Prepare ye war; literally, sanctify (or, consecrate) war. The foes are dramatically described as urging each other on at the different stages of the campaign. The war is to be opened with sacrifices (comp.
Isaiah 13:3 with 1 Samuel 13:9); next there is a forced march, so as to take the city by storm, when the vigilance of its defenders is relaxed in the fierce noontide heat (comp. Jeremiah 15:8); evening surprises the foe still on the way, but they press steadily on, to do their work of destruction by night.
The rapidity of the marches of the Chaldeans impressed another prophet of the reign of Josiah—Habakkuk (see Habakkuk 1:6, Habakkuk 1:8). Woe unto us! for the day goeth away; rather, Alas for us! for the day hath turned.