Jeremiah 18:16-17

E. The Devastation of the Land Jeremiah 18:16-17

TRANSLATION

(16) The result of this is that they will make their land a desolation, an object of everlasting derision. Everyone who passes by it shall be astonished and will shake his head. (17) Like the east wind I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them the back and not the face in the day of their calamity.

COMMENTS

The inevitable result of abandoning the God-ordained way is desolation and destruction. All who pass by will be amazed, shocked and astonished at what has befallen the once proud little nation of Judah. They will wag their heads in a scornful sneer at the wicked and stupid folly of the people who had forsaken their God (Jeremiah 18:16). God will scatter the men of Judah before their enemies just as men scatter and seek refuge when the torrid east wind, the so-called sirocco, begins to sweep in from the desert. God will turn his back upon them in that day of calamity and he will not listen to their cries for help[212] (Jeremiah 18:17)

[212] An alternate translation of the last Part of Jeremiah 18:17 is: On their back and not their face I w1ll look in the day of calamity. In this case the meaning would be: When they flee before their enemies I will see their backs and will not intervene to save them.