And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Now on the ninth day of the fourth month, the store of food in the town was almost gone, so that there was no food for the people of the land.

on the ninth day of the month. And a famine prevailed in the city; neither was there bread for the people of the land.

And on the ninth [day] of the [fourth] month the famine (c) prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
(c) So much that the mothers ate their children, (Lamentations 4:10).

on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed--In consequence of the close and protracted blockade, the inhabitants were reduced to dreadful extremities; and under the maddening influence of hunger, the most inhuman atrocities were perpetrated (Lamentations 2:20, Lamentations 2:22; Lamentations 4:9-10; Ezekiel 5:10). This was a fulfilment of the prophetic denunciations threatened on the apostasy of the chosen people (Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53-57; Jeremiah 15:2; Jeremiah 27:13; Ezekiel 4:16).

The people - For the common people, but only for the great men. Now they eat their own children for want of food, Lamentations 4:3, &c. Jeremiah in this extremity, earnestly persuaded the king to surrender; but his heart was hardened to his destruction.