Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 15:8

8 Their widowes are increased to me above the sand of the seas , I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men, a spoiler at noon-day : I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrours upon the city .

The Prophet speaking in the name of that God who calleth things that are not, as if they were, still continueth his stile, speaking of things to come, as if present. In Iehojachim's time we read of no such plenty of Widowes, they were multiplyed when the City was besieged, and taken in Zedekiahs time, to a great number, hyperbolically compared to the sands of the Sea.

There is a great variety amongst interpreters, as to their sense of this phrase, about which those that are curious may consult the English Annotations upon this Verse; by the spoiler at Noonday, is meant Neb[illegible: 1 letter]chadnezzar, in the sense of the best interpreters, who came not like a thief who cometh by night to rob and to spoil, but with an Army in the day time, the question only is, about those words against the Mother of the young men. The Hebrew word, which our translation renders young men, is [non-Latin text not transcribed] which properly signifieth a choice man, or a person chosen from the Hebrew Verb which signifieth to chuse; so as it may as well be Translated the mother of the chosen, as the mother of the young men. Because young men are looked upon as the choice men, whether for beauty, or strength and ability for any thing, the word often signifies a young man, Deut. 32.25. 2 Sam. 6.1. Cant. 5.15. Psal. 148.12. Isa. 23.4. Ezek. 9 6. and in many other Texts. Some will have the sense (as in our Marge[illegible: 1 letter]t.) against the mother, a young man m[illegible: 2 letters]ning by the young man, Nebuchadnezzar, and by the Mother, Ierusalem, the Iewes are in the Canticles called the daughters of Hierusalem, and Hierusalem which is above, is by the Apostle called the Mother of us all. The Hebrew word is in the singular number, how we Translate it young men I understand not. Pagnine Translates it Electi, the Mother of the chosen, I do think that by the Mother is meant Hierusalem, and that populi may be understood to Electi, Hierusalem was the Mother of the Jewish people, or Iudea at least, against whom Nebuchadnezzar the spoiler at noon-day was sent; and we know that the Iewes were Gods chosen people.

This last clause is yet more obscure then the other, word for word as it is in the Hebrew, it is, I have caused to fall upon it suddenly, the City and terrours. The word here used [non-Latin text not transcribed] commonly signifies a City in Scripture, and is very rarely Translated otherwise, were it not for the Adverb suddenly coming between it and City, the sense were plain, and thus, I will cause to fall upon that City, terrours; Others read it, I will cause him to fall upon it, and terrours upon the City. The word sometimes in Scripture signifies Enemies, and is so Translated, 1 Sam. 28.16, Psal. 139.20. Dan. 4.19. In this signification of the word, the sense is plain, I will send upon it the Enemy and terrours. The Learned Author of our English Annotations observes it is translated a Watcher, Dan. 4.13, 23. and thinks the sense may be thus, I have caused it to fall upon them suddenly, a watcher that bringeth terrours, to which purpose he tells us, the Chaldean Forces are compared to watchers, chap. 4.16, 17▪ and 5.6.

Marginal references: Or, against the mother City, a young man spoiling, &c. Or, against the mother and the young men.