# General Information:

The words "we," "us" and "our" refer to the people of Judah.

# Connecting Statement:

Yahweh continues his message by telling us what the people of Judah will say at the time of their punishment.

# Why are we sitting here?

This question is asked to motivate action. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "We should not stay here." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]])

# Come together; let us go to the fortified cities

The "fortified cities" were cities with high walls and strong defenses. See how you translated the similar phrases in [Jeremiah 4:5](../04/05.md).

# we will become silent there in death

Here "become silent" means to die. Alternate translation: "let us die there" or "let us wait for our enemies to kill us there" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# For Yahweh our God will silence us

Here "silence" is a metaphor for condemning to death. Alternate translation: "because Yahweh our God has condemned us to die" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# He will make us drink poison

This is an idiom for Yahweh's judgment on his people. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])