“We have heard news of them.
Our hands fall helpless.
Anguish has taken hold of us.
We have pain
Like a woman in labor.
Do not go into the field!
Do not walk on the road!
The enemy has a sword.
Terror is on every side.
O daughter of my people!
Put on sackcloth!
Roll in ashes!
Make mourning
Like for an only child!
Make mourning
Like most bitter lamentations.
Suddenly the destroyer
Will come upon us.”
When the Israelites heard the news of this invasion, they felt helpless and anguished. They were pained like a woman in labor. They were told not to go into the fields or on the roads because terror or fear was everywhere. The sword was raised against them. Against all this, Jeremiah wanted these Israelites to put on sackcloth, roll in ashes, and go into mourning, as if they had lost their only child. They should lament because the destroyer would suddenly come upon them.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 