What is the meaning of "Es Raglim"?
Rashi: People who go on foot.
Who made Yirmeyah weary?
Rashi: Your relatives, Kohanim like you, and people of your city, wanted to kill you.
Refer to 12:5:3:2.
What is the meaning of "how will you compete with horses"?
Rashi: Your relatives wanted to kill you, and all the more so officers of Yehudah.
Rashi citing Targum Yonasan: You tried to run even with people on foot, and you wearied 1 . How will you compete with horses in marsh?!
Rashi citing Sanhedrin 96a: Yirmeyah questioned why Nebuchadnetzar has such success (verse 1). Hashem said, you are amazed at his reward for four steps he took for My honor in the days of Merodach Bal'adan 2 . How much more will you be amazed at the reward given to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yakov, who ran in front of Me (did My will) like horses 3 !
Radak: (a) The meaning of the parable is, you are a person, like them (Anshei Anasos). You do not know their thoughts - they wanted to feed you poison. You did not know or sense this, had I not told you. How do you want to know My intent in running the world, that Resha'im succeed and Tzadikim suffer?! Therefore, be quiet and do not question My Midos. (b) Hashem added, in Anasos, your family and people of your level, they threatened you and you wearied. How will you compete with horses when I send you to Yerushalayim - great officers, and also the king there - how will you conduct with them?! You must strengthen yourself, not to fear them, and to speak My Shelichus without fear.
Malbim: You (Yirmeyah) think that only Anshei Anasos want to kill you, and the land will be destroyed due to them, and if they will perish, Yisrael will heed you. You err. Just the contrary! People on foot wearied you (you could not oppose them). How will you compete with people on horses (Anshei Yerushalayim?! They go faster!) .
Radak: You were not able to catch them.
Sanhedrin 96a: When Chizkiyah was sick and recovered, there were 10 extra hours of sunlight. When Bal'adan heard the reason for the miracle, he wanted to send Shalom. They wrote 'Shalom to Melech Chizkiyah, Shalom to Yerushalayim, Shalom to the great G-d.' Nebuchadnetzar, Bal'adan's usual scribe, was away. When he returned, he said 'the great G-d' should be first! Rather, we must write 'Shalom to the great G-d, Shalom to Yerushalayim, Shalom to Melech Chizkiyah.'' They agreed. He ran four steps after the messenger to recall the letter. Gavri'el stopped him, lest his reward be great enough to totally destroy Yisrael. .
Sanhedrin 96a: "Ki Es Raglayim Ratzta..." is a parable. A man boasted 'I can run 12 Mil in front of horses, even in marsh.' He saw a man running, and he ran in front of him for three Mil on dry land, and wearied. If he wearied running in front of a man, all the more so he would weary in front of horses! If he wearied running three Mil, all the more so running 12 Mil! If he wearied running on dry land, all the more on marsh! "La'Nevi'im Nishbar Libi..." (23:9) - Yirmeyah is in awe when he thinks about the reward that the Avos will receive.
What is the meaning of "uv'Eretz Shalom Atah Vote'ach"?
Rashi: In the land in which you trust [they wearied you].
Rashi (Mishlei 14:16, citing Targum Yonasan): On proper ground, you are confident and fall. How do you expect to do like wild animals in Ge'on ha'Yarden?!
Radak: It was proper that you trust in the people there, that it will be a land of Shalom for you, and they will save you from those who seek to harm you, for they are your relatives and people of your city. Normally, relatives and people of the same city who grew up together protect each other and love each other, and are ready to die for their beloved or relatives. You cannot [trust in them] - they schemed to kill you!
What is "Ge'on ha'Yarden"?
Rashi: It is the officers of Yehudah.
Rashi based on Targum Yonasan: Ge'on ha'Yarden is a place of lions and leopards - "k'Aryeh Ya'aleh mi'Ge'on ha'Yarden" (49:19). This is a parable (refer to 12:5:3:3, 12:5:3:3 1 . Yonason says so in many places.
Radak #1: It is a place where Misga'in (are haughty) waves of the Yarden. This is a metaphor for officers of Yehudah and Yerushalayim. They are compared to the Yarden, the [biggest] river in Eretz Yisrael, for the Pras is on the border of Eretz Yisrael.
Radak #2: It hints to Nebuchadnetzar, who will station his soldiers in Eretz Yisrael, past Ever ha'Yarden. If you (Yirmeyah) fear them (Anshei Anasos), who are few, how will you do with one who is like Ge'on ha'Yarden!?
Malbim: It is a dangerous place, i.e. Yerushalayim - there is more brazenness there, and its sins are great.
