Jeremiah 4:15

15 A voice is speaking all the way from the city of Dan. From the hills of Ephraim it announces that trouble is coming.

Jeremiah 4:15 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 4:15

For a voice declareth from Dan
The coming of the enemy, as Kimchi explains it, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Chaldeans; a messenger was come from Dan, which was on the border of the land of Israel to the north, on which side Babylon lay, and from whence the evil was to come predicted; who declared the enemy was approaching, just entering the land; not that this was now the case in fact, but this is represented in a prophetic manner, as what would be, in order to arouse and awaken the Jews to a sense of their sin and danger; see ( Jeremiah 8:10 ) and publisheth affliction from Mount Ephraim:
which lay on the border of the tribe of Benjamin, and nearer to Jerusalem; and this publication represents the enemy as advancing nearer, and being just at hand. The word for "affliction" signifies "iniquity" F1; and it denotes, that the affliction spoken of, which is the destruction of the Jews, and their captivity in Babylon, were occasioned by their sins. Some think that Dan and Ephraim are mentioned, because of the calves that were worshipped in Dan, and in Bethel, which was in the tribe of Ephraim. The Targum favours this, which paraphrases the words thus,

``for the voice of the prophets that prophesied against them that go into captivity, because they worshipped the calf, which is at Dan; and they that bring evil tidings, shall come upon them, because they served the image which Micah set up in the mount of the house of Ephraim;''
and the Vulgate Latin version is,
``the voice of him that declares from Dan, and that makes known the idol from Mount Ephraim.''

FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Nwa) "iniquitatem", Vatablus, Pagninus, Montanus, Schimdt; "vanitatem", Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius.

Jeremiah 4:15 In-Context

13 Look! Our enemies are approaching like the clouds. Their chariots are coming like a strong wind. Their horses are faster than eagles. How terrible it will be for us! We'll be destroyed!
14 People of Jerusalem, wash your sins from your hearts and be saved. How long will you hold on to your evil thoughts?
15 A voice is speaking all the way from the city of Dan. From the hills of Ephraim it announces that trouble is coming.
16 "Tell the nations. Warn Jerusalem. Say, 'An army will attack you. It is coming from a land far away. It will shout a war cry against the cities of Judah.
17 It will surround them like people who guard a field. Judah has refused to obey me,' " announces the Lord.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.