Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 4:20

"Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is laid waste: suddenly are my tents destroyed, [and] my curtains in a moment." — Jeremiah 4:20 (ASV)

Destruction upon destruction is cried. —Literally, Breaking upon breaking, or crash upon crash, is reported.

Suddenly are my tents spoiled. —The tent dwelling retained its position even amid the cities and villages of Israel (2 Samuel 18:17; 1 Kings 8:66). The “curtains” are, of course, those of the tent (Isaiah 54:2). Conspicuous among such survivals of the nomad form of life we find the Rechabites of Jeremiah 35.