John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 49:29

"Their tents and their flocks shall they take; they shall carry away for themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Terror on every side!" — Jeremiah 49:29 (ASV)

The Prophet, in speaking of tents and curtains, was referring to the way of living adopted by that nation. We know that the Arabs dwelt in cabins and tents, as they do even today, and they were also shepherds. They had no cultivated fields but led their flocks through the deserts, and they had a great number of camels.

This is the reason why the Prophet mentions tents, curtains, camels, and flocks when speaking of the Kedareans: for they did not dwell in a fertile country, they possessed no arable lands, nor did they have much other wealth—neither cities nor palaces. In summary, the Kedareans were doomed to destruction and were therefore exposed as prey to their enemies.

But as this was difficult to believe, he adds, They shall cry to them, Terror on every side. By these words, the Prophet means that there would be so much dread that everyone would have their possessions plundered, not daring to make any resistance, because terror on every side would seize them.

Those who read, “They shall call them terror on every side,” think that this is said metaphorically of the soldiers, as they were terrifying. Some also say, “The king of Babylon shall call” or summon “terror on every side against them.” But the former explanation is more probable: that when enemies called or cried out, Terror, terror, as conquerors, they would overcome them by their voice alone. This, I think, is the Prophet's real meaning.