The Sins of Jerusalem. Jeremiah is bidden to seek even one man in Jerusalem, for whose sake Yahweh may spare the city (cf. Genesis 18:16-33), one man of justice and faithfulness (mg.) ; even the oaths they swear by Yahweh mean nothing. The prophet confesses that it is this lack of faithfulness that has brought a hard discipline on the city, though in vain; yet he turns from the man in the street to those of high degree, for they (emph.) know the ordinances of Yahweh only to find them united in disobedience (Jeremiah 5:5; for the figure of the rebellious oxen, cf. Jeremiah 2:20). So comes the foe, like forest lion, or desert wolf (mg.), or lurking leopard; since Yahweh's provision of a fertile land has but led to wantonness.
Jeremiah 5:7. assembled themselves in troops: read, with LXX, lodged, as 1 Kings 17:20 (sojourn).
Jeremiah 5:8. horses in the morning should probably be stallions (Driver); the suggestion of the figure is actual immorality, which may or may not have been coupled with the sensual worship of the Baalim.