Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 6

Verses 1-30

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 Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

Jeremiah 6:1 Word Study on “Tekoa” The Hebrew name “Tekoa” “tekoah” ( תְּקֹועַ ) (H8620) The word Tekoa means, “pitching” ( Gesenius), or “that is confirmed” ( PTW). The name Tekoah is found seven times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as Tekoa 6, Tekoah 1 (2 Samuel 14:2, 1Ch 2:24 ; 1 Chronicles 4:5; 1 Chronicles 11:6; 1 Chronicles 1:0 Chron 20:20, Jeremiah 6:1, Amos 1:1)

Comments The town of Tekoa is of little renown in Israel’s history. From there Joab fetched a wise woman to help him reconcile King David with Absalom (2 Samuel 14:2). It became a city of fortification under the reign of Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:6, Josephus, Antiquities 8.10.1), for which reason Jeremiah would later prophecy concerning this southern outpost, “blow the trumpet in Tekoa” as a warning of approaching danger to Israel (Jeremiah 6:1). In the wilderness of Tekoa Jehoshaphat stopped to encourage the children of Israel before their battle with the Moabites and Ammonites, and where he appointed singers to lead in battle array (2 Chronicles 20:20). Finally, it was known as the home of the prophet Amos.

Jeremiah 6:1 Word Study on “Bethhaccerem” Strong says the Hebrew name “Bethhaccerem” “Beyth hak-Kerem” ( בֵּית־הַכֶּרֶם ) (H1021) means, “house of the vineyard.” The Enhanced Strong says it is found two times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “Bethhaccerem 2.” It is also found in Nehemiah 3:14.

Nehemiah 3:14, “But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.”

Comments - Bethhaccerem was a town in Judah that may have built a beacon station.