The heartlessness of the people as part of their misery is described by comparison with two wild animals that are not characterised by good care for their young, namely jackals and ostriches. The women of the nation show less maternal care than the gluttonous jackals. Jackals were feared animals that are predators of small animals and consumed carcasses. In Scripture they are associated with God’s fear and judgment (see Psalm 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 35:7; Jeremiah 9:11). Even these reprehensible animals provide nourishment for their offspring. God’s people are worse than them and more like ostriches.1 Ostriches were known for neglecting their offspring (see Job 39:16–19). Both these animals inhabited desolate places (see Job 30:29; Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 34:13; Jeremiah 50:39). This comparison shows that the children have been given up to neglect and desolation.2 This comparison stresses the point that these children receive far worse treatment than that provided by these animals that are notorious for neglecting their young. While jackals were cruel and greedy, but still looked after their young, the daughter of my people
became cruel, ruthless like ostriches. It has been observed that the ostrich, although certainly not completely indifferent to her eggs and young, easily and often leaves her nest to look for food. If she notices that the nest has been touched upon, she will abandon it and build another one. This lack of concern brings the image to mind of the harshness to which mothers fell in the besieged city regarding their young.3
3 Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.