10:20 But our tents have been destroyed.
The ropes that held them in place have been ripped apart. 1
Our children are gone and are not coming back. 2
There is no survivor to put our tents back up,
no one left to hang their tent curtains in place.
10:21 For our leaders 3 are stupid.
They have not sought the Lord’s advice. 4
So they do not act wisely,
and the people they are responsible for 5 have all been scattered.
10:22 Listen! News is coming even now. 6
The rumble of a great army is heard approaching 7 from a land in the north. 8
It is coming to turn the towns of Judah into rubble,
places where only jackals live.
1 tn Heb “My tent has been destroyed and my tent cords have been ripped apart.” For a very similar identification of Jeremiah’s plight with the plight of the personified community see 4:20 and the notes there.
2 tn Heb “my children have gone from me and are no more.”
3 tn Heb “the shepherds.”
4 tn Heb “They have not sought the
5 tn Heb “all their flock (or “pasturage”).”
5 tn Heb “The sound of a report, behold, it is coming.”
6 tn Heb “ coming, even a great quaking.”
7 sn Compare Jer 6:22.