The fury of the Chaldeans march is described by the snorting of their horses, which is a noise they make through their nostrils, when they are chafed and fretted. Was heard from Dan, i.e. even to Jerusalem: q.d. The dreadfulness of the noise shall be heard from far: or rather, Though Jerusalem seem to be secure, yet the farthest coasts of the land are in great consternation, viz. the outmost boundary of Canaan northward, through which the Chaldean army was to march: see Jeremiah 4:15: or it is said to be heard, either the noise itself, or the fame of it, Jeremiah 6:24. His strong ones; his choice horses or cavalry; or his stout and sturdy ones, as the word signifies, and expressed by their brisk frolicsomeness and courage in the word neighing, properly applied to horses, understanding here the chief of them; and the word for strong ones is applied to any thing that excels, as to man, Job 34:20; to angels, Psalms 78:25, angels food, or the bread of the mighty; and for horses, as here, and Judges 5:22 Jeremiah 47:3. All that is in it, Heb. the fulness of it, the trees, and fruits. and wealth of the land; they are entered upon their spoil, and will leave nothing in the land, Jeremiah 4:20. It is spoken in a prophetical style, who use to express the certainty of what shall be as if it actually were already. The city, viz. Jerusalem; or rather the cities, with all their inhabitants, as well as the country, the singular number being put for the plural, as Isaiah 27:10.
Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 8:16
Jeremiah 8:16
16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and alld that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.