In this message Jeremiah contrasted the unnatural apostasy of the people with the constancy of nature (cf. 2:10-13).
18:13 Yahweh indicted the people of Judah through His prophet asking if any other nation had ever done what Israel had done. As a virgin she had done something appalling. She had polluted herself with the practices of pagan religion including sexual immorality. She had played the harlot.
18:14 Israel's conduct was unnatural, contrary to nature. Jeremiah cited examples of how nature behaves. The snow perpetually covered the Lebanon mountains to Israel's north. For there to be no snow would be unnatural. And cold water ceaselessly flowed from those same mountains (cf. 2:13; 15:18).281The headwaters of the Jordan River are four springs that well up near the base of Mount Hermon, which is in the Lebanon range, and they never run dry.
18:15 Israel had abandoned Yahweh and had worshipped worthless idols instead. His people had stumbled off the safe, well-established highway of God's will that she had been traveling and had turned aside to walk in pathways that were no roads (cf. 6:16).
18:16 This action would result in their land becoming desolate. Onlookers and passersby would whistle to themselves in amazement over its terrible condition and shake their heads in astonishment at what had happened to it because of Israel's stupidity.
18:17 Yahweh would scatter His people from their land before the enemy as when the strong east wind (the sirocco, cf. 4:11; 13:34) blew in the windy months. Their enemy would also come from the east, specifically Babylon, though the soldiers would descend on them from the north. Yahweh would turn His back on His people when this calamity fell; He would offer them no help or favor (cf. 2:27; Num. 6:24-26).
