NOTES ON The Book of JEREMIAH
It was the great unhappiness of this prophet, to be a physician to, but that could not
save, a dying state, their disease still prevailing against the remedy; and indeed no
wonder that all things were so much out of order, when the book of the law had been
wanting above sixty years. He was called to be a teacher in his youth, in the days of good
Josiah, being sanctified and ordained by God to his prophetical office from his mother's
womb, chap.1:5, in a very evil time, though the people afterward proved much
worse upon the death of that good king. He setting himself against the torrent of the
corruptions of the times, was always opposed, and unkindly treated by his ungrateful
country - men, as also by false prophets, and the priests, princes, and people, who
encouraged all their impieties and unrighteousness: at length he threatened their
destruction and captivity by the Chaldeans, which he lived to see, but foretells their
return after seventy years; all which accordingly came to pass. He also, notwithstanding
his dreadful threatenings, intermixes divers comfortable promises of the Messiah, and the
days of the gospel; he denounces also heavy judgments against the Heathen nations, that
had afflicted God's people, both such as were near, and also more remote, as Egypt, the
Philistines, Moab, Edomites, Ammonites, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam, but especially
Babylon herself, that is made so great a type of the Anti - Christian Babylon in the New
Testament. Upon the murder of Gedaliah, whom the Chaldeans had made governor of Judea, he
was forcibly against his will carried into Egypt, where (after he had prophesied from
first to last between forty and fifty years) he probably died; some say he was stoned.
Whatever else we hear mentioned of his writings, they are either counterfeit as the
prophecies of Baruch, &c, or it is likely we have the sum of them in this book, though
possibly some of his sermons might have had some enlargements in that roll, which by his
appointment, was written by Baruch, chap. 36:2, &c.
Chapter I
The pedigree, time, and calling of Jeremiah, confirmed against his excuses, ver. 1
- 10. His visions of an almond - rod and seething pot, ver. 11 - 14. His heavy message
against Judah, ver. 15, 16. God promises him his assistance, ver. 17 - 19.
| 1 |
Anathoth - Was a city three miles from Jerusalem, allotted out of the tribe of
Benjamin for the priests. |
| 2 |
The word - That commission from God that authorized him to his prophetic work, for the
space of forty - one years successively in Judea, viz. from the 13th year of Josiah to the
11th year of Zedekiah, besides the time that he prophesied in Egypt. In the days - During
his reign. Thirteenth - By which it appears that Jeremiah prophesied the last eighteen
years of Josiah's reign; for he reigned thirty - one years, 2Kings 22:1. |
| 3 |
It - The word of the Lord. Jehoiakim - Called at first by Josiah, Eliakim. Jehoahaz
and Jehoiakin, whereof the former reigned before him, the latter succeeded, are conceived
not to be mentioned, because they reigned each of them but three months, and therefore not
considerable. Of Jerusalem - The inhabitants of Jerusalem, under Zedekiah, during all
which time Jeremiah prophesied. Captive - This does not terminate the time of his
prophecies; for he prophesied also both in Judea, and in Egypt afterwards: but only
relates to what he prophesied while the city and temple were standing, the rest seeming to
be added as a supplement. Fifth month - Of that present year; for, tho' the year end not
at the fifth month, yet it might end the year of Zedekiah's reign, because he might begin
his reign at the fifth month of the year. |
| 4 |
Then - When he was first called to his office. |
| 5 |
I sanctified - I ordained thee for this public service. He speaks thus to Jeremiah,
not to the other prophets, because he stood in need of greater encouragement than they,
both in respect of the tenderness of his years, and the difficulties which he was to
encounter with. The nations - To other nations besides the Jews. |
| 7 |
Thou shalt speak - Fear not, I will make thee eloquent and courageous. |
| 9 |
Then - God having excited the prophet by command and promise, now in a vision confirms
him, either by the hand of an angel, or by himself in some visible shape. |
| 10 |
The kingdoms - Having now received his commission, he is directed to whom he is to go;
to the greatest, not only single persons, but whole nations, as the Babylonians, Persians,
and Egyptians. To pull down - That is, to prophecy that I will pull down; which I will as
certainly effect, as if thou hadst done it thyself: for, according to scripture - usage,
the prophets are said to do that which they foretell shall come to pass. To plant -
Metaphors taken from architects and gardeners: either the former words relate to the
enemies of God, and the latter to his friends; or rather to both conditionally: if they
repent, he will build them up, he will increase their families, and settle them in the
land; if they do not, he will root them up, and pull them down. |
| 11 |
Came unto me - This and the boiling caldron, ver.13, is thought to be at
the same time, and in the same vision, when he was first appointed to the work. Almond -
tree - That had leaves, and probably blossoms on it like Aaron's. This is a tree that
blossoms early, and speedily, and so it may point at either God's readiness, to smite,
ver.12, or Israel's ripeness to be smitten; this rod being like a portentous
comet, shewing to Jeremiah the miseries that were at hand, at the death of Josiah, which
soon followed this vision, the taxing them by Pharaoh Necho, presently after the breaking
in of the Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and then the Babylonian captivity. |
| 12 |
Well seen - Or thou hast seen and judged right. Hasten - Word for word, I will almond
- tree it, that is, I will be upon them speedily, in a short time. My word - My
threatening against Judah and its inhabitants. |
| 13 |
Seething - Pot - I see a pot coming, meaning the Babylonian army, who would besiege
Jerusalem as a fire plays round the pot, when it is to be made boil; and reduce the
inhabitants to miserable extremities. Face - Or front of the pot, or furnace, the place
where the fire was put in, or blowed up to make it boil. North - Indicating from whence
their misery should come, namely, from Chaldea, which lay north from Jerusalem. |
| 14 |
North - From Babylon. |
| 15 |
The families - Those nations that were under one lord. Kingdoms - The Babylonians, and
their assistants; the Medes also being in confederacy with them, whose king's daughter
Nebuchadnezzar married. His throne - Their seats, pavilions or tents shall be pitched,
which shall be as so many thrones. Entering - Of the gates, or way leading to them. |
| 17 |
Gird up - It is a speech taken from the custom of the countries where they wore long
garments; and therefore they girt them up about them, that they might not hinder them in
any work that required expedition. Consume thee - Lest I destroy thee even in their sight,
to become their reproach. |
| 18 |
This whole land - All its inhabitants in general; intimating, that though men of all
degrees should set themselves against him, yet God would support him against their all,
and would carry him thro' his work, tho' his troubles would not be only great, but long;
passing thro' several king's reigns. |
Chapter II
God's numerous and continued mercies render the Jews in their idolatry inexcusable,
and unparalleled in any nation; and themselves the causes if their calamities, ver. 1 -
19. Their gross idolatry, ver. 20 - 28. Incorrigibleness, bloodshedding, and hypocrisy,
ver. 29 - 37.
| 2 |
Go - From Anathoth to Jerusalem. Remember - I remind thee of the kindness that was
between us. The love - When I entered into covenant with thee at the giving of the law.
Wilderness - I took such care of thee, in the howling wilderness, a land that was not
sown. |
| 3 |
Holiness - A people dedicated to God. As - As the first fruits were holy to God, so
was Israel. Devour - All that were injurious to him. Offend - Were liable to punishment.
Evil - Evil was inflicted on them from the Lord, as upon the Egyptians, Amalekites,
Midianites, Canaanites. |
| 5 |
Vanity - Idols. Vain - Fools; senseless as the stocks and stones that they made their
idols of. |
| 6 |
Neither - They never concerned themselves about what God had done for them, which
should have engaged them to cleave to him. Of drought - Where they had no water but by
miracle. Death - Bringing forth nothing that might support life, therefore nothing but
death could be expected; and besides, yielding so many venomous creatures, as many enemies
that they went in continual danger of. No man dwelt - As having in it no accommodation for
travellers, much less for habitation. |
| 7 |
My land - Consecrated to my name; by your idols and many other abominations. |
| 8 |
They - They that should have taught others, knew as little as they, or regarded as
little, who are said here to handle the law, the priests and Levites, who were the
ordinary teachers of the law. Pastors - Either teachers, or kings and princes. Prophets -
They that should have taught the people the true worship of God, were themselves
worshippers of Baal. |
| 9 |
Plead - By his judgments, and by his prophets, as he did with their fathers, that they
may be left without excuse. Children - God often visits the iniquities of the parents upon
the children, when they imitate their parents. |
| 10 |
Of Chittim - All the isles in the Mediterranean sea, with the neighbouring coasts; for
the Hebrews call all people, that separated from them by the sea, islanders, because they
came to them by shipping. Kedar - Arabia that lay east - south - east of Judea, as Chittim
did more north or north - west; go from north to south, east to west, and make the
experiment; look to Chittim the most civilized, or Kedar the most barbarous, yet neither
have changed their gods. |
| 11 |
Their glory - The true God, who was their glory; and who always did them good, giving
them cause to glory in him. |
| 12 |
O ye heavens - A pathetical expression, intimating that it is such a thing, that the
very inanimate creatures, could they be sensible of it, would be astonished. Be desolate -
Lose your brightness, as the sun seemed to do when Christ suffered. |
| 13 |
Of living waters - A metaphor taken from springs, called living, because they never
cease, or intermit; such had God's care and kindness been over them. Cisterns - Either
their idols, which are empty vain things, that never answer expectation, or the Assyrians,
and Egyptians. Indeed all other supports, that are trusted to besides God, are but broken
vessels. |
| 14 |
A slave - Slave is here added to home - born to express the baseness of his service,
because the master had power to make those slaves who were born of slaves in his house.
Why - Why is he thus tyrannized over, as if strangers had the same right over him as
owners over their slaves? |
| 15 |
Lions - Understand the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, called lions from their
fierceness, and young from their strength. Yelled - Noting the terrible voice that the
lion puts forth, either in seizing the prey, or devouring it. |
| 16 |
Noph, &c. - Two of the kings of Egypt's principal seats. Noph was sometimes called
Memphis, now Cairo. Tahapanes probably took its name from Taphanes queen of Egypt, 1Kings
11:19, called also Hanes: Isa 30:4. The inhabitants of these cities
are called here their children. |
| 17 |
When - By the conduct of providence in the wilderness, keeping thee from all dangers. |
| 18 |
And now - What business hast thou there? Sihor - The Nile: it signifies black, called
Melas by the Greeks, either from the blackness of the land it passed through, or of the
soil it casts up. The waters - Here and by the same words before is meant, to seek help
from either place. River - Euphrates, often called so by way of eminency. |
| 19 |
Thy wickedness - Thy own wickedness is the cause of thy correction. Know - Consider
well, and thou canst not but be convinced. |
| 20 |
Broken - The bondage and tyranny that thou wert under in old time in Egypt, as also
divers times besides. Tree - Under these shades idolaters thought there lay some hidden
deity. Wanderest - The word properly signifies, making hast from one tree to another, or
from one idol to another. Playing - Committing idolatry, which is a spiritual harlotry,
chap.3:1,2. |
| 21 |
A right seed - A right seed of true believers. |
| 22 |
Nitre - Though interpreters do greatly vary in describing what is particularly meant
here by Nitre and Soap, and would be superfluous to mention here; yet all agree, they are
some materials that artists make use of for cleansing away spots from the skin. The blot
of this people is by no art to be taken out; nor expiated by sacrifices; it is beyond the
power of all natural and artificial ways of cleansing. Marked - Thy filthiness is so foul
that it leaves a brand behind which cannot be hid or washed out, but will abide, Jer
17:1. |
| 23 |
Baalim - The word is plural, as comprehensive of all their idols. Thy way - The
filthiness thou hast left behind thee, whereby thou mayst be traced. Valley - Whether of
Hinnom where they burnt their children in sacrifice, or in any valleys where thou hast
been frequent in thy idolatries. Traversing - A metaphor taken from creatures that are
hunted, that keep no direct path. |
| 24 |
A wild ass - Another similitude for the more lively description of the same thing. The
wind - This creature, by the wind, smells afar off which way her male is. In her occasion
- That is, when she has an occasion to run impetuously to her male, she bears down all
opposition. In her month - Perhaps the sense is, though Jerusalem be now madly bent upon
going after her idols, that there is no stopping her, yet the time may come, in their
afflictions, that they may grow more tame, and willing to receive counsel. |
| 25 |
Withhold - Take not those courses that will reduce thee to poverty, to go bare foot,
and to want wherewith to quench thy thirst. No hope - We care not since there is no
remedy. Strangers - Idols. |
| 26 |
Found - Not ashamed of his sin of theft, but that he is at last found. |
| 27 |
Brought me forth - Or begotten me; so is the word used, Gen 4:18. This
denotes the sottish stupidity of this people, to take a lifeless stock or stone to be
their maker, and to give the honour of God unto them, Isa 44:17. Turned -
They turn their faces towards their idols. |
| 28 |
For - Thou hast enough of them, imitating the Heathens, who had, according to Varro,
above thirty thousand deities. Make trial if any, or all of them together, can help thee. |
| 30 |
Children - Your inhabitants in every city, they being frequently called the children
of such a city. Correction - Instruction: though they were corrected, yet they would not
be instructed. Your sword - You have been so far from receiving instruction, that you
have, by the sword, and other ways of destruction, murdered those that I have sent to
reprove you. |
| 31 |
O generation - O ye men of this generation. See - You shall see the thing with your
eyes, because your ears are shut against it. A wilderness - Have I been like the
wilderness of Arabia, have not I accommodated you with all necessaries? A land of darkness
- As it were a land uninhabitable, because of the total want of light. Have I been a God
of no use or comfort to them, that they thus leave me? Have they had nothing from me but
misery and affliction? We - Words of pride and boasting. |
| 32 |
A maid - How unlikely is it, that a maid should forget her ornaments? A bride - Those
jewels which the bridegroom was wont to present his bride with. Forgotten - In the neglect
of my worship; me, who was not only their defence, but their glory. |
| 33 |
Trimmest - Or, deckest, Ezek 23:40, thinking thereby to entice others to
thy help. Taught - Nations that have been vile enough of themselves, by thy example are
become more vile. |
| 34 |
Skirts - Of thy garments: the tokens of cruelty may be seen openly there. Innocents -
In thee is found the murder expressed here by blood of innocent persons, murdering souls
as well as bodies. Search - Heb. by digging; as if the earth had covered the blood, or as
if they had committed their wickedness in some obscure places. These - Upon thy garments,
exposed openly to publick view. |
| 35 |
Behold - I will proceed in my judgment against thee. Because - Because thou justifiest
thyself. |
| 36 |
Why - Why dost thou seek auxiliaries anywhere, rather than cleave to me? Ashamed -
Egypt shall stand thee in no more stead than Assyria hath done. |
| 37 |
Yea - All the help thou canst procure shall not prevent thy captivity, but from hence
thou shalt go. Thy hands - An usual posture of mourning. |
Chapter III
God's forbearance with the idolatry of Judah, who is worse than Israel, ver. 1 -
11. Both called to repent, with gospel promises, ver. 12 - 19. Misery by sin; salvation
only of God, ver. 20 - 25.
