Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 15:8

"Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas; I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall upon her suddenly." — Jeremiah 15:8 (ASV)

I have brought ... —Better, I have brought upon them, even upon the mother of the young warrior (that is, upon the woman who rejoices most in her son’s heroism), a spoiler at noonday, that is, coming, when least expected, at the hour when most armies rested. (See Note on Jeremiah 6:4.)

I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly ... —Better, I have brought suddenly upon her (the “mother” of the previous sentence) travail-pangs and dismay. The Aramaic word for the anguish of childbirth is also the Hebrew word for “city,” and this has misled translators. The Septuagint gives the true meaning.