John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 4:16

"make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, [that] watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah." — Jeremiah 4:16 (ASV)

Make you mention to the nations
This, according to Kimchi, is the sum and substance of the voice from Dan.

It seems to be a summons to the nations to gather together to join the king of Babylon in his enterprise against Jerusalem; see (2 Kings 24:2).

publish against Jerusalem; what follows: that watchers come from afar country; from Babylon, which is said to be a far country, (Isaiah 39:3), these are the soldiers of the king of Babylon; they are called Notzerim; which word agrees with the latter part of Nebuchadnezzar's name; to which some ^F2 think there is some reference, showing that his army is meant.

It should be rendered "besiegers", as it is by some ^F3; for these were not Nebuchadnezzar's bodyguard, but his whole army, who were come up to besiege Jerusalem; and they are compared to watchers and keepers of a field in the next verse, where another word is used.

The Targum is, ``the army of a rapacious people, like the grape gatherers, come from a far country:''

and give out their voice against the cities of Judah; threaten the ruin of them; blow the trumpet, the alarm of war; give the orders to besiege; and, being sure of victory, triumph before the attack is made.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F2: R. Joseph Kimchi, R. Jonah, and Ben Melech, but disapproved of by Abarbinel.
• F3: (Myrun) "obsessores", Calvin, Buxtorf; a (rwu) , vel (rru) , "obsedit"; so Jarchi.