Jeremiah 8:7 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

In the heaven, i.e. in the air, which is often called heaven, where the birds fly, Psalms 8:8; compare Jeremiah 7:33, who possibly observe the fit time by the temperature of the air. Knoweth her appointed times, i.e. observeth the several seasons of her going and coming by some natural instinct, and this is said of the stork: what kind of fowl is here meant is disputable: see English Annotations and Latin Synopsis. Observe the time of their coming; the same thing diversified in these several fowls, that know also their seasons. But my people know not: this notes the great stupidity of his people, seeming not to have as much sense in them as the birds in the air, not knowing their summer of prosperity, to make a good use of God's favours, nor the winter of adversity, either to prevent or remove that wrath of God that hangs over their heads, Isaiah 5:12 Luke 19:42,44; they know not their time for repentance, and making their peace with God, compared also, on the same account, to the beasts of the field, Isaiah 1:3; and thus Christ upbraids the Pharisees, Matthew 16:2,3. The judgment of the Lord; either God's vengeance in general, or particularly hovering over Jerusalem and Judea; or rather, the manner of God's dispensations with them. So the word is used 1 Samuel 2:13, 1 Samuel 8:11.