Jeremiah 4:11-13

2. The second figure:

TRANSLATION

(11) In that time it shall be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A wind scorching hot of the bare heights in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow, not to cleanse; (12) a wind too strong for these things shall come for Me; now also I will speak judgments against them. (13) Behold, like clouds he comes up and like a whirlwind are his chariots. His horses are more swift than eagles. Woe to us! for we are devastated.

COMMENTS

When the judgment falls upon Judah people will use the figure of a blasting wind to describe what has befallen the land. The foe sweeping down upon Jerusalem will not be like the gentle wind which separates the grain from the chaff but will be like the fierce sirocco which blasts in annually from the Arabian desert (Jeremiah 4:11). Repeating his figure for the sake of emphasis Jeremiah declares that the coming wind of retribution will be too strong for these things, i.e., it will be a more violent wind than could serve for winnowing the grain. God had spoken in times past through His prophets. Now God will speak to His people in the only language which they will understand, the language of judgment and punishment (Jeremiah 4:12). The hosts of God's warriors will come up like the clouds (Ezekiel 38:16) which accompany a violent whirlwind (Isaiah 5:28; Isaiah 66:15). The horses of the enemy are more swift than eagles (Habakkuk 1:8; Deuteronomy 28:49). As the inhabitants of Judah see that vast horde descending upon them the wail of lamentation shall be taken up in the land (Jeremiah 4:13).