This is a poetical and ironical call to the Egyptians to muster their forces; and implies that all their courage and efforts would be vain. "Make brightª° the arrows;ª gatherª° the shields:ª the LORDª hath raised upª°¹ the spiritª of the kingsª of the Medes:ª for¹ his deviceª [is] against¹ Babylon,ª to destroyª° it; because¹ it¹ [is] the vengeanceª of the LORD,ª the vengeanceª of his temple.ª ... Set upª° the standardª upon¹ the wallsª of Babylon,ª make the watchª strong,ª° set upª° the watchmen,ª° prepareª° the ambushes:ª° for¹ the LORDª hath both¹ devisedª° and¹ doneª°¹ that which¹ he spakeª° against¹ the inhabitantsª° of Babylon.ª" {Jer 51:11-12} + "Associateª° yourselves, O ye people,ª and ye shall be broken¹ in pieces;²° and give ear,ª° allª ye of farª countries:ª gird²° yourselves,¹ and ye shall be broken¹ in pieces;²° gird²° yourselves,¹ and ye shall be broken¹ in pieces.²° ... Take²° counsel² together,ª°¹ and it shall come to nought;ª° speakª° the word,ª and it shall not¹ stand:ª° for¹ Godª [is] with us.¹" {Isa 8:9-10} + "Prepareª° the table,ª watchª° in the watchtower,ª eat,ª° drink:ª° arise,ª° ye princes,ª [and] anointª° the shield.ª" {Isa 21:5} + "Proclaimª° ye this¹ among the Gentiles;ª Prepareª° war,ª wake upª° the mighty men,ª let all¹ the men²¹ of warª draw near;ª° let them come up:ª°" {Jol 3:9} + "He that dasheth in piecesª° is come upª° before¹ thy face:ª keepª° the munition,ª watchª° the way,ª make [thy] loins² strong,ª°¹ fortifyª° [thy] powerª mightily.ª" {Nah 2:1} + "Drawª° thee watersª for the siege,ª fortifyª° thy strong holds:ª goª° into clay,ª and treadª° the morter,ª make strongª° the brickkiln.ª" {Nah 3:14}