| 1 |
Shall be - He cannot take her again according to the law, Deut 24:1 - 4.
Yet I am ready to be reconciled to you. Polluted - Would not so great a sin greatly
pollute a nation? Many - Not with one only, but many idols. |
| 2 |
Lien with - Where there are not the footsteps of thy idolaters. Sat - To assure
passengers. As the Arabian - An allusion to the custom of that people, who were wont to
pitch their tents by the way - sides, that they might meet with their customers to trade,
as they passed along. Wickedness - Not only thy idolatries, but other wicked courses. |
| 3 |
A whore's forehead - For all this, thou didst still remain obstinate, as ashamed of
nothing. |
| 4 |
My father - Wilt thou not as a child call upon me, whom thou hast thus greatly
provoked. The guide - I have been brought up by thee. |
| 5 |
Will he - Will he not be reconciled? |
| 6 |
Israel - The ten tribes who fell off from Judah. |
| 8 |
Given a bill - Delivered her up into the hands of the Assyrian, where God took from
her the title of being his church, 2Kings 17:5,6. |
| 10 |
And yet - Though God saw what she did, and though she saw the shameful idolatry of
Israel, and what she had suffered. |
| 12 |
The north - To Assyria and Media, that lay northward from Judea, whither the ten
tribes were carried by Tiglath - pileser, and Salmanezer. |
| 13 |
Strangers - To other gods, or to idols, running here and there up and down. |
| 14 |
I am married - I am in covenant with you, and this covenant notwithstanding all your
unfaithfulness, I am ready to renew with you. Family - This word is taken frequently for a
country or nation, and this may partly respect the fewness of those that will return. But
chiefly it respects God's exact care of them, that being now married to them, there shall
not be one in a city, or two in a country or tribe, but he will find them out. Zion - The
ten tribes did never return into their own land, therefore this must be understood of a
spiritual going up to Zion, when all Israel shall be saved, Rom 11:26. |
| 16 |
Multiplied - After the growth of the church under the Messiah. The ark - That whole
worship with all the rites and ceremonies belonging to it shall cease, Christ being come,
who was the substance of what the ark, and all other rites shadowed. Covenant - Called
also the ark of the testimony, because the two tables of the law, which were the
testimony, or witness of the covenant were in it. Any more - It shall be no more in use;
neither shall men trouble their thoughts about it, or mention it. |
| 17 |
The throne - Instead of the ark, the church typified by Jerusalem, shall be the place
of God's residence, where by his spirit he will rule and act in his word and ordinances.
Jerusalem - Dwelling in Jerusalem, or where the Lord placed his name, of old in Jerusalem,
but now in the church. Neither - Both Jews and Gentiles shall now conform themselves to
the will of God. |
| 18 |
Judah - The two kingdoms shall become one. Shall come - Of their captivity, a promise
of their enjoying again their ancient possession at their last conversion. |
| 19 |
Put - Esteem thee as my child, 'till thou give some proof, of thy repentance. Give
thee - How shall I put thee into possession of that pleasant land. Of nations - Great
hosts and multitudes of nations, or Gentiles, that shall be joined to them in the gospel
church. Thou shalt - On this condition, that thou wilt own me, and not return any more to
idols. |
| 21 |
A voice - Here the prophet seems to express Israel's repentance. Forgotten - This
expresses, rather the matter or their prayer, than the cause of it. |
| 23 |
The hills - From idols which were worshipped upon hills. Mountains - The multitude of
sacrifices, which they offer in the mountains. |
| 24 |
Shame - Sin, which causes shame, for that brought shame first into the world. Devoured
- This hath been the fruit of our labour. |
| 25 |
Lie down - An expression to set forth the greatness of their repentance and sorrow in
great perplexity, not knowing what to do, throws himself down upon his couch or bed. |
Chapter IV
An invitation to true repentance, by promises, ver. 1 - 4. And judgments coming on
them by the Babylonians, contrary to the predictions of their false prophets, for their
sins, ver. 5 - 18. A grievous lamentation for the miseries of Judah, ver. 19 - 31.
| 1 |
If - If thou wilt return, return; make no longer delay. Remove - Thou shalt not go out
of thine own land into exile. |
| 2 |
Swear - This is put here for the whole worship of God, acknowledging an& owning
God as the only God; which is strongly exprest by this act. In truth - That the matter and
substance of it be true. In judgment - Deliberately, advisedly, and reverently. In
righteousness - That none be injured by it, that the things we engage be both lawful and
possible, and that we look to the performance. The nations - This shall be a means to work
upon the Heathen nations, to come into the same way of worship. They shall think
themselves happy to be incorporated with thee, that it may be with them according to that
promise, Gen 12:3. Glory - Whereas before they gloried in their idols, they
shall glory in God alone. |
| 3 |
For - The Lord turns now his speech from Israel to Judah. Break up - Prepare your
hearts by making them soft, tender, and pliable, fit to embrace my word. A metaphor taken
from plow - men. Thorns - Rid your hearts and hands of what may hinder you of embracing my
word. |
| 4 |
Circumcise - Put away your corruptions. Heart - Let it be inward, not outward in the
flesh only. |
| 5 |
The trumpet - The Lord being now about to bring enemies upon them, speaks in martial
language, warning them of the nature of their approaching judgment. |
| 6 |
Retire - Make haste away. |
| 7 |
The lion - Nebuchadnezzar, so called from his fierceness and strength. |
| 9 |
The heart - They shall have no heart to do any thing, they shall not be able to help
their people, either by their counsel or arms. Prophets - False prophets that had nothing
but visions of peace for them. |
| 10 |
Deceived - Hast suffered them to be deceived by their false prophets. Whereas - To
persuade them it should be well with them, when the sword is at the door, not only ready
to take away the comforts of life, but even life itself. |
| 11 |
At that time - There shall be tidings brought both to the country and city. A dry wind
- A drying wind, such as shall blast and scorch where it comes, without any rain or
moisture. It points at the stormy and furious irruption of the Babylonian army. In the
plain - Where there is no stop in the way to break its fury. Toward - Directly, and
designedly, coming in the way leading to my people. Not - Not such a gentle wind, as is
made choice of to separate the chaff from the wheat; but so boisterous and violent, that
it shall sweep away, and lay waste, all together. |
| 12 |
Full - Heb. Fuller than they. A wind too strong for them. Shall come - It shall
presently come to me, to receive my commission, and do my will. |
| 13 |
As clouds - Denoting the suddenness of them, when not expected, clouds often rising on
a sudden, and overspread the whole face of the heavens; or the great swiftness with which
Nebuchadnezzar should march against them. As a whirlwind - Which, besides the swiftness,
denotes also the confusion and amazement that they will cause. |
| 14 |
Wash - As a means to prevent the judgments that are impending. Vain thoughts - Vain
fancies of safety. |
| 15 |
From Dan - Dan was the first place the Chaldeans came to, being the utmost boundary of
Canaan northward. Ephraim was the innermost border of Israel in the north of Judea,
intimating the march of the Babylonians thro' all Israel. |
| 16 |
Make mention - These words are a proclamation, summoning the nations by the Chaldeans.
Watchers - Chaldean soldiers, who shall so carefully encompass Jerusalem, that none shall
escape. Give out - They give a shout, encouraging the soldiers to battle. |
| 17 |
As keepers - They will watch that none relieve them, and that none get out to escape. |
| 18 |
Bitter - Thy wickedness hath been the cause of bringing such a bitter enemy against
thee, which hath reached unto thy very heart. |
| 19 |
My bowels - Here begins the complaint of the prophet. My heart - Is disturbed within
me. Because - I have heard in the spirit of prophecy; it is as certain, as if I now heard
the trumpet sounding. |
| 20 |
Destruction - Good Josiah slain, and four of his successors carried away, or slain. My
tents - The enemy makes no more of overthrowing my stately cities, than if he were
overturning tents made of curtains. |
| 23 |
I beheld - I Jeremiah saw this in a vision. It - The land was squalid, and ruined,
like the first chaos, for which reason possibly he calls Judah the earth, in allusion to Gen
1:2. The heavens - He seems to proceed in his metaphor of the chaos. Every thing
above and below seemed to be wrapped up in dismal blackness. |
| 24 |
Trembled - He proceeds in his figurative expressions. Behold how the very mountains of
Judea tremble! Moved - As easily as dust, or feathers in a whirl - wind. |
| 25 |
No man - All being either slain, or carried captive, or fled. |
| 27 |
Yet - In the midst of judgment he will remember mercy. |
| 28 |
Mourn - Expressions to set forth the dreadfulness of the judgment; he makes the
elements to personate mourners. |
| 31 |
In travail - When the scripture would express any exquisite sorrow, it doth it by a
woman in travail. First child - Which is usually the most painful. Spreadeth her hands -
According to the use of persons in great anguish, clapping or wringing their hands
together. |
Chapter V
None godly in Judah, ver. 1. They swear falsely, tho' God be a God us truth; they
are incorrigible and senseless, and know not the law, or else wilfully violate it, ver. 1
- 6. Their idolatry, adultery, ver. 7 - 9. Contempt of God's word and prophets, which
should be sadly verified, ver, 10 - 18. They forsake, forget, and fear not God, whose
power is so great, ver. 19 - 24. They are rich through deceit and violence; their false
prophets, ver. 25 - 31.
| 1 |
Run - God gives leave to all the earth to look into the state of Jerusalem, by which
he vindicates himself in the face of the whole world from all severity towards his people,
whatever he brings upon them. In the broad places - Even there, where men meet from all
quarters. A man - It seems worse than Sodom and Gomorrah, for God condescends to pardon
Jerusalem, if there be but one righteous man found in it; there he came no lower than ten.
