Jeremiah 14

Jeremiah 14:1-22 . PROPHECIES ON THE OCCASION OF A DROUGHT SENT IN JUDGMENT ON JUDEA.

1. Literally, "That which was the word of Jehovah to Jeremiah concerning the dearth"
drought--literally, the "withholdings," namely, of rain ( Deuteronomy 11:17 , 2 Chronicles 7:13 ). This word should be used especially of the withholding of rain because rain is in those regions of all things the one chiefly needed ( Jeremiah 17:8 , Margin).

2. gates--The place of public concourse in each city looks sad, as being no longer frequented ( Isaiah 3:26 , 24:4 ).
black--that is, they mourn (blackness being indicative of sorrow), ( Jeremiah 8:21 ).
unto the ground--bowing towards it.
cry--of distress ( 1 Samuel 5:12 , Isaiah 24:11 ).

3. little ones--rather, "their inferiors," that is, domestics.
pits--cisterns for collecting rain water, often met with in the East where there are no springs.
covered . . . heads--( 2 Samuel 15:30 ). A sign of humiliation and mourning.

5. The brute creation is reduced to the utmost extremity for the want of food. The "hind," famed for her affection to her young, abandons them.

6. wild asses--They repair to "the high places" most exposed to the winds, which they "snuff in" to relieve their thirst.
dragons--jackals [HENDERSON].
eyes--which are usually most keen in detecting grass or water from the "heights," so much so that the traveller guesses from their presence that there must be herbage and water near; but now "their eyes fail." Rather the reference is to the great boas and python serpents which raise a large portion of their body up in a vertical column ten or twelve feet high, to survey the neighborhood above the surrounding bushes, while with open jaws they drink in the air. These giant serpents originated the widely spread notions which typified the deluge and all destructive agents under the form of a dragon or monster serpent; hence, the dragon temples always near water, in Asia, Africa, and Britain; for example, at Abury, in Wiltshire; a symbol of the ark is often associated with the dragon as the preserver from the waters [KITTO, Biblical Cyclopædia].

7. do thou it--what we beg of Thee; interpose to remove the drought. Jeremiah pleads in the name of his nation ( Psalms 109:21 ). So "work for us," absolutely used ( 1 Samuel 14:6 ).
for thy name's sake--"for our backslidings are so many" that we cannot urge Thee for the sake of our doings, but for the glory of Thy name; lest, if Thou give us not aid, it should be said it was owing to Thy want of power ( Joshua 7:9 , Psalms 79:9 , 106:8 , Isaiah 48:9 , Ezekiel 20:44 ). The same appeal to God's mercy, "for His name's sake," as our only hope, since our sin precludes trust in ourselves, occurs in Psalms 25:11 .

8. The reference is, not to the faith of Israel which had almost ceased, but to the promise and everlasting covenant of God. None but the true Israel make God their "hope." ( Jeremiah 17:13 ).
turneth aside to tarry--The traveller cares little for the land he tarries but a night in; but Thou hast promised to dwell always in the midst of Thy people ( 2 Chronicles 33:7 2 Chronicles 33:8 ). MAURER translates, "spreadeth," namely, his tent.