The cities of the south. — The term thus rendered (the Negeb) is throughout the Old Testament used for a definite district, stretching from Mount Halak northward to a line south of Engedi and Hebron. The strategy of Nebuchadnezzar’s attack (as it had been of Sennacherib’s, 2 Kings 18:13) was to blockade the cities of this region, and then, when they were cut off from sending assistance, to attack Jerusalem.
Shall be shut up... shall be carried away. — Both verbs should be in the present tense, are shut up, is carried away.