A man might walk the streets of Jerusalem long enough before he could meet with any one
truly religious. Executeth - Among the magistracy. Seeketh - Among the commonalty, that
deal faithfully and uprightly. |
| 2 |
Though - Though when they swear, they use the form of an oath, and say, the Lord
liveth, or by the living God: yet it is neither in truth nor righteousness. |
| 3 |
O Lord - Dost not thou approve truth and faithfulness. Grieved - They have not
repented. Consumed - God had not only lightly chastised them, but wasted them by several
enemies, yet they have profited nothing by it. |
| 4 |
Poor - The vulgar, that understand but little, of less conscience than the better
sort. Judgment - The methods or ways of his providence. |
| 5 |
But - These are more refractory than the other; no law of God is able to hold them. |
| 6 |
A lion - Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean army are here pointed at under the metaphor
of beasts of prey of three kinds; compared to a lion, which denotes his great power,
courage, and pride. A wolf - For their greediness and unsatiableness. A leopard - The
Chaldean army is compared to a leopard, not for its speed only, but for its vigilancy and
subtilty. |
| 7 |
They then - Such is the natural effect of unsanctified prosperity. |
| 10 |
Ye - Ye Babylonians, go execute my vengeance on them. Battlements - Lay her and all
her fortifications level with the ground. For - I disown them. |
| 12 |
Belied - Not believing that these words of the prophet were God's word. |
| 13 |
Became wind - A proverbial expression, all the prophet's threats shall come to
nothing. The word - The prophet's words are not from God. Thus - It shall fall upon their
own heads that have thus threatened us. |
| 14 |
It - The Chaldean army, shall consume and eat them up like fire. |
| 15 |
Israel - By these are meant Judah; for Israel were in captivity before: called the
house of Israel, not only because they descended from Jacob, but because they were the
chief of that stock. |
| 18 |
Nevertheless - I have not done with you yet. |
| 20 |
Judah - By Judah and Jacob we are to understand the two tribes only. |
| 21 |
And hear not - They are wilfully blind, and obstinately deaf, will neither see, nor
hear the word, will, or works of God, of which he giveth two instances in the two
following verses. |
| 22 |
The sand - That need not make rocks for walls unto it, but can give a check to it by
so small a matter as the sand. |
| 23 |
Gone - From me. |
| 24 |
The former rain - The former to prepare the ground for sowing, and the latter to
prepare the corn for ripening. Reserveth - He gives seasonable harvests according to his
appointment. God would let them know what a foolish, as well as wicked thing it is to set
themselves against that God, that keeps the whole order of nature at his own disposal,
which he can order as he sees men behave towards him. |
| 26 |
They catch - Such a trap did Jezebel lay for Naboth, 1Kings 21:9,10. Such
an one was that conspiracy of more than forty men against Paul, Acts 23:13 -
15. |
| 27 |
Their houses - They fill their houses with the goods of those they deceive, and over -
reach. |
| 28 |
Overpass - They go beyond the Heathens themselves in wickedness. |
| 30 |
The land - Heb. This land: aggravating the greatness of the wonder, that such a thing
should be in such a land. |
Chapter VI
God sends and strengthens the Babylonians against Judah, ver. 1 - 5. for her
oppression and spoils, ver. 6 - 8. and obstinacy; which provokes God's wrath, ver. 9 - 12.
Their covetousness, false confidence, and impudence; people and priests refuse to obey
God, ver. 13 - 17. Their hypocritical worship shall not prevent their sure destruction,
ver. 18 - 25. The people called to mourn, ver. 26. The prophet encouraged under their
wickedness, and the fruitlessness of his ministry among them, ver. 27 - 30.
| 1 |
Benjamin - Judah, when the ten tribes fell off, the tribe of Benjamin adhered to
Judah, and was incorporated into them; if it be asked why the prophet rather speaks to
Benjamin than to Judah, the reason probably may be, because he being of Anathoth was of
that tribe, and therefore mentions them as his own countrymen. Gather - Gather yourselves
together by the sound of the trumpet at Tekoa, one of those fenced cities twelve miles
from Jerusalem that Rehoboam built. A sign - Fire a beacon. Beth - haccerem - Signifies
the house of the vineyard, probably some high tower built among the vineyards for the
keepers of them to watch them. |
| 3 |
The shepherds - The Chaldean princes, with their armies, as so many flocks, shall come
into this pleasant land. In his place - Each one in his quarter or station. |
| 4 |
Prepare - These seem to be the words of God calling them to this work. Arise - This
shews how ready they will be to obey God's call. The day goeth - We delay, and tarry too
long, and the day spends apace. The shadows - They were so eagerly set upon it, that they
watched the lengthening of the shadow, which shews the approach of the evening. |
| 5 |
This night - They would lose neither day nor night; which shews that, they were
extraordinarily stirred up by God in this expedition. |
| 6 |
Said - To the Chaldeans: God would have the Jews to know, that they have not so much
to do with the Chaldeans as with him; that they are his rod to scourge them for their
sins. And thus God is said to hiss for such whom he will employ in such work, Isa
5:26 7:18. And he styles himself the Lord of hosts, to shew that it is in vain to
contend in battle with them, whom he sends forth. Trees - Such as you may have need of to
raise up works against the strong places. Cast a mount - Throw up one continued trench, as
a mount round about it. Oppression - There are found in her all kinds of oppression and
injustice. |
| 8 |
Be thou instructed - I would yet willingly spare them if it might be. Depart - Heb. be
disjointed, a most emphatical metaphor, whereby God would express how great grief it is to
him to withdraw himself from them, even like the separating one limb from another. |
| 9 |
Glean - Judah shalt be gleaned over and over, 'till there be a full end, none left.
Turn back - As much as to say, they should not be content with one spoiling, but they
should go back a second and a third time, to carry away both persons and spoil. |
| 10 |
Their ear - An uncircumcised ear, signifies the rejecting of instruction; an
uncircumcised heart, an obstinate and rebellious will. They cannot - They had brought
themselves under that incapacity by their obstinacy and wilfulness. A reproach - They
laugh at it, and scorn it. |
| 11 |
I am full - I am, as it were, filled with the fire of God's wrath, which I am forced
to discharge myself of. Abroad - The streets being the places where children are wont to
sport. The husband - One sex as well as the other, shall be a prey to the enemy. Full of
days - Such as had filled up the number of their days, as were at the edge of the grave. |
| 13 |
Falsely - Heb. doing falsehood, as if that were their whole work, the proper sin of
the priests and prophets, to deceive the people, and to flatter them by false visions. |
| 14 |
They have - This refers peculiarly to the prophets; making light of these
threatenings, daubing over the misery and danger that was coming on the people, by
persuading them, that it should not come, or if it did, it would be easily cured. |
| 15 |
Committed - Both by encouraging the people, and joining with them in their idolatries.
|
| 16 |
Stand - He now turns his speech to the people, and gives them counsel; by a metaphor
taken from travellers, that being in doubt of their way, stand still, and consider,
whether the direction they have received from some false guide, be right or not. |
| 17 |
Trumpet - The voice of his prophet, intimating his loud crying upon the account of
eminent danger. |
| 18 |
Nations - He calls upon the nations round about to be spectators of his severity
against Judah. What - The greatness of their punishment, as the effect of the greatness of
their sins. |
| 20 |
Sheba - A country in Arabia Faelix, to which country frankincense was peculiar. The
sweet cane - The same that is mentioned as an ingredient in the holy oil, Exod 30:23.
To what purpose art thou at this trouble and charge to fetch these ingredients for thy
incense. |
| 21 |
I will say - I will suffer such things to be laid in their way, as shall be the
occasion of their destruction. The neighbour - Men of all sorts and conditions. |
| 22 |
Behold - God shall stir up the Chaldeans like a great storm. The sides - The uttermost
parts of the Babylonian territories. |
| 24 |
We - The prophet personates the peoples affections. |
| 25 |
Go not forth - Expressing the great danger that there would be everywhere. |
| 26 |
Gird thee - The prophet calls upon them to mourn in the deepest manner. |
| 27 |
I have set thee - Here God speaks by way of encouragement to the prophet, and tells
him, he had made him a fortified tower, that he might be safe, notwithstanding all the
attempts against him. And try - As refiners do metals; hereby be is encouraged to reprove
them more freely, God will give him prudence to see what is amiss, and undauntedness to
oppose it. |
| 29 |
The bellows - The prophet prosecutes his metaphor taken from refining of metals,
intimating, that the prophets had spent their breath to no purpose, and their strength was
consumed by their labour. The lead - The judgments which were heavy, as lead upon them,
are all wasted, and do no good. In vain - Let the artist use his greatest skill and
industry, yet is it all in vain. |
| 30 |
Refuse - Such as will be rejected in payments. |
Chapter VII
A call to true repentance, ver. 1 - 7. Not to live in theft, murder, adultery,
perjury, &c., to trust in the outward worship and temple of God, by the example of
Shiloh, ver. 8 - 15. The prophet is forbid to pray for them, ver. 16. Their idolatry, and
its judgment, ver. 17 - 20. Their sacrifices rejected, and obedience required, ver. 21 -
28. They are called to mourn for their abominations in Tophet, and their judgments, ver.
29 - 34.
| 2 |
The gate - The east gate, which was the publick place of going out and coming in, and
where the people were then wont to assemble. Proclaim - Proclaiming signifies both the
authority by which he spake, and the divulging of what he spake plainly and boldly;
possibly, it might be at some publick time, when all the males were to meet. |
| 4 |
Saying - Because this was God's house, they flattered themselves that he would not
suffer the Chaldeans to destroy it, therefore the prophet cautions them not to deceive
themselves, trusting to the temple and its buildings, as the two courts and house, and
holy of holies implied in the word these, which he doth as it were point to with his
finger. The emphasis, in this threefold repetition, seems to relate to the confident, and
reiterated boasts of the temple, that were in their mouths. These - The prophet standing
in the gate at which the people entered, as it were, points at the several buildings
pertaining to the temple. |
| 6 |
Oppress not - Here they are cautioned against three sins, that this people were
generally addicted to, oppression, blood, and idolatry; and instances in the worst of
oppressions, of such as God hath more especially taken into his immediate protection. |
| 9 |
Will ye steal - Can you think that this can be grateful to me, or advantageous to
yourselves, to frequent my house, and yet retain these odious sins. Whom - Such as they
had set up new, and never had any experience of, and therefore could have no reason to
serve them. |
| 10 |
Delivered - After they had appeared before God with their sacrifices, they thought
they were privileged to return to all those wickednesses. |
| 11 |
A den - Do you look upon this house as a sanctuary for robbers and murderers. |
| 12 |
Shiloh - A place in the tribe of Ephraim. Where - Where I did at first give you the
pledges of my presence. What I did - He utterly forsook it. |
| 15 |
Even - The ten tribes. |
| 16 |
Pray not - Certainly the prophet did pray that God would save a remnant, though not
that he would revoke his decree; or save the body of them. |
| 18 |
The children - Here God shews how busily they are employed from the youngest to the
oldest for their idolatry. The queen - As the sun was looked upon as king, so the moon as
the queen of heaven. |
| 20 |
Shall not be quenched - He follows the threatening with shewing his resolution is not
to be revoked. |
| 21 |
Put - Ironical words, take those that are peculiar, and to be all burnt to me, and do
what you will with them, I will have none of them. To your sacrifices - That part of your
sacrifices, which you are allowed to eat, they are but as profane food. |
| 22 |
For - God doth not condemn these offerings, save only comparatively in respect of
obedience, not so much these, as obeying his commands. |
| 25 |
Since the day - The church of God hath never wanted teachers raised up and sent by
God. |
| 28 |
Cut off - There is no believing them in any thing they say. |
| 29 |
Cut off thine hair - This was an usual token of sorrow among the Jews. On high places
- Upon the high places where thou wentest a whoring from me. The generation - A generation
destined to the wrath of God. |
| 30 |
In the house - It was not enough to have their idols abroad in the hills and groves,
but they must bring them into God's house. |
| 31 |
Tophet - It comes from Toph, a drum, because they beat drums to drown the children's
screeches, when they burnt them in sacrifice upon the altars, called here high places, to
Moloch. Tophet was situate in a pleasant valley near Jerusalem, a place in the possession
of the children of one Hinnom, Josh 15:8. |
Chapter VIII
The calamity of the Jews, both dead and alive, ver. 1 - 3. Their brutish
impenitency, ver. 4 - 7. Their vain boast of wisdom: their covetousness, security,
impudence, ver. 8 - 12. Their grievous judgments, ver. 13 - 17. Bewailed by the prophet,
ver. 18 - 22.
| 1 |
The bones - This denotes the utter desolation of the city, not only rasing the walls,
but turning up the very sepulchres which were accounted sacred, and not to be violated. |
| 4 |
Not arise - Will they never think of rising again? Not return - Will he wander for
ever? |
| 5 |
Deceit - Their false prophets, encouraging themselves in their wickedness, and
pleasing themselves, that their miseries should not come upon them. |
| 6 |
I - God. |
| 7 |
Appointed time - The seasons of her going and coming. The judgment - God's vengeance,
hovering over Jerusalem, and Judea. |
| 8 |
How - These things considered where is your wisdom? He speaks to the whole body of the
people. The Lord - This may have a more special eye to the priests. In vain - For any use
they made of it; neither need it ever have been copied out by the scribe. A scribe was a
teacher, one well versed in the scripture, or esteemed to be so. |
| 13 |
Pass away - Shall be taken away by their enemies. |
| 14 |
Why - The people at length seem to bethink themselves, and thus to bespeak each other.
