The Lord describes what Judah’s response to the report of the advancing enemy will be like. The nation will be as weak and defenceless as a woman in the throes of childbirth.1 There is a wordplay between the enemy who lay hold
on bow and javelin and the people whom “anguish has taken hold of." The same Hebrew verb hazaq is used in both places.2 The people are paralyzed by fear and totally exposed in the face of this powerful invader.
24 Au bruit de leur approche, Nos mains s'affaiblissent, L'angoisse nous saisit, Comme la douleur d'une femme qui accouche.