Jeremiah 4:16

16 Raise, ye folks; lo! it is heard in Jerusalem, that keepers be come from a far land, and give their voice on the cities of Judah. (Raise up, ye nations; lo! it is heard in Jerusalem, that enemies have come from a far land, and shout out their voices against the cities of Judah.)

Jeremiah 4:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 4:16

Make ye mention to the nations
This, according to Kimchi, is the sum and substance of the voice from Dan. It seems to be a summons to the nations to gather together to join the king of Babylon in his enterprise against Jerusalem; see ( 2 Kings 24:2 ) : publish against Jerusalem;
what follows: that watchers come from afar country;
from Babylon, which is said to be a far country, ( Isaiah 39:3 ) , these are the soldiers of the king of Babylon; they are called Notzerim; which word agrees with the latter part of Nebuchadnezzar's name; to which some F2 think there is some reference, showing that his army is meant. It should be rendered "besiegers", as it is by some F3; for these were not Nebuchadnezzar's bodyguard, but his whole army, who were come up to besiege Jerusalem; and they are compared to watchers and keepers of a field in the next verse, where another word is used. The Targum is,

``the army of a rapacious people, like the grape gatherers, come from a far country:''
and give out their voice against the cities of Judah;
threaten the ruin of them; blow the trumpet, the alarm of war; give the orders to besiege; and, being sure of victory, triumph before the attack is made.
FOOTNOTES:

F2 R. Joseph Kimchi, R. Jonah, and Ben Melech, but disapproved of by Abarbinel.
F3 (Myrun) "obsessores", Calvin, Buxtorf; a (rwu) , vel (rru) , "obsedit"; so Jarchi.

Jeremiah 4:16 In-Context

14 Thou Jerusalem, wash thine heart from malice, that thou be made safe (so that thou can be saved). How long shall harmful thoughts dwell in thee?
15 For why the voice of a teller from Dan, and making known an idol from the hill(s) of Ephraim.
16 Raise, ye folks; lo! it is heard in Jerusalem, that keepers be come from a far land, and give their voice on the cities of Judah. (Raise up, ye nations; lo! it is heard in Jerusalem, that enemies have come from a far land, and shout out their voices against the cities of Judah.)
17 As the keepers of fields, they be made on it in compass; for it stirred me to wrathfulness, saith the Lord. (Like the guardians of a field, they stand all around it, and come against it; for it stirred me to anger, saith the Lord.)
18 Thy ways and thy thoughts have made this to thee; this malice of thee, for it is bitter, for it touched thine heart. (Thy ways and thy thoughts have brought these things to thee; this is thy malice, for it is bitter, and it hath touched thy heart.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.