Silent - Keep close within our walls. |
| 16 |
The snorting - The fury of the Chaldeans march is described by the snorting of their
horses, which is a noise they make through their nostrils. Heard - Even to Jerusalem. Have
devoured - It is spoken in a prophetical style, who use to express the certainty of what
shall be, as if it actually were already. |
| 17 |
Shall bite - There will be no appeasing their fury by any method. |
| 18 |
Sorrow - The prophet now seems to speak, how greatly the calamity of this people
affected him. |
| 19 |
Why - As if God should seem to reply; let them not think it strange, seeing they have
turned their backs upon me, and trusted to idols. |
| 21 |
Am I hurt - The prophet here shews how deeply he is affected with the peoples misery.
Black - I am as those that are clad in deep mourning. |
Chapter IX
The prophet's lamentation continues over their adultery, deceit, idolatry, which
God would certainly punish, and they should be laid waste, when they should sufficiently
lament, ver. 1 - 22. No trust in ourselves, but in God, who will punish all nations, ver.
23 - 26.
| 2 |
A lodging place - Some retiring place, though it were but some mean hut in the
wilderness. |
| 5 |
Weary - They use industry, and contrivance in it, they spare no labour. |
| 7 |
Try them - By melting them, I will bring upon them, the fire of the Chaldean war, that
shall purge away those deceits in which they trust, that the remnant may be purified. For
how - I have tried all other means. |
| 10 |
Wailing - The prophet having taken up a lamentation for the slaughter of the people,
now re - assumes it for the desolation of the whole land. The mountains shall not be able
to secure them, nor the valleys to feed them. |
| 12 |
Who is - Is there not a wise man among you, that will search into the cause of all
these threatened judgments. |
| 16 |
A sword - But I will follow them with the sword, 'till they be destroyed, such of them
as were appointed for destruction; for otherwise, they were not all consumed, a full end
was not to be made. |
| 17 |
Women - Who were hired to tear their hair, and beat their breasts, with other mourning
postures, a foolish custom which has obtained in most ages and countries. Cunning - Such
as are most skilful in it. |
| 20 |
Every one - It denotes how large and universal the mourning shall be. |
| 21 |
Death - The unavoidableness of the ruin is expressed metaphorically, alluding to the
storming of a city, wherein there is no respect had to sex, youth, or age. |
| 22 |
As the handful - They shall be no more regarded than a few scattered ears that drop
out of the reapers hand, which either lie on the ground and are eaten by birds, or trod to
dirt by beasts. None - None shall have so much respect to them, as to afford burial. |
| 24 |
Knoweth - Whether we make any curious distinction between understanding God, as if
that be more speculative, whereby we rightly apprehend his nature; and knowing God, as if
that be more practical, as directing the conversation, we need not here enquire; yet
certainly both center in this, that we so know and understand God as to trust in him, and
depend on him alone in all conditions. Exercise - Kindness, as it relates to his own
people; judgment, in punishing the wicked; righteousness, as he deals justly and uprightly
with both. |
Chapter X
They are forbid to be afraid of the tokens of heaven, and consult idols which are
vain, ver. 1 - 5 and not to be compared with the majesty and power of God, who is Jacob's
portion, ver. 6 - 16. The Babylonians destroy the temple; the brutish pastors and the
flocks are scattered, ver. 17 - 22. The prophet's humble supplication, ver. 23 - 25.
| 2 |
Learn not - The Jews being to live among the Chaldeans in their captivity, where many
of them were already, the prophet admonishes them against the Chaldean idolatries, who
were all much addicted to astrology. The signs - This was so common among them, that
Judicial astrologers, of what nation soever, were generally termed Chaldeans. The Heathen
- Leave this to Heathens; it doth not become God's people. |
| 9 |
Tarshish - Is the proper name of a sea - town in Cilicia, and being a noted port, it
is usually put for the ocean, and may signify any place beyond the sea. Uphaz - Probably
the best gold came from thence as the best silver from Tarshish. |
| 10 |
But - All these are but false gods. Living - These are all but dead stocks and stones,
Jehovah is the only living God, having life in himself, and giving life to all things
else. An everlasting king - Time devours them all, but the true God is everlasting. |
| 13 |
When - As in the former verse he relates God's unspeakable power and wisdom in his
creating and fixing the stated order of things, so here he farther sets it forth in his
providential ordering and disposing of them. |
| 14 |
Every man - Every idolator. |
| 15 |
Visitation - When God shall come to reckon with Babylon and her idols. |
| 16 |
Portion - God, who vouchsafes to be the portion of his people. The former - Idols are
things framed or formed, but God is the former of all things. The rod of his inheritance -
So called, because the inheritances of Israel were measured by a line, reed, or rod. |
| 17 |
Gather up - The prophet now enters upon another subject. Thy wares - Every thing thou
hast any advantage by, all thy merchandise, as men use to do in case of invasion by an
enemy. The fortress - The inhabitants of Jerusalem, the chief place of security in Judea. |
| 18 |
Sing out - It denotes with how much violence and ease the Chaldeans shall hurry away
the people into Babylon. And therefore it is said at this once, I will make one thorough
quick work of it. May find it so - Though they would never believe it, yet they shall
actually find the truth of my threatenings. |
| 19 |
Woe is me - Here the prophet personates the complaint of the people of the land. |
| 20 |
My tabernacle - He describes the overthrow of the land, or Jerusalem, by the breaking
of the cords of a tabernacle, the use whereof is to fasten it on every side to stakes in
the ground, which cords being broken the tabernacle falls. |
| 21 |
The pastors - The rulers of church and state. |
| 22 |
Noise - Rumour, report. |
| 23 |
It is not - Lord we know it is not in our power to divert these judgments that are
coming upon us, but thou canst moderate, and limit them as thou pleasest. |
| 24 |
Correct me - Seeing thou wilt punish us, let it be a correction only, not a
destruction. Let it be in measure; in the midst of judgment remember mercy. Anger - Lest
if thou shouldst let out thy fury upon me, thou wouldst utterly consume me. |
| 25 |
The Heathen - Such as do not acknowledge thee for their God. Call not - One part of
worship put for the whole. If thou wilt pour out thy fury, let the effects of it be to
thine enemies, not unto thine own people. |
Chapter XI
God's covenant, ver. 1 - 7. Their disobedience, ver. 8 - 10. Evils to come on them,
ver. 11 - 17. and on the men of Anathoth, for conspiring to kill Jeremiah, ver. 18 - 23.
| 2 |
Of this covenant - The covenant here spoken of, was the covenant of the law of God,
delivered by Moses, to which the people more than once promised obedience. |
| 5 |
So be it - God having ended his speech, the prophet saith, Amen, either asserting the
truth of which God had said, or wishing that the people would do according to their
covenant. |
| 8 |
Did them not - For this God threatens to bring upon them all his words of threatening,
annexed to the covenant of the law. |
| 9 |
A conspiracy - All sorts of people have done alike, as if they had conspired together
to break my law. |
| 11 |
I will not hearken - God will not hear them crying to him in their adversity, who
refuse to hear him speaking to them in their prosperity. |
| 13 |
That shameful thing - Baal, called a shameful thing, because it was what they had
reason to be ashamed of, and what would certainly bring them to shame and confusion. Baal
- Signifies Lord, and was a common name given to more idols than one; the Phoenicians used
the name Baal, the Chaldeans, Bell. Learned men say, that the Asians called the same idol
Baal, whom those of Europe called Jupiter. It is not improbable, that the Heathens
acknowledging one supreme being, worshipped him in several creatures; some mistaking the
Sun, Moon, and Stars to be he, others, other things; these they called Baalim, Lords, as
they called the principal god, Baal. |
| 15 |
My beloved - My people, saith God, though I was formerly their husband, yet have
wrought lewdness with many, that is, committed idolatry with many idols, and now what have
they to do more in my house? The holy flesh - Flesh of their sacrifices, being set before
idols, as well as before God, became polluted, and was abomination to the Lord. Thou
rejoicest - They were not only evil but gloried in their wickedness. |
| 16 |
Fair - The Lord fixed thee when he brought thee first into Canaan, in a flourishing
condition, like a fair olive - tree, fit to bear goodly fruit. Broken - But thou hast so
behaved thyself, that he who planted thee, is about to pluck thee up. God is about to
kindle a fire which will burn thee up, and to break thy branches. |
| 18 |
Thou shewedst me - This may be understood with relation to that conspiracy which is
mentioned in the following verses. |
| 19 |
Let us destroy - We have no other mention of this conspiracy, but it is plain both
from this verse, and what follows, that the men of Anathoth (which was Jeremiah's own
town) were offended at his prophesying, and had conspired to kill him. Let us destroy the
tree with the fruit thereof - Let us not only put an end to his prophesying, but to his
life. |
Chapter XII
The prophet complains of the prosperity of the wicked: by faith sees their ruin,
ver. 1 - 4. God admonishes him of his brethren's treachery against him, and laments his
heritage, ver. 5 - 13. A return from captivity promised to the penitent, ver. 14 - 17.
| 1 |
Talk with thee - Not by way of accusing thee, but for my own satisfaction concerning
thy judicial dispensations in the government of the world. Wherefore - I know thy ways are
just and righteous, but they are dark; I cannot understand why thou doest this. |
| 2 |
Far - Thou art far from their inward parts, they neither fear thee, nor love thee. |
| 4 |
He - They were bold to say, neither the prophet nor any other should see their last
end. |
| 5 |
If - If thou art not able to encounter lesser dangers, how wilt thou be able to
overcome greater? I have greater dangers for thee to encounter than those at Anathoth; if
thou art so disturbed with them, how wilt thou be able to grapple with those at Jerusalem.
Jordan - Anathoth seems to be understood by the land of thy peace, that is, the land of
thy friends wherein thou hadst a confidence: if thy enemies there tire thee, what wilt
thou do in the swellings of Jordan? In a place in which thou art like to meet with greater
troubles, like the swelling of Jordan (which in harvest used to overflow its banks). |
| 6 |
For even - The men of Anathoth, thine own town and country, and those of thy own
family have conspired evil against thee secretly. A multitude - They have exposed thee to
the rage of a multitude. Though - Tho' therefore they give thee fair words, yet repose no
confidence in them. |
| 7 |
My house - God by his house here understands the temple. Heritage - The whole body of
the Israelites, whom God threatens to leave with respect to his special providence. |
| 8 |
As a lion - Those that were my sheep, are become like lions. |
| 9 |
The birds round about - It is usual for other birds to flock about a strange coloured
bird, such as they have not been used to see. |
| 10 |
A wilderness - They have caused God to turn the country which he had chosen for his
portion, into a wilderness. |
| 11 |
They - Heb. He hath made it desolate: but it cannot be meant of God, for it is God
that speaketh, and God is he mentioned in the next words; it must therefore either be
understood of Nebuchadnezzar, the instrumental cause; or (one number being put for
another) of the people or the rulers as the meritorious cause, and in that rueful state
into which their sins had brought it, it cried onto God. Because - And one great cause of
this sore judgment was, the peoples not seriously considering what God had done or was
doing against it. |
| 12 |
Are come - The prophet, as usual, speaks of a thing as already done, which was very
shortly to be done. No flesh - No rank or order of men. |
| 13 |
Shall not profit - All the works of their hands, all their counsels and deliberations
should be of no profit unto them. Because - The fierce anger of God shall be so shewed,
that the returns of their labours or estates, the profits of their trades, shall be so
small, that they shall be ashamed of them. |
| 14 |
Behold - I will bring the sword upon them also, and they shall be led into captivity;
and tho' they may have made inroads upon my people, and carried away some of them, yet I
will fetch them out of their captivity. |
| 16 |
If - If they will leave their idolatries, and learn to worship me, and swear by my
name the Lord liveth, that is, pay that homage which they owe to the Divine being to me,
the living and true God. Then - They shall have a portion among my people, which was
eminently fulfilled in the conversion of the Gentiles. |
Chapter XIII
In the type of a linen girdle God prefigures their destruction, ver. 1 - 11. Under
the parable of bottles filled with wine, is foretold their drunkenness with misery, ver.
