in the fourth year The year that their decree was sealed that they be exiled and that they drink the cup of wrath, as he says in this section (v. 15): “Take the cup, etc.,” and before the decree He commanded the prophet to reprove them, perhaps they would repent, and their decree would not be sealed.

twenty-three years Josiah reigned thirty-one years (II Kings 22:1). Subtract twelve years from them (Jer. 1:2). This leaves nineteen, and four of his son amount to twenty-three.

arising early This is a present tense. I would arise early and speak constantly.

the sound of a mill That is an indication of a circumcision feast, since they would grind and crush ingredients for healing the wound.

the light of a candle An indication of a feast. So we learned in Sanhedrin (32b).

all that is written concerning Babylon.

in this Book at its end.

For... will enslave them Like ‘For... shall enslave them,’ i.e., shall enslave the people of Babylon.

many nations...too Viz. Media and Persia.

cup of the wine of fury The prophecy of retribution

and you shall give...to drink it Prophesy to them that it will no longer be retracted for any repentance.

and reel to and fro Jonathan renders: and they shall be confused.

and be like madmen an expression of madness, they shall be mad.

as of this day As they are today. Jeremiah wrote his Book after the destruction.

And all the allies All the supports (סוּמְכְוָתָא) which are Pharaoh’s guarantee, and he leans upon them for aid. the allies Garantie in French.

and the kings of the isle All these that he counts (ֹשֶמוֹנֶה) until here are neighbors of Eretz Israel.

and all those separated in that corner those separated at the end of that corner.

the kings of Arabia Heb. עֲרָב, Arabia.

and all the kings of the allies The allies of the Arabs.

Sheshach That is ‘Babylon’ in א"תב"ש.

and vomit Like a person who drinks too much, who vomits.

the sword the strife of war.

commence מֵחֵל.

over His habitation He mourns over the destruction of His house.

“Hedad!” A cry of “Ha!” that those engaged in hard work cry out aloud to urge each other on to strengthen themselves, and those who tread the winepresses are accustomed to it.

He shall call out Every expression of עֲנִיָה, is an expression of a cry with a loud voice.

He contends He contends in judgment.

from nation to nation whom I incite against one another.

from the ends as the Targum renders it: מִסְיָפֵי, from the ends of.

Howl an expression of יְלָלָה, howling.

and roll i.e., roll in the dust (se vautrer in French).

and your scatterings This is a short verse; i.e., to say: and your scatterings shall come near.

like a precious vessel That is to say: If you say, “We are important,” there are many precious glass vessels that fall, break, and are lost.

shall be destroyed an expression of destruction, an expression related to ‘has silenced us (הֲדִמָּנוּ) .’ ‘and there let us sit in silence (וְנִדְּמָה).’

He has left his hut like a young lion The king has gone in exile from his city like a young lion that leaves his hut.

because of the wrath of the oppressing sword drunk from wine. So did Jonathan translate. Another explanation: It is an expression of oppression (אוֹנָאָה).