Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 14:1

1 THE word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth .

What dearth we are not told, nor when it happened; some think that it was in the time of the Siege of Hierusalem, others, that it was in the beginning of the Reign of Zedekiah but they iudge most probably, that think it was in the time of Jehoiakim, for we read chap. 36.9. of an extraordinary fast by him proclaimed, which many judge was upon this occasion: The Heb. phrase which is here used, signifying, The matter of the Restraints; gives interpreters some liberty to abound in their senses of this Text, but the following words make it evident, ver. 4, 5. that the Restraints here mentioned were Gods restraining of water from them, so that the dearth was occasioned from a great drought, which is elegantly described in the five next verses and deprecated, ver. 7, 8, 9. which make indeed, but a preface to the Revelation of the mind, and will of God in this Prophesie.

Marginal references: Heb. the word[illegible: 1 letter] of the dearths or restrain[illegible: 1 letter]s.