Jer 12:7, 9 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 7. I have forsaken mine house ] I have abandoned my temple. I have given the dearly beloved of my soul ] The people once in covenant with me, and inexpressibly dear to me while faithful. Into the hand of her enemies. ] This was a condition in the covenant I made with them; If they forsook me, they were to be abandoned to their enemies, and cast out of the good land I gave to their fathers.

‏ Jeremiah 12:7

Verse 7. I have forsaken mine house] I have abandoned my temple.

I have given the dearly beloved of my soul] The people once in covenant with me, and inexpressibly dear to me while faithful.

Into the hand of her enemies.] This was a condition in the covenant I made with them; If they forsook me, they were to be abandoned to their enemies, and cast out of the good land I gave to their fathers.

‏ Jeremiah 12:9

Verse 9. Is unto me as a speckled bird] A bird of divers colours. This is a people who have corrupted the worship of the true God with heathenish rites and ceremonies; therefore, the different nations, (see Jer 12:10,) whose gods and forms of worship they have adopted, shall come and spoil them. As far as you have followed the surrounding nations in their worship, so far shall they prevail over your state. Every one shall take that which is his own; and wherever he finds his own gods, he will consider the land consecrated to them, and take it as his property, because those very gods are the objects of his worship. The fable of the daw and borrowed plumes is no mean illustration of this passage.

Dahler translates the whole verse thus:-

Birds of prey! inundate with blood my heritage.

Birds of prey! come against her from all sides.

Run together in crowds, ye savage beasts!

Come to the carnage!