Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
The invading soldiers encourage one another to the attack on Jerusalem.
Prepare - literally, Sanctify war - i:e., Proclaim it formally with solemn rites; the invasion was solemnly ordered by God (cf. Isaiah 13:3, "I have commanded my sanctified ones").
At noon - the hottest part of the day, when attacks were rarely made (Jeremiah 15:8, "A spoiler at noon-day;" Jeremiah 20:16, "Let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide"). Even at this time they wished to attack, such is their eagerness.
Woe unto us! - the words of the invaders, mourning the approach of night, which would suspend their hostile operations; still, even in spite of the darkness, at night they renew the attack (Jeremiah 6:5).