ירמיהו, פרק ל׳, פסוק ה׳

A dramatic vision unfolds, painting a picture of overwhelming terror and a complete absence of tranquility. This intense atmosphere of fear prompts a discussion regarding exactly when this profound panic takes place.

One approach roots these events in the past, specifically during the time of the Babylonian exile. The sounds of trembling reflect the terrifying rumors about Babylon that frightened the exiled Israelites, as well as the deep anxiety that gripped them when the Babylonian empire finally collapsed. Even after the empire fell, the people continued to live in fear of the enemy sword, as true peace had not yet returned to the land [רש״י, מלבי״ם].

In contrast, another perspective understands this as a prophecy for the distant future, looking ahead to the ultimate war of Gog and Magog [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. According to this view, the cries of panic will be voiced by all the nations of the world during the Messianic era [רד״ק]. The repeated descriptions of fear combined with the explicit lack of peace serve to emphasize the sheer scale and intensity of the dread that will exist at that time [מצודת דוד]. In this context, the absence of peace specifically refers to a total loss of calm and serenity [ביאור שטיינזלץ].