Jeremiah 14:5

5 Even the hind calved in the field and forsook it, because there was no grass.

Jeremiah 14:5 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 14:5

Yea, the hind also calved in the field
Or brought forth her young in the field; of which see ( Job 39:1-4 ) , and which they sometimes did through fear, particularly when frightened with thunder and lightning; and which are common in a time of heat and drought, which is the case here; see ( Psalms 29:9 ) of these sort of creatures there were great plenty in Judea and the parts adjacent. Aelianus ^F26 says, the harts in Syria are bred on the highest mountains, Amanus, Lebanon, and Carmel; which were mountains on the borders of the land of Canaan; and the flesh of these was much used for food by the Jews; see ( Deuteronomy 12:15 Deuteronomy 12:22 ) ( Deuteronomy 14:4 Deuteronomy 14:5 ) ( 15:22 ) : and forsook it;
which, as it is a loving creature to its mate, so very careful of its young, and provident for it, and nourishes it, as Pliny

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 observes. The reason of such uncommon usage follows: because there was no grass;
for the hind to feed upon, and so had no milk to suckle its young with; and therefore left it to seek for grass elsewhere, that it might have food for itself, and milk for its young.
F26 De Anima. l. 5. c. 56.
F1 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 32.

Jeremiah 14:5 In-Context

3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded and covered their heads.

4 Because the ground is chapped, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.

5 Even the hind calved in the field and forsook it, because there was no grass.

6 And the wild asses stood in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes failed because there was no grass.

7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for thy name’s sake; for our rebellions have multiplied; we have sinned against thee.