Jeremiah 10:20-22

Context

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 leaders³ are stupid.

They have not sought the Lord’s advice.⁴

So they do not act wisely,

and the people they are responsible for⁵ have all been scattered.

10:22 Listen! News is coming even now.⁶

The rumble of a great army is heard approaching⁷ from a land in the north.⁸

It is coming to turn the towns of Judah into rubble,

places where only jackals live.

[10:20] ¹tn 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.

[10:20] ²tn Heb “my children have gone from me and are no more.”

[10:21] ³tn Heb “the shepherds.”

[10:21] ⁴tn Heb “They have not sought the Lord.”

[10:21] ⁵tn Heb “all their flock (or “pasturage”).”

[10:22] ⁵tn Heb “The sound of a report, behold, it is coming.”

[10:22] ⁶tn Heb “ coming, even a great quaking.”

[10:22] ⁷sn Compare Jer 6:22.