call is directed to Benjamin because they resided in the northern section of the city, while the Babylonians were approaching from the north. Consequently, the initial threat of the Babylonian invasion was directed towards the children of Benjamin. Hence, the prophet urged them and the nearby inhabitants of Bethacham (Bethkarem) to assemble forces in preparation for battle against the Chaldeans, who were imminently approaching them.

Empower yourselves, O children of Benjamin, within Jerusalem, and sound the trumpet in Tekoa; raise a banner at Bethachem, for calamity has been revealed from the north, and the devastation is immense. It is well known that Jerusalem lies within the territory of Benjamin, and Tekoa is a small settlement located twelve miles from Jerusalem, as we can easily observe. Between these locations is another village, referred to in both Syriac and Hebrew as Bethaharma, also perched upon a mountain. It is proclaimed that since Nebuchadnezzar approaches from the north with the threat of imminent captivity, the inhabitants of Jerusalem should take up arms. In Tekoa, sound the trumpet and in Bethacherim, lift up a banner so that you may stand firm against your foes.

The Lord instructs the Benjamin tribe, allied with Judah, to "sound the trumpet" and prepare for battle, as foes approach Jerusalem from the north. He describes Jerusalem as splendid and opulent—splendid due to the magnificence of its structures and opulent because of the indulgence enjoyed by its people.