12 - 14. He exhorts to prevent these judgments by repentance, ver. 15 - 27.
| 5 |
So - Most think Jeremiah did this in a vision, for it was a very long journey from
Anathoth to Euphrates. |
| 12 |
Do we not know - This is no strange thing. |
| 13 |
Behold - There is a wine of astonishment and confusion, Psa 60:3. With
that wine, saith God, I will fill all orders of persons, kings, priests, prophets, and all
the inhabitants of Jerusalem. |
| 16 |
Give glory - Glorify God, by an humble confession of your sins, by submitting
yourselves to God, humbling yourselves under his word, and under his mighty hand, before
God brings upon you, his great and heavy judgments. |
| 19 |
The cities - The cities of Judah lay southward from Chaldea. |
| 20 |
Where - The prophet speaks to the king, or to the rulers. In the multitude of the
people is the king's honour. |
| 21 |
What wilt thou say - Thou wilt have nothing to say, but be wholly confounded when God
shall visit thee with this sore judgment, for by thy so often calling them to thy
assistance, thou hast taught them to be captains over thee. |
| 22 |
Thy skirts - Probably these phrases are fetched from the usual practice of soldiers
when they have conquered a place and taken prisoners, to strip them. By skirts is meant
the lower part of their bodies covered with the lower part of their garments. |
| 26 |
Therefore - I will expose thee to shame and contempt. |
| 27 |
Thy whoredom - Thy idolatries. |
Chapter XIV
A grievous famine prophesied, its miseries, ver. 1 - 6. The prophet prays, but God
will not be entreated for them, ver. 7 - 12. Lying prophets no excuse for them, ver. 13 -
16. The prophet's complaint, ver. 17 - 22.
| 5 |
The hind - Hinds use not to get their food in fields, but upon mountains and in
wildernesses, but the drought was such, that these creatures came into the lower grounds,
and there brought forth their young. The hinds are loving creatures and as all creatures
love their young, so hinds especially; but their moisture being dried up, they could not
suckle them, but were forced to leave them, running about to seek grass to eat. |
| 6 |
The wild asses - The wild asses wanting water, got upon high places, where was the
coolest air, and sucked in the wind; and this it is said they did like dragons, of whom
Aristotle and Pliny report, that they ordinarily stand upon high places sucking in the
cool air. |
| 7 |
Testify - That thou art righteous in what thou hast done. Do thou it - Do thou what we
stand in need of; give us rain, though not for our sake, we deserve no such kindness from
thee, yet for thy names sake: thy promise, or for thine honour and glory. |
| 9 |
Astonished - In such disorder through some great passion, that he is able to do
nothing. A mighty man - Like a man who in his own nature is strong, but through sickness
so weakened, that he cannot put forth any strength for the succour of his friends. Yet -
Yet (saith the prophet) thou art in the midst of us; of the whole land, according to what
God had declared, Numb 5:3 35:34. Defile not the land which ye shall inhabit,
wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel. |
| 10 |
Thus - Here begins the answer to the prophet's complaint and prayer in the nine first
verses. The substance is, that for their manifold sins, he was resolved to punish them.
They loved - They have been fond of their idols, and they have persisted in those sinful
courses, notwithstanding all counsels. |
| 21 |
The throne - The words are either to be understood of the throne of the house of
David, called the Lord's throne, 1Chron 29:23, or else the temple, and the
ark in it, the more special symbol of God's presence. |
| 22 |
Rain - The present judgment under which they groan, was a drought, which he had
described in the six first verses; the prophet imploring God for the removal of it,
argues, from the impossibility of help in this case from any other way, none of the idols
of the Heathens, which he calls vain things, nothing in themselves, and of no use, or
profit to those that ran after them. Give showers - Without thy will? Art not - Lord, art
not thou he alone who is able to do it? The scripture constantly gives God the honour of
giving rain. |
Chapter XV
The Jews rejection, and judgments, especially of four kinds; the sins which
procured them, ver. 1 - 9. The prophet complains, that the people curse and persecute him
for these prophecies; they are threatened, and he instructed and comforted, ver. 10 - 21.
| 1 |
Cast them out - I am not able to abide the sight of them, therefore let them go forth.
|
| 4 |
Manasseh - Manasseh is here named as the son of Hezekiah for his shame, because of his
degeneracy from so good a parent; it is expressly said, 2Kings 23:26, that
not withstanding Josiah's reformation, yet the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his
wrath, kindled against Judah, for the provocations of Manasseh. |
| 6 |
I am weary - I am resolved to bear no longer. |
| 7 |
A fan - Not a purging fan by affliction, to separate their chaff and dross from them,
but a scattering fan. In the gates - This is added in pursuit of the metaphor of fanning,
men usually chusing barn - doors to fan at, that they may have the advantage of the wind. |
| 8 |
Their widows - The prophet still speaks of things to come as if present. In
Jehoiakim's time we read of no such plenty of widows; they were multiplied when the city
was besieged and taken in Zedekiah's time, to a great number, hyperbolically compared to
the sands of the sea. The mother - Jerusalem was the mother of the Jewish people, against
whom, Nebuchadnezzar the spoiler, at noon - day, was sent. |
| 9 |
Seven - Seven signifies many: the prophet complains, that the country of Judah, that
had been very numerous in people, now grew feeble. While - In the midst of her prosperity.
Confounded - A part of them were confounded by the judgments of God which came upon them
before their captivity. |
| 10 |
I have not - I have done them no wrong, yet they speak of me all manner of evil. |
| 11 |
Thy remnant - The latter words of the verse expound the former; for by remnant is
meant the remnant of days that Jeremiah had to live. |
| 12 |
The northern iron - As the northern iron and steel is the hardest, and no iron could
break that, so God having edged and hardened their enemies, the Chaldeans, all opposition
to them would signify nothing. |
| 13 |
The substance - All thy precious things shall be spoiled, there shall be no price
taken for the redemption of them. |
| 15 |
Thou knowest - My sincerity, or my sufferings. Visit me - With thy love. |
| 16 |
Thy words - The words which from time to time thou didst reveal to me, were by me
greedily digested. I am called - I became a prophet by thy authority, therefore, do thou
own and defend me. |
| 17 |
I sat not - God had all along filled his mouth with such dreadful messages, that his
whole prophetical life had been to him a time of mourning and solitude, a time when he sat
alone, mourning and weeping in secret for the wrath of God revealed to him against his
people. |
| 18 |
Why - Jeremiah, though a great prophet, was (as Elijah) a man subject to like passions
with other men. |
| 19 |
If thou - These are God's words to the prophet, rebuking his distrust in God, and
promising him, that if he did return from his distrust in God's providence, he would
restore him to the former favour he had with him, and he should be his prophet to reveal
his mind to the people; and that if he would separate the precious truths of God from the
vile conceits of men, then God would continue him as his prophet, to speak in his name to
the people. But - He charges the prophet to keep his ground, and not to go over to wicked
men. |
| 21 |
The wicked - The wicked Jews. The terrible - And the power of the terrible Chaldeans. |
Chapter XVI
The prophet is commanded to abstain from marriage, from mourning, or festival
assemblies; hereby representing to them their approaching misery, ver. 1 - 9. Their sins
which caused it, ver. 10 - 13. Their strange deliverance from Babylon, ver. 14, 15. After
that their iniquity is recompensed, ver. 16 - 18. The prophet's comfort in the calling of
the Gentiles, ver. 19 - 21
| 5 |
Enter not - Do not go to comfort such as mourn for any relations dead, (for their
feastings upon those occasions were upon a consolatory account) those that die are most
happy, for I will take away the peace of this people, and deprive them of all my mercy and
loving - kindness. |
| 6 |
Nor cut - Cutting themselves and cutting off their hair, were Pagan customs, which God
forbad his own people; but yet it seemed they practised them: but saith God, Men shall die
so fast that they shall have no leisure to cut themselves. |
| 7 |
Deal bread - It was a custom among them, when they had any friend, that had lost his
relations, to send them some meat (for among the Hebrews all things they ate were called
bread) and then to go and sup with them, and speak comfortably to them. The cup - They
were also wont to send wine, that they might forget their sorrows; this is called, The cup
of consolation. |
| 8 |
Go - God did not only forbid his prophet to go into houses of mourning, but forbad him
to go into houses, where they were wont to eat and drink upon a more chearful account. |
| 13 |
Ye shall serve - What is now matter of choice to you, shall then be forced upon you. |
| 14 |
Notwithstanding - God sweetens the dreadful threatenings preceding, with a comfortable
promise of their restoration. |
| 16 |
Fishers - Those enemies whom God made use of to destroy the Jews, hunting them out of
all holes and coverts wheresoever they should take sanctuary. |
| 18 |
I will recompense - Before I will restore them, I will plentifully punish them, (for
so double here signifies, not the double of what their sins deserve.) Defiled - By their
idolatry, blood and cruelty. Detestable - Unclean beasts offered to their idols, or
innocent persons slain by them. |
| 21 |
Therefore - Because all the mercy I have shewed them, will not learn them to know my
might, I will once for all make them to understand it, by the dreadful strokes of my
vengeance. And - They shall know that my name is Jehovah; that I am not such a one as
their idols, but one who have my being from myself, and give life and being to all other
things, and have all might and power in my hand, and can do whatsoever I please. |
Chapter XVII
The captivity of Judah for her sin, ver. 1 - 4. Trust in man cursed: in God,
blessed, ver. 5 - 8. The deceitful heart and most secret practices are known to God, ver.
9 - 11. The salvation of God, ver. 12 - 14. The prophet complains of the mockers of his
prophecies, ver. 15 - 18. Of keeping the sabbath, ver. 19 - 27.
| 1 |
Graven - Nor is it a thing done in secret, but it is engraven upon the horns of their
altars. God's altar was four - square, and at each corner there was a rising part made of
brass, these were called the horns of the altar. Now their sin is said to be engraven upon
the horns of the altar, because the blood of the sacrifices which they offered to idols
was sprinkled there, or because their altars had some inscription upon them, declaring to
what idol that altar was consecrated. |
| 2 |
Their children - This shewed how inveterate they were in this sin of idolatry, that
they taught it their children. |
| 3 |
My mountain - Jerusalem stood at the foot of an hill, and part of it on the side of
it, upon the top of which hills, were many pleasant fields. |
| 4 |
For ever - For a long time; so the word ever is often taken. |
| 9 |
The heart - There is nothing so false and deceitful as the heart of man; deceitful in
its apprehensions of things, in the hopes and promises which it nourishes, in the
assurances that it gives us; unsearchable by others, deceitful with reference to
ourselves, and abominably wicked, so that neither can a man know his own heart, nor can
any other know that of his neighbour's. |
| 11 |
Hatcheth them not - Having lost them, either by some man that has taken them from her,
or by some vermin or wild beast. A fool - Shall lose it again before he dies, and then
shall understand what a fool he was. |
| 13 |
Depart - From what I have revealed to them as thy will, shall have no portion beyond
the earth. |
| 14 |
For thou art - He whom alone I have reason to praise for mercies already received. |
| 15 |
Where - Daring the vengeance of God. |
| 16 |
I hastened not - As I did not seek the office of a prophet, so when thou wast pleased
to call me to it, I did not decline. |
Chapter XVIII
By the parable of a potter, God's absolute power and disposal of nations is set
forth, ver. 1 - 10. Judah's unparalleled revolt: and her judgments, ver. 11 - 17. The
prophet prays against his conspirators, ver. 18 - 23.
