Jeremiah 4:5-18 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

The Enemy's Approach. Warning is given by the horn, and guidance, to the refugees fleeing to Jerusalem, by the standard; they are bidden to bring (their families) into safety (not flee for safety). The lion-like foe draws near to destroy, and the courage (Hebrew heart, Jeremiah 4:9) of Judah's leaders fails them. The prophets will say that they have been deceived in prophesying prosperity (cf. Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 14:13; Jeremiah 23:17; Jeremiah's own prophecies were in marked contrast, see on Jeremiah 28). A sirocco blast blows on Judah, too strong (Jeremiah 4:12 mg.) to winnow, and to distinguish the grain from the chaff. The foe approaches, cloud-like in numbers, vulturelike in speed. Hark! one declareth (so Jeremiah 4:15), from the extreme north of the land, and then from the mountains a few miles north of Jerusalem (Ephraim), that the watchers (i.e. besiegers) are at hand. The bitterness of heart-felt sorrow is the result of Judah's wickedness.

Jeremiah 4:10. said I: read, with Cod. A of LXX and the Arabic Version, they will say.

Jeremiah 4:13. The eagle of RV is the griffon-vulture

Jeremiah 4:15. Dan: cf. the proverbial phrase, from Dan unto Beersheba, Judges 20:1.

Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 4:5

Jeremiah 4:5-18

5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire,a stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.

9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.

10 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

12 Even a fullb wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.

18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.