Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 4:31

31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion: that bewaileth her self, that spreadeth her hands , saying, Wo is me now, for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

When the Scripture would express any exquisite sorrow, exceeding all other pains, it doth it by a woman in travail, Isa. 13.8, 9. chap. 6.24. and 30.6, 7.

Which of all seems to be the most painful, both from natural causes, and because they have less patience to bear, having not had former experience of the like.

Viz. Ierusalem, Isa. 1.8.

In her great distress, she either reacheth them out to God for some help, Isa. 1.15. or rather, according to the use of persons in great anguish, clapping, or wringing their hands together, as both the former expression of bewailing her self, fetching of deep sighs and lamentations, and the following wo is me, intimates, see chap. 2.37.

Or the time of my wo is at hand, it draws near.

There is no more spirit left within me, I am ready to sink under my distress, considering not only that my destruction is so near, but that those, of whom I have been so fond, and whose Idols I have so zealously served, should become my Murderers, verse 30. and that I should fall into the hands of such, as will have no compassion, 2 Chron. 36.17.