Ironical exhortation to Nineveh to defend herself.
Draw ... waters - so as not to be without water for drinking, in the event of being cut off by the besiegers from the fountains.
make strong the brick-kiln - or “repair” [Maurer]; so as to have a supply of bricks formed of kiln-burnt clay, to repair breaches in the ramparts, or to build new fortifications inside when the outer ones are taken by the foe.