Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 4:23

23 I beheld the earth, and Io, it was without form and void : and the heavens, and they had no light .

Either I Ieremiah saw all this in a vision, or I fancied and framed such an Idea of it in my mind, it seems to be impressed upon my thoughts Graphically, as in a Map, in such a rueful manner; for in this, and the three following verses, he doth as one transported with sorrow, elegantly, and hyperbolically describe the Phaenomenon, face or appearance of it.

The Land was so squallid, and so ruined, that he fancieth it to be like the first Chaos, for which reason possibly he calls Iudea the earth, in allusion to Gen. 1.2. and herein implying that Iudah's sins were such, that they had even overturned the course of nature, being laid waste and desolate, not of inhabitants only, but of all things that might tend either to ornament or use, without men, without houses, without fruits, without beasts or birds for food or service, verse 25.26.

Some say being obnubilated, and darkened by the abundance of smoke that would ascend from the desolating fires of Towns and Cities, Isa. 9.18, 19. of which you may read in the History of this breaking in of the Chaldees, but he seems to proceed rather in his Metaphor of the Chaos, and it being an expression, whereby the Scripture doth set forth the saddest desolations, Isa. 13.9. &c. Ezekiel 32.7. &c. Ioel 2.10.30, 31. every thing above and below seemed to be in a mournful posture, wrapt up in dismal blackness.

Marginal references: Isa. 5.25.