| 6 |
Cannot I do - That God hath an absolute sovereign power to do what he pleases with the
work of his hands: but he acts as a just judge, rendering to every man according to his
works. |
| 14 |
Of Lebanon - Lebanon had rocks, and also fruitful valleys; snow fell upon these rocks,
and upon a thaw ran down into the lower places. Reason teaches men not to forsake a
greater good for a less, tho' that greater good was but a poor creature comfort, not to be
compared with God. |
| 15 |
Vanity - Idols. Ancient paths - The ways wherein Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and
all the ancient patriarchs walked. To walk - In a way not cast up, not fit for God's
people to walk in. |
| 16 |
Desolate - Not that this was the end they aimed at, but it was the end these courses
would certainly issue in. |
| 17 |
East wind - The east wind was in those parts the fiercest wind. As the east - wind
scatters the chaff, so saith God, I will scatter them. In their calamity - And when they
shall be in great calamity, I will turn my back upon them, I will not regard their
prayers. |
| 18 |
For - We have the church on our side; the regular priests and the prophets, they know
God's mind as well as he. Let us smite him with the tongue - Expose him, representing him
to be what the people hate. |
| 21 |
Therefore - But is it lawful for God's servants to pray for evil against their
enemies? It is not lawful for Christians. It is doubtless our duty, to pray for the
conversion, forgiveness, and eternal salvation of our worst enemies. |
Chapter XIX
Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel is foreshewn the desolation of the
Jews for their sins committed in the valley of Hinnom, and elsewhere, ver. 1 - 15.
| 4 |
This place - Either this city, or this valley, which they had turned to an use quite
contrary to the end for which God gave it them. |
| 5 |
To burn - This and the following verse, contain another great sin of this people, with
the punishment which God proportions to it. The sin in the general was idolatry, but a
most barbarous species of it, mentioned also chap.7:31 32:35, where it is
said, they made their sons and their daughters pass thro' the fire to Molech; the place
where they did it is called Tophet, ver.19:6, of which also mention is made, Isa
30:33. Baal and Molech, signify the same thing; Baal signifies a Lord, Molech a
King. Both Baal and Molech seem common names to all idols. |
| 7 |
In this place - In this place, among others, I will make void all the counsels that
the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, have taken to escape my righteous
judgments. |
| 12 |
As Tophet - That is, a place of slaughter and burials. |
| 14 |
Then - Jeremiah had now dispatched the errand upon which God had sent him to Tophet,
coming back by God's direction, he stands in the court, which was common to all people,
where the most might hear. |
Chapter XX
Pashur smiting Jeremiah for this prophecy, receives a new name, and fearful doom,
ver. 1 - 6. Jeremiah's impatience under their treachery and contempt, ver. 7 - 10.
Rejoices in hope of vengeance, ver. 11 - 13. Curses his birth, ver. 14 - 18.
| 1 |
Immer - The course of Immer was the sixteenth course of the priests, 1Chron
24:14. Pashur was his son, that is descended from him. |
| 3 |
Not called - God's meaning was, not that he should by men be no longer called Pashur,
but that his condition should not answer that name Pashur, which signifies, a flourishing
priest; but Magor - missabib, that is, fear and terror on all sides. |
| 7 |
Hast prevailed - Thou prevailedst against me. Jeremiah at first excused himself to
God, chap.1:6, but the Lord prevailed against him replying, ver.1:7,
Say not, I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I
command thee thou shalt speak, ver.1:9. This is all that is here meant,
namely, God's over - ruling him contrary to his own inclinations. |
| 8 |
Since - Since I first began to be a prophet, I have faithfully discharged my office,
and that with warmth and zeal. Spoil - I have prophesied that violence and spoil was
coming. Because - Because of that scorn and derision with which they treated him. |
| 9 |
I said - He did not speak this openly, but in his heart. But - He found in his heart a
constraint to go on. |
| 10 |
Prevail - Desiring nothing more than that I might be enticed to speak or do something
which they might make matter of a colourable accusation. |
| 11 |
But - The prophet recovering himself out of his fit of passion, encourageth himself in
his God, whom he calls the mighty and terrible one, so declaring his faith in the power of
God, as one able to save him, and in the promise and good will of God toward him;
therefore he saith, The Lord is with me; such was the promise of God to this prophet, when
he first undertook the prophetical office, chap.1:8. Be not afraid of their
faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord: from hence be concludes, that
though he had many that pursued after his life, yet they should stumble in their ways of
violence, and should not prevail. Ashamed - That they should be ashamed of what they had
done, or be brought to shame for what they had done; for prosper they should not: or they
acted like fools, and did not deal prudently for themselves (so this word is translated, Isa
52:13,) yea, they should become a reproach, and their reproach should be a lasting
perpetual reproach that should not be forgotten. |
| 14 |
Cursed - This sudden change makes some think that these words proceeded from Jeremiah
rather as a repetition of a former passion into which the abuses of his enemies had put
him, than as the immediate product of his spirit at this time. |
| 16 |
The cities - Sodom and Gomorrah; by the cry in the morning and shouting at noon, he
means the shouts and noises that enemies make when they break in upon a place. |
Chapter XXI
King Zedekiah in the siege sends to Jeremiah to enquire of the event, ver. 1, 2. He
foretells a hard siege and miserable captivity, ver. 3 - 7. He counsels the people to fall
to the Chaldeans, ver. 8 - 10. And upbraids the king's house, ver. 11 - 14.
| 2 |
Enquire - Zedekiah, as he was none of the best, so he was none of the worst of the
kings of Judah. Having some reverence of God, he sends the prophet to enquire of the Lord.
|
| 8 |
Behold - I tell you the way you should take, if you would save your lives. |
| 9 |
His life - This is a proverbial expression, signifying a man's possession of his life
as a prey, or booty recovered from the enemy. |
| 12 |
Execute judgment - That is, justice, without partiality, and do it quickly. |
| 13 |
Of the valley - The inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem are here intended. Jerusalem
itself was built in part upon the rocky mountain of Zion, but a great part was in the
valley, and the higher mountains, about mount Zion, made that mountain itself, in
comparison with them, as a valley. The plain - Though also a rock of the plain, that is,
near to the plain. Which situation of this place, made the Jews think it to be
impregnable. |
| 14 |
The forest - By the forest he either means the forest of Lebanon or their houses, made
of wood cut out of that forest. And it - And this fire shall not end in the destruction of
this city, but in the total destruction of all the country round Jerusalem. |
Chapter XXII
God sends the prophet to court with promises, ver. 1 - 4. and threats against the
king's house and Jerusalem, ver. 5 - 9. The judgment of Shallum, ver. 10 - 12. Of
Jehoiakim, ver. 13 - 19. And of Coniah, ver. 20 - 30.
| 6 |
Gilead - Gilead was a country fertile for pastures; upon which account the Reubenites
and Gadites, being men whose estate lay in cattle, begged it of Moses for their portion.
Lebanon also was a very pleasant place: they were both in the lot of Gad and Manasseh.
Perhaps God compares the king of Judah's house to these places, in regard of the height
and nobleness of the structure, or for the pleasantness and delightfulness of it. |
| 10 |
Weep not - For Josiah your dead prince. Josiah is happy, you need not trouble
yourselves for him; but weep for Jehoahaz, who is to go into captivity. |
| 11 |
Shallum - Most think that this Shallum was Jehoahaz. Went forth - He was carried away
from Jerusalem presently after he was set up, imprisoned at Riblah, and died in Egypt. |
| 16 |
Was not this - They only truly know God who obey him; men vainly pretend to piety who
are defective in justice and charity. |
| 19 |
Of an ass - None attending him to his grave, none mourning for him. |
| 20 |
Lebanon - Jerusalem was the place to which this speech is directed: the inhabitants of
which the prophet calls to go up to Lebanon. Both Lebanon and Bashan were hills that
looked towards Assyria, from whence the Jews looked for help. Abarim - Abarim is the name
of a mountain, as well as Lebanon and Bashan. Go and cry for help from all places, but it
will be in vain; for the Egyptians and Assyrians to whom thou wert wont to fly, are
themselves in the power of the Chaldeans. |
| 22 |
Pastors - Thy rulers and governors, they shall be blasted by my judgments, as plants
are blasted by winds. Thy lovers - And those that have been thy friends, Syria and Egypt. |
| 23 |
Lebanon - Jerusalem is called an inhabitant of Lebanon, because their houses were
built of wood cut down out of the forest of Lebanon. Cedars - Their houses were built of
the Cedars of Lebanon. How gracious - What favour wilt thou find when my judgments come
upon thee, as the pains of a woman in travail come upon her. |
| 24 |
Coniah - By Coniah he means Jehoiakim, whose name was Jeconiah, 1Chron 3:13,
(for all Josiah's sons had two names, and so had his grandchild Jeconiah) here in contempt
called Coniah. The signet - Tho' he were as dear as a signet, which every man keeps safe. |
| 28 |
Is this - The prophet speaks this in the person of God, affirming that this prince,
who was the idol of the people, was now become like a broken idol. A vessel - So cracked,
or so tainted, that they can make no use of it. |
| 30 |
Childless - He is said to be childless, either because all his children died before
their father; or because he had no child that sat upon the throne, or ever had any ruler's
place in Judah. |
Chapter XXIII
Woe against wicked pastors, the scattered flock shall be gathered, Christ shall
rule and save them, ver. 1 - 8. Against false prophets, ver. 9 - 32. And mockers of the
true, ver. 33 - 40.
| 2 |
That feed - They are said to have fed this people, because it was their duty so to do.
|
| 5 |
Behold - Even the Jewish doctors, as well as the Christian interpreters, understand
this as a prophecy of the Messiah who is called the branch, Isa 4:2 53:2. And
here, he is called the righteous branch, not only because himself was righteous, but
because he maketh his people righteous. Shall execute - Protecting the innocent, and
defending his people throughout the world, judging the prince of the world, and by his
spirit governing his people. |
| 6 |
Judah - During the reign and kingdom of the Messiah the people of God typified by
Judah and Israel shall be saved with a spiritual salvation, and God will be a special
protection to them. And this - The name wherewith this branch shall be called, shall be,
The Lord our righteousness. This place is an eminent proof of the Godhead of Christ, he is
here called Jehovah, and what is proper to God alone, namely to justify, is here applied
to Christ. He who knew no sin, was made sin, (that is, a sacrifice for sin) for us, that
we might be made, the righteousness of God in him. |
| 8 |
They shall dwell - Possibly part of this prophecy remains yet to be accomplished for
the Jews are not yet come to dwell in their own land. |
| 9 |
Like a man - And he was even astonished and stupefied, and like a drunken man, at the
apprehensions of the wrath of the Lord ready to be revealed against them, and considering
also what words the holy God had put into his mouth, to speak against them. |
| 10 |
Adulterers - Under this term all species of uncleanness are comprehended. Swearing -
By false - swearing, or by idle and profane swearing. The pleasant places - The wrath of
God was extended to all places whether more or less inhabited. Their courses - The
prophets did not only err in single acts, but the whole course of their actions was evil,
and particularly their power, rule and government, was not right. |
| 13 |
They prophesied - Pretending they had their instructions from Baal, and so caused the
ten tribes to err, which then were called Israel in contradistinction to Judah. |
| 16 |
Hearken not - People are under no religious obligation to hear any thing but the
revealed will of God, and are not to obey those that call to them for what that doth not
call to them. |
| 18 |
For who - Which of those prophets, that prophesy such terrible things against this
city is a privy - counsellor to God? The words seem to be the words of the false prophets.
|
| 20 |
The anger - The prophet speaks of the judgment as of a messenger, which should not
return till it had done its errand, and executed what God had resolved it should effect.
Ye shall consider - And though you will not now believe it, yet hereafter when it shall be
too late, you shall consider it perfectly. |
| 28 |
What is the wheat - There is as much difference between my will and their dreams, as
there is betwixt the chaff and the wheat. |
| 30 |
That steal - That conspire together what to say to deceive the people, and so steal
what they say one from another. |
| 31 |
He - That is, the Lord saith. |
| 33 |
What is - The false prophets, and corrupt priests, would ordinarily mock the true
prophets; and ask them what was the burden of the Lord. |
| 34 |
That shall say - That is, that shall in derision say thus, mocking at my threatenings.
