Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
Assemble - for defense.
Let us be silent - not assault the enemy, but merely defend ourselves in quiet, until the storm blow over.
Put us to silence - brought us to that state that we can no longer resist the foe; implying silent despair.
Water of gall - literally, water of the poisonous plant х ro'sh (H7219)], perhaps the poppy (Jeremiah 9:15; Jeremiah 23:15).