The oracle itself begins with the Lord declaring, Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it.
By now, readers of Jeremiah know that when he speaks of an enemy arising out of the north, he is speaking of Babylon. The imagery here is of the Philistines being totally overrun and overwhelmed by the Babylonian forces. The result is that, Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.
Anguish and mourning will follow the invasion.
The fact that Babylon is not named has the same impact in many of Jeremiah’s other oracles. It focuses on the fact that the Lord is the real enemy rising up against the Philistines. This much is made very clear in the rest of this oracle.
2 Ainsi parle l'Eternel: Voici, des eaux s'élèvent du septentrion, Elles sont comme un torrent qui déborde; Elles inondent le pays et ce qu'il contient, Les villes et leurs habitants. Les hommes poussent des cris, Tous les habitants du pays se lamentent,