John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 49:24

"Damascus is waxed feeble, she turneth herself to flee, and trembling hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in travail." — Jeremiah 49:24 (ASV)

The Prophet continues with the same subject, for since the kingdom of Syria had flourished and had been prominent in wealth and power, it was hard to believe that it could be overthrown so quickly. This, then, is the reason why the Prophet, according to his usual manner, describes in detail the ruin of that kingdom to confirm what he said.

He then says, relaxed, or weakened, is Damascus. Indeed, this verb sometimes means to cease; he means that she was broken in strength. But under the name of this city, he includes, as was stated yesterday, the whole kingdom of Syria, which was celebrated for its riches, size, and number of its people.

She turns, he says, to flight. By these words he implies that the only safety remaining for the Syrians was to flee into other countries. And it is a miserable safety when people can only secure it through voluntary exile.

He adds the reason: Trembling has laid hold on her, anguish and pangs have seized her as a woman in travail. Whenever this comparison occurs in Scripture, some sudden and unexpected evil is intended. The Prophet then undoubtedly means that the ruin of Syria would be sudden; and he says this so that it would not trust in its own power, and so that others might not think it beyond danger, because they saw that it was fortified by the number of its people and by the abundance of everything else.

As the clock strikes, I will not proceed further.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as you set before our eyes memorable judgments that should benefit us today, so that we may be kept under your yoke and under the fear of your law, — O grant, that we may not grow hard at such threats, but anticipate your wrath, and so submit to you, that whatever you denounce against the ungodly may turn to our comfort and be a cause for joy, when we know that the salvation of your church is thus promoted, of which you have been pleased to regard and acknowledge us as members in your Son our Lord. — Amen.

Lecture One Hundred and Seventy-Seventh