Jeremiah 10:17,18 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Gather up thy wares, &c. That is, as some explain it, “Collect to Jerusalem all that you have valuable in the country; flee thither for refuge with your best effects; for the enemy will soon extend himself over all your land, and render it desolate.” Or, rather, the prophet, returning to his former denunciations against Jerusalem, warns her to move her effects, and prepare for going into captivity; for, though she thought herself secure, as dwelling in a place of great strength and well fortified, yet her enemies should prevail and take it: compare Ezekiel 12:3. Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants at this once I will, at one stroke, remove the whole body of this people out of their native country: see 1 Samuel 25:29. And I will distress them that they may find it so Or, that they may find my threatenings to be true. This implies, that though they had been often saved by God's providence from hostile attacks, they would, however, on this occasion, find it otherwise.