In the face of the advance of the powerful enemy, the people abandon their cities all over Judah and flee to the countryside to hide. They seek refuge in the bush, in thickets
, and they climb among the rocks. Rocks
here probably refers to nearby cliffs and valleys that had caves to hide in.1 The result is that all the cities are forsaken, and no man dwells in them.
The whole land is becoming a desolation
(Jeremiah 4:27) because of the Lord’s judgment.
30 And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.