Jer 5:6, Hab 1:8 | JFB | STEP | 6. lion . . . wolf . . . leopard —the strongest, the most ravenous, and the swiftest, respectively, of beasts: illustrating the formidable character of the Babylonians. of the evenings —Others not so well translate, of the deserts. The plural means that it goes forth every evening to seek its prey ( ). leopard . . . watch . . . cities — ( ). It shall lie in wait about their cities.

Jeremiah 5:6

6. lion . . . wolf . . . leopard—the strongest, the most ravenous, and the swiftest, respectively, of beasts: illustrating the formidable character of the Babylonians.

of the evenings—Others not so well translate, of the deserts. The plural means that it goes forth every evening to seek its prey (Ps 104:20; Hab 1:8; Zep 3:3).

leopard . . . watch . . . cities— (Ho 13:7). It shall lie in wait about their cities.

Habakkuk 1:8

8. swifter than the leopards—OPPIAN [Cynegeticks, 3.76], says of the leopard, "It runs most swiftly straight on: you would fancy it was flying through the air."

more fierce—rather, "more keen"; literally, "sharp."

evening wolves—wolves famished with fasting all day and so most keen in attacking the fold under covert of the approaching night (Jer 5:6; Zep 3:3; compare Ge 49:27). Hence "twilight" is termed in Arabic and Persian "the wolf's tail"; and in French, entre chien et loup.

spread themselves—proudly; as in Jer 50:11, and Mal 4:2, it implies strength and vigor. So also the Arabic cognate word [MAURER].

their horsemen . . . come from far—and yet are not wearied by the long journey.