Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 8:7

7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.

i. e. In the Air, which is often called heaven, where the Birds fly, Psal. 8.8. compare chap. 7.33. who possibly observe the fit time by the temperature of the Air.

i. e. Observeth the several Seasons of her going, and coming by some natural instinct, and this is said of the Stork; what kind of Fowl is here meant is disputable, see English Annot. and Lat. Symp.

The same thing diversified in these several Fowles, that know also their Seasons.

This notes the great stupidity of his people seeming not to have as much sense in them, as the Birds in the Air, not knowing their sum[illegible: 1 letter]er of prosperity, to make a good use of Gods favours, nor the wi[illegible: 1 letter]ter of adversity, either to prevent or remove that wrath of God that hangs over their heads Isa. 5.12. Luke 19.42.44. they know not their time for Repentance, and making their peace with God compared also, on the same account, to the beasts of the Field, Isa. 1.3. and thus Christ upbraids the Pharisees, Matth. 16.2, 3.

Either Gods vengeance in general, or particularly hovering over Ier[illegible: 1 letter]salem, and Iudaea, or rather the manner of Gods dispensations with them. So the word is used, 1 Sam. 2.13. and 8.11

Marginal references: chap. 5.4, 5.