In the previous section (Jeremiah 4:23–28) the looming judgment of Judah was described in cosmic terms, as the Lord undoing the order of his creation. The description of judgment continues in this section (Jeremiah 4:29–31), but there is a change of imagery: now Judah, the daughter of Zion
(Jeremiah 4:31) is pictured as a prostitute desperately trying to offer herself to lovers who seek her death.1
The section begins with a description of the sound of an approaching army of invaders. The army is once again not identified, but later events will make it clear that this is a reference to the Babylonian invasion. The noise is that of horseman and archer.
It is a formidable and terrifying army that causes the people in every city to take flight.
29 At the noise of horseman and archer every city takes to flight; they enter thickets; they climb among rocks; all the cities are forsaken, and no man dwells in them.