The content of this verse is very similar to Amos 1.4.

Kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus is better rendered “set the walls of Damascus on fire” (Good News Translation).

Devour is here used of fire and so may be translated “burn down.”

Strongholds is better rendered “palaces” (New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation, New American Bible). See 6.5, where Revised Standard Version has “palaces.”

Ben-hadad is the name or title of several kings of Damascus (1Kgs 15.18, 20; 2Kgs 13.24). The name means “son of Hadad,” in which Hadad was a storm god of the ancient world, similar to the Canaanite god Baal.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .