Jeremiah 4:31
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail,.... So the distress of the Jews, at the time of their destruction, is compared to the sorrows of a woman in travail; and a word, that signifies that is used to express it, Matthew 24:8:
and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child; whose time is more difficult, her pains sharper, her anguish greater, and, having less experience, the more impatient:
the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself; her unhappy condition, and miserable circumstances:
that spreadeth her hands; as persons in distress do, and particularly women in travail: saying,
Woe is me now, for my soul is wearied because of murderers: these abounded: under the second temple, and was the reason, the Jews say: {m}, of the sanhedrim removing from their usual place in the temple; and why they ceased from the beheading of the red heifer {n}.
{m} T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 8. 2.
{n} Misn. Sota, c. 9. sect. 9.