John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 9:11

"And I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling-place of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant." — Jeremiah 9:11 (ASV)

The Prophet comes now to Jerusalem and the neighboring cities. He said before that ruin would reach the mountains and the farthest recesses; but he says now, I will turn Jerusalem into heaps. This seemed incredible, for it was a well-fortified city, and also full of inhabitants to defend it: we know besides that the Jews were in confederacy with the kingdom of Egypt. This denunciation, then, was extremely unwelcome to the Jews. But though they thought themselves safe until now, yet the Prophet set before their eyes their final destruction. They indeed regarded it as a fable; but they found out too late that the despisers of God gain no advantage in hardening themselves against his threatenings. We will meet with this verse again; I will therefore now pass over it lightly.

He says that it would be hereafter a place for dragons; as though he had said that it would no longer be inhabited. He declares the same respecting the cities of Judah—that they would all be a waste. We therefore see how courageous and persevering a mind Jeremiah was endowed with, that he dared to preach this way in the midst of the city, and to set himself in opposition to the king and his counselors, and to the whole people, who wished to be soothed with flatteries and who had been treated this way by the false prophets. Since Jeremiah was so bold, as a celestial herald, to denounce upon them this dreadful calamity, we therefore learn that he was endowed with the power of God, and that he did not speak as one commissioned by men. For if he had not been sustained by God’s power, he would have been disheartened a hundred times, nor would he have dared to speak a word. This invincible courage seals his doctrine; for we therefore learn with certainty that it proceeded from God, because the wonderful power of the Holy Spirit was evident. He afterwards adds—