He has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob, consuming all around
(see also Psalm 2:12; Isaiah 30:27). Like an all-consuming fire his aggression spared nothing and no one.1 The words burned,
flaming fire,
and consuming
are typically used to portray the full force of God’s wrath (see Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 7:20; Jeremiah 21:12; Jeremiah 44:6; Amos 1:2–2:4; Amos 5:6).2 God's withdrawal of his protection did not mean that he is absent or passive, but active in judgment, i.e. like an all-consuming fire.
3 He has cut down in fierce anger all the might of Israel; he has withdrawn from them his right hand in the face of the enemy; he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob, consuming all around.