Yirmeyah 18:21

21 Therefore deliver up their banim to the ra’av (famine), and pour out their dahm by the force of the cherev; and let their nashim be bereaved as childless, and be almanot (widows); and let their anashim be put to death; let their bochurim be slain by the cherev in milchamah.

Yirmeyah 18:21 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 18:21

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine
To be starved, and perish by it, as they were in the siege of Jerusalem, both by the Chaldeans, and the Romans: and pour out their [blood] by the force of the sword:
or, "upon the hands of the sword" ^F6; by means of it; that is, the blood of the parents of the children; let the one perish by famine, and the other by the sword; which, when thrust into a man, blood gushes out, and runs upon the sword to the handle of it: and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and [be] widows;
let them have neither husbands nor children; which latter might be a comfort to them, when they had lost their husbands; but being stripped of these also, the affliction and distress must be the greater: and let their men be put to death;
or "slain with death" ^F7; with the pestilence, as Kimchi rightly interprets it; see ( Revelation 6:8 ) ; Jarchi understands it of the angel of death; see ( Hebrews 2:14 ) ; [let] their young men [be] slain by the sword in battle;
such being commonly employed in military service, as being the most proper persons for it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (brx ydy le) "super manus gladii", Montanus, Schmidt.
F7 (twm ygrh wyhy) "occisi morte", Pagninus, Montanus, "i.e. peste" Schmidt; "occisi mortis", Cocceius.

Yirmeyah 18:21 In-Context

19 Give heed to me, Hashem, and take notice of the voice of them that contend with me.

20 Shall ra’ah be repaid for tovah? For they have dug a pit for my nefesh. Remember that I stood before Thee to speak tovah concerning them, and to turn away Thy wrath from them.

21 Therefore deliver up their banim to the ra’av (famine), and pour out their dahm by the force of the cherev; and let their nashim be bereaved as childless, and be almanot (widows); and let their anashim be put to death; let their bochurim be slain by the cherev in milchamah.

22 Let a cry be heard from their batim (houses), when Thou shalt bring a gedud (troop) suddenly upon them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hid pachim (snares) for my raglayim.

23 Yet, Hashem, Thou knowest all their etzah against me to slay me; do not make kapporah for their avon, neither blot out their chattat from Thy sight, but let them be overthrown before Thee; deal thus with them in the time of Thine anger.