And his house - I will not only punish him, but his whole family. |
| 35 |
Thus shall ye say - I will have you speak more reverently of me and my prophets. |
| 36 |
Mention no more - Not in scorn and derision. For - These false and irreverent speeches
which are in every man's mouth, shall be burdensome to them, shall bring down vengeance
upon them. Perverted - Because you have derided, the words of God, the living God. |
| 37 |
Thus shalt thou say - To my true prophet. You shall speak to them reverently. |
| 38 |
Because - Because you go on in your scoffing. |
Chapter XXIV
Under the type of good and bad figs, ver. 1 - 3. He fore - shews the return of some
from captivity, ver. 4 - 7. and the ruin of Zedekiah and the rest, ver. 8 - 10.
| 1 |
And behold - Probably a vision. |
| 5 |
Acknowledge - I will acknowledge them for their good; I will shew them favour, being
of the number of those who were not leaders to sin, but led away by the ill example of
others, and who being carried away grew sensible of their sins, and so accepted of the
punishment of their iniquities. |
Chapter XXV
Their disobedience to the prophets reproved, ver. 1 - 7. The seventy years of
captivity foretold, ver. 8 - 11. and after that the destruction of Babylon, ver. 12 - 14.
By a cup of wine is foreshewn the destruction of all nations, ver. 15 - 33. The howling of
the shepherds, ver. 34 - 38.
| 9 |
Nebuchadnezzar - In this work shall be my servant; though you will not be my servants
in obeying my commands. |
| 10 |
Moreover - Nay, I will not only deprive you of your mirth, but of those things that
are necessary for you, as necessary as bread and light, the millstone shall not move, you
shall not have the light so much as of a candle. |
| 12 |
Accomplished - Counted from the time that the Jews were carried away in the time of
Jeconiah or Jehoiakim, 2Kings 24:15,16. Desolations - This was fulfilled by
Darius, the king of Persia, Dan 4:31, of these seventy Nebuchadnezzar reigned
thirty six, 2Kings 25:27. Evil - merodach thirty two, and Belshazzar at least
two, Dan 8:1. |
| 15 |
The cup - God made Jeremiah to see the appearance of such a cup in a vision. |
| 20 |
Of Uz - Some part of Arabia Petraea, near to Idumaea. Of the Philistines - Uzzah,
Ekron, Ashdod, and Askelon, were four of their cities, the fifth which was Gath is not
here named. For before this time it was destroyed, either by Psammeticus, father to
Pharaoh Necho, or by Tartan, captain general to Sargon, king of Assyria, of whom read, Isa
20:1, that he took Ashdod, which may be the reason that here mention is made of no
more than the remnant of Ashdod. |
| 22 |
Beyond the sea - Probably those parts of Syria that coasted upon the mid - land sea. |
| 23 |
Tema - Tema descended from Ishmael, Gen 25:15, his posterity inhabited in
Arabia, Isa 21:13,14, where they are joined with those of Dedan. Buz - Buz
was one of the posterity of Nahor, Gen 22:21. These were people mixed with
the Saracens or Arabians. |
| 25 |
Zimri - Those descended from Zimran, Abraham's son by Keturah, Gen 25:2.
Elam - The Persians. The Medes - The Medes came from Madai the son of Japhet. |
| 26 |
The north - All under the government of the Chaldeans. Of Sheshach - And the king of
Babylon, who was last of all to drink of this cup of the Lord's fury. |
| 34 |
Shepherds - Shepherds and the principal of the flock, in this place mean civil rulers.
A pleasant vessel - Like a crystal glass, or some delicate vessel, which breaks in pieces
and cannot again be set together. |
| 38 |
Because - The effects of this rising up of God out of his covert is the desolation of
the land through the fierceness of the enemy, caused by the fierce anger of God. |
Chapter XXVI
The prophet, by God's command, in the court of the temple, threatens that the
temple shall be as Shiloh, and the land a curse: exhorts to repentance, ver. 1 - 7. He is
apprehended and arraigned, ver. 8 - 11. His apology, ver. 12 - 15. The princes clear him
by the example of Micah, ver. 16 - 19. and of Urijah, ver. 20 - 23. and by the care of
Ahikam, ver. 24.
| 10 |
When - When the nobles, and other civil magistrates, heard of the tumult, they came
from the king's court, where the nobles and great officers of nations usually are, to the
temple. At the entry - It was the place where their sanhedrim, who were to judge of false
prophets, were wont to sit. |
| 11 |
The priests - "In the corrupt state of all kingdoms, the ecclesiastical officers
always were the greatest enemies to the faithful ministers of God." They speak to the
members of the court who are called princes, and to the people who were in the court. |
| 18 |
Micah - This was that Micah, whose prophecies are part of holy writ, as appears by Micah
1:1 3:12, where are the very words of the prophecy here mentioned, the substance of
whose prophecy was the same with this, that Zion should be plowed up, and the place where
the temple stood, should become so desolate that trees should grow there, as in a forest. |
| 19 |
Thus - Now, if we should take a quite contrary course, and put this man to death, we
should do ourselves no good, but procure great evil against our souls; that is against
ourselves. |
| 20 |
And there was - This is a story which we have recorded in no other part of scripture.
They are probably the words of some others, who were enemies to Jeremiah. |
| 23 |
Cast his body - Not in the sepulchers of the prophets, but amongst the vulgar people. |
| 24 |
Nevertheless - Tho' Jeremiah's enemies pleaded this instance of Urijah, a case judged
in this very king's reign; yet the hand, that is, the power and interest of Ahikam, one of
Josiah's counsellors, and the father of Gedaliah, was with Jeremiah. |
Chapter XXVII
The prophet sends yokes to five neighbouring kings, thereby foreshewing their
subjection to Nebuchadnezzar, ver. 1 - 7. He exhorts them to yield, and not to believe
false prophets, ver 8 - 11. The like he doth to Zedekiah, ver. 12 - 18. The remnant of the
vessels shall be carried to Babylon, and continue there 'till the appointed time, ver. 19
- 22.
| 2 |
Thus saith - God commands the prophet to procure some yokes with bonds to make them
more fast; and to put one of them upon his own neck, that therein he might be a type both
to his own people, and also the people afterward mentioned, that they should be in bondage
to the king of Babylon. |
| 3 |
Of Edom - These nations were neighbours to the Jews, and their princes had their
ambassadors resident in Jerusalem. |
| 7 |
All nations - That is, all these nations. His son - And Evil - Merodach his son, and
Belshazzar his grand - child. Until - Until the period of his kingdom shall come, which
was after seventy years, according to chap.29:10. |
Chapter XXVIII
Hananiah's false prophecy: Jeremiah's answer, ver. 1 - 9. Hananiah breaks
Jeremiah's yoke: he foretells an iron yoke, and Hananiah's death, ver. 10 - 17.
| 1 |
The fourth year - Perhaps the fourth year of the sabbatical course is here intended.
Of Gibeon - it is probable from the place where he lived, which was one of the cities of
the priests; that he was a priest. |
| 12 |
Then - Some time after. |
| 13 |
But - Thou hast further incensed God against them, and provoked him to make their
judgment heavier. |
| 17 |
Died - Within two months after Jeremiah had thus prophesied; so dangerous a thing it
is for ministers to teach people contrary to the revealed will of God. |
Chapter XXIX
Jeremiah's letter to the captives in Babylon, to be quiet there, ver. 1 - 7. Not to
believe false prophets; nor expect to return 'till after fifty years, ver. 8 - 14. The
destruction of those who remained in Judah for their disobedience, ver. 15 - 19. The
fearful end of two lying prophets, ver. 20 - 23. Shemaiah's letter against Jeremiah, ver.
24 - 29. Who reads his doom, ver. 30 - 32.
| 1 |
Captives - There were two carryings into Babylon, the latter about eleven or twelve
years after the former, the first was in the time of Jehoiakim, When the princes, and all
the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths
were carried away. |
| 3 |
By the hand - Zedekiah having some occasion to send two messengers to Babylon.
Jeremiah knowing that as there were false prophets at Jerusalem, who fed people with hopes
of a speedy return, so there were some with them in Babylon, writes the following letter,
and sends it by these two messengers, to quiet the peoples minds. |
| 10 |
After - From this text it appears that the seventy years captivity, were to be
accounted from the first carrying into captivity in the time of Jehoiakim, so that eleven
years of it were elapsed, before Zedekiah was carried away. |
| 11 |
To give - This deliverance will not depend upon your merits, but upon my own mercy,
and kind thoughts and purposes I have for the seed of Abraham my servant, and I am
resolved in my own thoughts what to do, I intend not the blotting out of the name of
Israel from the earth, but to give such an end to their trouble as themselves expect and
desire. |
| 15 |
Because - The prophet here turns his speech to some wicked Jews, that were in Babylon,
or in Judea. |
| 16 |
Of the king - Zedekiah. |
| 24 |
Nehelamite - It is probable there was such a place as Nehelam, from whence he was. |
| 26 |
Priest - Zephaniah was the second priest. In the stead - In the stead signifies, that
thou shouldest be like the good high priest Jehoiada. Mad - That thou mightest take care
of persons, who being mad or frantick make themselves prophets. |
Chapter XXX
God shews Jeremiah the deliverance and return of the Jews, ver. 1 - 9. He comforts
Jacob, ver. 10 - 17. Their return shall be gracious. Wrath on the wicked, ver. 18 - 24.
| 8 |
In that day - In the day when God should deliver the seed of Jacob out of trouble. His
yoke - The yoke of the king of Babylon, that power of his, which for seventy years he
exercised over the Jews. Of him - Of the Jews. |
| 9 |
But - Either this must be understood of the kingdom of Christ, under which the Jews
that received him were made spiritually free: or there is a time yet to come, when this
ancient people of God shall be restored to a farther civil liberty than they have enjoyed
ever since the captivity of Babylon. |
| 11 |
In measure - Not in equity only, but with moderation. Unpunished - But yet God will
not let his own people go unpunished, that by it they may be reclaimed, and the world may
take notice that God is of purer eyes than that he can, in any persons, behold iniquity. |
| 12 |
For - They had sinned to that degree that God had resolved they should go into
captivity. |
| 13 |
No medicine - The prophet's design was to convince them, that there was no present
remedy, but patience, though their false prophets might promise a cure. |
| 14 |
Thy lovers - The Egyptians and Assyrians. |
| 23 |
A continuing - Not a sudden blast, that shall presently go over, but a vengeance that
shall abide. |
| 24 |
Consider - And though at present they will not consider, yet afterward, when they see
things come to pass, then they shall consider what I have told them. |
Chapter XXXI
The restoration of Israel published, ver. 1 - 14. Rachel mourning is comforted,
ver. 15 - 17. Ephraim repenting is brought home, ver. 18 - 21. Christ promised, ver. 22 -
26. His care over the church, ver. 27 - 30. His new covenant, ver. 31 - 34. The stability
and enlargement of the church, ver. 35 - 40.
| 2 |
To rest - In Canaan. |
| 5 |
Samaria - Samaria was the metropolis of the ten tribes. Mountains are convenient for
vineyards, being free from shades and exposed to the sun. Shall plant - God promises them
a liberty to plant, and that they should enjoy their plantations, eating them as common
things, which they could not do 'till the fifth year. |
| 6 |
Arise - This was fulfilled under the gospel; for both Galilee and Samaria received the
gospel. |
| 9 |
With weeping - Some think that it had been better translated, they went weeping; for
though the verb be the future tense in the Hebrew, yet that tense has often the
signification of the preterperfect tense, thus it answereth, Psa 126:5,6. He
that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shalt doubtless come again rejoicing.
There is a weeping for joy, as well as for sorrow, and thus the text corresponds with
that, Zech 12:10. I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and
supplications, and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn. By rivers -
And they shall have no want as they had when they came out of Egypt, through the
wilderness, where they often wanted water. |
| 11 |
Hath redeemed - God will as certainly do it, as if he had already done it. In their
deliverance as well from Babylon as Egypt, they were types of the deliverance of God's
people, by Christ; as well as in their entering into Canaan, they were types of the
saints, entering into heaven. |
| 12 |
And sing - All the phrases in this verse signify one thing, the happy state of the
Jews, after their return from captivity. The height of Zion means the temple. A watered
garden - They shall be a beautiful, flourishing, and growing people. Soul seems here to be
taken for the whole man. Not sorrow - In that manner they have been. But under these
expressions is also promised the spiritual joy which the true Israel of God will have
under the gospel, and the eternal joy they shall have in heaven. |
| 15 |
In Ramah - That is, in Canaan, and particularly in Ramah, where Nebuzar - adan, chap.40:1,
disposed of the prisoners he had taken, setting some at liberty, ordering others to death,
and carrying the rest away to Babylon, which caused a bitter weeping and lamentation.
