Jeremiah 9:10

“For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, etc.] Because of the desolation of them; because no pasture upon them, nor flocks feeding there; or “concerning” them, as the Arabic version; or “upon” themf191, in order to cause the lamentation to be heard the further; but the former sense seems best, as appears by what follows. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read it as an exhortation to others, “take up a weeping”: but they are the words of the prophet, declaring what he would do. And for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation; for the cottages of the shepherds, erected for their convenience, to look after their flocks, feeding on the mountains, and in the…”

“Jeremiah breaks in upon Jehovah's threats of wrath with lamentation for his desolated country. mountains--once cultivated and fruitful: the hillsides were cultivated in terraces between the rocks. habitations of . . . wilderness--rather, "the pleasant herbage (literally, 'the choice parts' of any thing) of the pasture plain." The Hebrew for "wilderness" expresses not a barren desert, but an untilled plain, fit for pasture. burned up--because no one waters them, the inhabitants being all gone. none can pass through them--much less inhabit them. fowl-- (Jer 4:25).”

“The punishment described in general terms in the preceding three verses is now detailed at great length. Jeremiah 9:10 The habitations i. e - the temporary encampments of the shepherds (see Jeremiah 6:3). So that none can ... - Or, “They are parched up, with no man to pass through them; neither do they hear the voice of cattle; from the birds of the heaven even to the beasts they “are fled, they are gone.” Jeremiah 9:11 Dragons - Rather, jackals. Jeremiah 9:12 For what the land perisheth ... - This is the question proposed for consideration. The prophet calls upon the wise man to explain his question; that question being, Wherefore did the land perish? He follows it by the assertion of a…”

“Wailing - The prophet having taken up a lamentation for the slaughter of the people, now re - assumes it for the desolation of the whole land. The mountains shall not be able to secure them, nor the valleys to feed them. Jeremiah 9:12”

“9:10 It is unclear whether these words were uttered by the Lord or by Jeremiah. If the words belong to the Lord, they indicate that he pronounced judgment from a broken heart. If they come from Jeremiah, they show the depths of pain in his heart as he delivered the Lord’s decree. The prophet faced the difficult task of separating his patriotism and empathy for the people from his identity as the Lord’s messenger.”

“the mountains: Jer 4:19-26, Jer 7:29, Jer 8:18, Jer 13:16, Jer 13:17; Lam 1:16, Lam 2:11 habitations: or, pastures because: Jer 12:4, Jer 12:10, Jer 14:6, Jer 23:10; Joe 1:10-12 burned up: or, desolate so: Jer 2:6; Isa 49:19; Eze 14:15, Eze 29:11, Eze 33:28 both: etc. Heb. from the fowls even to, etc. Jer 4:25; Hos 4:3 Jeremiah 9:11”