13:19 The gates of the towns in southern Judah will be shut tight. 1
No one will be able to go in or out of them. 2
All Judah will be carried off into exile.
They will be completely carried off into exile.’” 3
1 tn Heb “The towns of the Negev will be shut.”
2 tn Heb “There is no one to open them.” The translation is based on the parallel in Josh 6:1 where the very expression in the translation is used. Opening the city would have permitted entrance (of relief forces) as well as exit (of fugitives).
3 sn The statements are poetic exaggerations (hyperbole), as most commentaries note. Even in the exile of 587