Yahweh’s punishment (Jer 9:15-9:16)

“Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts.

The God of Israel!

‘I am feeding this people

With wormwood.

I am giving them poisonous water

To drink.

I will scatter them

Among nations

That neither they

Nor their ancestors have known.

I will send the sword after them,

Until I have consumed them.’”

This punishment is clear. Yahweh, the God of Israel, was going to feed his people with a bitter wormwood plant. He was going to make them drink poisoned water. He was going to scatter them among countries that neither they nor their ancestors had known about. Finally, he was going to kill with the sword those who survived, until they were all dead. Wow! This was some tough punishment.