Rachel - Rachel is here brought in, having been buried near that place, as if she were
risen up from the grave, and lamented the Jewish nation which came out of her loins (for
so Benjamin did, which was one of the two tribes that made the kingdom of Judah.) Were not
- Because her children either were not absolutely, being slain by the pestilence, the
famine, and the sword of the king of Babylon, or were no longer her children, being
transplanted into Babylon. And there was a lamentation like this, when Herod caused the
infants of two years old to be slain in Bethlehem, and in the coasts round about
Bethlehem, of which Ramah was one. |
| 18 |
I have heard - The prophet here shews the change that would be wrought in the hearts
of the Israelites preceding this return from their captivity. As a bullock - Which
ordinarily are very unruly when they are first put into it. |
| 19 |
Surely - After God had changed our hearts, we repented. I smote - After God had
instructed us, by his prophets, by our afflictions, and by his Holy Spirit, we smote upon
our thighs in testimony of our sorrow. The reproach - The just punishment of the sins
which I had long ago committed. |
| 20 |
For since - From the time I spake against him by my threatenings, I remember him with
the affection and compassion of a father. |
| 21 |
Set up - Thou shalt return to these cities which thou now leavest, therefore take good
notice of the way, set up marks by which thou mayest know it again, make thee pillars or
some high heaps of stones in the way, mind well the way that the Assyrians and the
Babylonians carried thee, for thou shalt come back the same way. |
| 22 |
Backsliding - Running after idols; or seeking help from foreign nations, instead of
applying to God. A woman - This seems to be a promise of the Jewish church in its time,
and of the gospel - church, prevailing over all its enemies; though, considering the
fewness of the church's members, with the multitude of its enemies, and their power, it
seemed as strange a thing, as for a woman to prevail against a strong and mighty man. |
| 23 |
The Lord of hosts - These prophecies of the restoration of the Jews, are ordinarily
prefaced with these two attributes of God, the one of which asserts his power to do the
thing promised; the other his goodness to his people. |
| 25 |
For - The words are a promise, that God would give his people abundance of ease and
plenty. |
| 26 |
Upon this I awaked - Probably this revelation was made to Jeremiah, in a dream. |
| 27 |
I will sow - That is, I will exceedingly multiply them, both with men and with cattle.
|
| 31 |
Behold - And not only with the Jews, but all those who should be ingrafted into that
Olive. It is not called the new covenant, because it was as to the substance new, for it
was made with Abraham, Gen 17:7, and with the Jews, Deut 26:17,18,
but because it was revealed after a new manner, more fully and particularly, plainly and
clearly. Nor was the ceremonial law any part of it, as it was to the Jews, a strict
observance of that. It was likewise new in regard of the efficacy of the spirit attending
it, in a much fuller and larger manner. |
| 32 |
Not according - The covenant which God made with the Jews when they came out of the
land of Egypt, was on God's part the law which he gave them, with the promises annexed; on
their part (which made it a formal covenant) their promise of obedience to it. |
| 33 |
With - That is, with those who are Jews inwardly. And write it - The prophet's design
is here to express the difference betwixt the law and the gospel. The first shews duty,
the latter brings the grace of regeneration, by which the heart is changed, and enabled
for duty. All under the time of the law that came to salvation, were saved by this new
covenant; but this was not evidently exhibited; neither was the regenerating grace of God
so common under the time of the law, as it hath been under the gospel. |
| 34 |
I will forgive - God makes the root of all this grace to be the free pardon, and the
remission of their sins. |
| 36 |
Those ordinances - The ordinances of nature, which are God's establishments for the
working of natural causes in their order. |
| 37 |
I will cast off - That is, I will never cast off all the seed of Israel. |
| 38 |
The city - Shall be built round, as largely as ever. |
| 39 |
The line - That is, it shall be built round about upon its old foundations. |
| 40 |
The valley - A valley, so called from the multitude of Sennacherib's army slain there.
Of the ashes - So called from the ashes of the sacrifices carried thither. Holy - All
these places shall be parts of the holy city, and God's name shall be sanctified, and he
shall be worshipped in them all. For ever - If we interpret the word for ever of a
perpetuity, the church of God must here be understood, against which the gates of hell
shall never prevail. |
Chapter XXXII
Jeremiah in the siege of Jerusalem being imprisoned by Zedekiah, buys a field,
takes witnesses, draws a writing, seals and delivers it to Baruch to preserve, as tokens
of the peoples return, ver. 1 - 15. He prays with admiration of God's majesty and works;
and represents his own conflict, ver. 16 - 25. God confirms the captivity for their sins,
ver. 26 - 35. but promises a gracious return, ver. 36 - 44.
| 5 |
Until I visit him - Perhaps in mercy; it is certain Zedekiah was not put to death,
only carried to Babylon, where some think he afterward found favour with the king of
Babylon. |
| 9 |
The money - The price of land was strangely fallen at this time, when the enemy was
besieging the chief city of the country. |
| 11 |
I took - It is probable, that upon such sales among the Jews, two instruments were
made, the one sealed up, to be kept by the purchaser, the other open, to be shewed to the
judges, and by them ratified. |
| 12 |
Baruch - This Baruch (chap.46:4,26,) was a scribe, and an attendant upon
Jeremiah. Witnesses - He made this purchase with all the usual formalities; he signed and
sealed it before witnesses, and delivered it to Baruch to keep, in the presence of all the
Jews. |
| 20 |
Who hast set signs - Who didst wonders of justice in the land of Egypt, such as are
remembered even to this day. |
| 24 |
The mounts - Rather engines of war with which those nations used to batter walls, or
to shoot great stones into places besieged. |
| 34 |
Have set - Their idols. |
| 39 |
One heart - I will give them union and concord, one mind and judgment. One way - They
shall all worship me according, to the rule I have given them. |
| 40 |
I will make - This promise manifestly relates to those Jews that should receive the
Lord Jesus Christ, unless it be to be understood of a national conversion of the Jews, not
yet effected. |
Chapter XXXIII
The taking of Jerusalem, carrying away the people, their return, ver. 1 - 8. Joyful
state and settled government, ver. 9 - 14. Christ the branch of righteousness, his
everlasting kingdom and priesthood, and blessed seed, ver. 15 - 26.
| 2 |
The Lord - The maker thereof, of Jerusalem, or of these promises, his name is Jehovah;
he hath a sufficiency in himself to make good his word. |
| 5 |
They - The Jews sally out and fight with their enemies, but to no purpose, but to fill
their houses with their own dead bodies, whom I will cause in my anger to be slain. |
| 6 |
I will cure - The miserable disturbed state of a nation being compared to wounds and
sickness, the restoring of it to a peaceable prosperous state is fitly called its health
and cure. I will bring them again to a quiet and peaceable state in which they shall abide
many days. |
| 9 |
They shalt fear - And not only so but shall fear to engage against a nation so beloved
and favoured by me. |
| 12 |
Is desolate - That is, a great part of which is, and the other part shall soon be
desolate. |
| 13 |
Shall pass - So as to keep tally of them, as they were wont to do both morning and
evening in those countries. |
| 15 |
The branch - The kings they had hitherto had of the line of David, were most of them
unrighteous men, but God promises that after the captivity, they should have a branch of
David who would execute judgment and righteousness in the land, for the protection and
government of those that feared him. |
| 16 |
Saved - It is the opinion of some that a spiritual salvation and security is promised
under these expressions, but by the most and best interpreters, a temporal salvation. This
was typical of that spiritual and eternal salvation which is promised to the true Israel
of God; as their rest in Canaan typified that rest which remaineth for the people of God.
The Lord our righteousness - There is no such name any where given, either to the Jewish
or Christian church, as the Lord our righteousness, but the full import of that name is
spoken of Christ, Isa 45:23, which text is applied to Christ, Rom 14:11
Phil 2:10. |
| 17 |
David - That is, apparently a promise relating to Christ, for David's line had failed
long since, had it not been continued in Christ, whose kingdom is and shall be an
everlasting kingdom. |
| 18 |
A man - That is, a ministry to abide in the church to the end of the world, nor is it
unusual for God in the Old Testament to express promises to be fulfilled under the gospel
by expressions proper to the Old Testament. |
| 20 |
My covenant - The same with the ordinances mentioned, chap.31:35. God's
law established in the course of natural causes, by virtue of which the day and night,
orderly succeed one another. The succession of the gospel ministry in the church of God to
abide for ever, shall be as certain as the succession of darkness and light. |
| 22 |
Of David - Christ is himself called David, whose seed and whose Levites are multiplied
in the multiplying of Christians and of faithful ministers under the gospel, which are the
things here promised. |
| 24 |
The two families - The families of David and Aaron. Despised - Spoken scornfully of my
people, as if they should never be a nation more, having rulers of themselves, and a
ministry. |
Chapter XXXIV
The captivity of king Zedekiah, and the city, ver. 1 - 7. The princes and people by
solemn covenant, according to the law, dismiss their bond servants, but the Babylonians
leaving the siege, they reassume them, ver. 8 - 11. For this God threatens a return of the
enemy, and the destruction of Jerusalem, ver. 12 - 22.
| 5 |
Ah Lord - The Jews in their chronology, give us the form of the lamentation thus.
Alas! Zedekiah is dead, who drank the dregs of all ages: that is, who was punished for the
sins of all former ages. |
| 17 |
Behold - You shall perish by the sword, famine and pestilence, and those of you who
escape them, shall be slaves, in many nations. |
| 18 |
Cut the calf - It seems these Jews in their making of the solemn covenant with God
about releasing their servants used this rite; they caused a calf, or heifer to be cut in
pieces, and the parts to be laid in the temple, right over - against one another; then
they recited this covenant, and passed between the parts of the heifer so cut; silently
agreeing that God should cut them in pieces like that beast if they did not make their
words good. |
| 22 |
Behold - I will put into their hearts to return. |
Chapter XXXV
By the obedience of the Rechabites, ver. 1 - 11. God condemns the Jews
disobedience, ver. 12 - 17. The Rechabites are blessed, ver. 18, 19.
| 1 |
The word - This is another evidence that the prophecies of this book are not left us
in that order wherein they were delivered; for those which we had in the two or three
foregoing chapters being in the time of Zedekiah, must needs be ten or eleven years after
this. |
| 2 |
Rechabites - These Rechabites had their name from Rechab their father, descended from
Hemath, a Kenite, who is also called Hobab, Judg 4:11, or Jethro the father
in law of Moses. |
| 4 |
Igdaliah - A prophet. The princes - The chamber were the princes were wont to meet. |
| 6 |
Jonadab - Jonadab of whom we read, 2Kings 10:15, was the father, that is
the progenitor of the Rechabites, at three hundred years distance. |
| 7 |
That ye may live - Jonadab cautions his sons by a thrifty, sober, laborious life, to
which they had been bred, in keeping flocks, to avoid any thing which might expose them to
the envy or hatred of the people amongst whom they were come to sojourn. |
| 10 |
Tents - Moveable habitations, which they could with little labour remove to feed their
flocks. |
| 19 |
For ever - For ever here signifies the ever of the Jewish state, or church. |
Chapter XXXVI
Jeremiah causes Baruch to write his prophecy; and publickly to read it, ver. 1 -
10. The princes send to fetch the roll and read it, ver. 11 - 18. They advise Baruch and
Jeremiah to hide themselves, ver. 19. The king tears part of the roll, and burns it, ver.
20 - 26. Jeremiah denounces his judgment, ver. 27 - 31. Baruch writes a new copy, ver. 32.
| 2 |
A roll - Parchments, which anciently were their books. All the words - All the
revelations he had from God for twenty - two years last past. God would have them
recorded, that there might be a memorial of them, that so the truth of them might appear,
when God should bring them to pass; the time of which now drew near. |
| 6 |
Upon the fasting day - It was undoubtedly, because of the concourse of people which
the prophet knew would that day be in the temple, that he chose that day, when some would
be present from all parts of Judah. |
| 10 |
Then read - Most likely out of some window, or balcony, the people being below, and
hearing it. |
| 18 |
He pronounced - This could not but add to the princes fear, they must needs conceive
that without a special influence of God, it had been impossible, that Jeremiah should have
called to mind all that he had spoken at several times in so many years. |
| 22 |
The ninth month - Answered to part of our November and December. |
| 23 |
He - The king not having patience to hear above three or four columns, or periods, cut
it in pieces and burned it in the fire. |
| 25 |
Elnathan - These princes seemed to have had a greater dread of God upon their hearts
than the rest. |
| 26 |
Hid them - God by his providence kept them both out of their hands; directing them to
find such a place of recess as the kings messengers could not find out. |
| 30 |
None to sit - That is, none that shall be king any considerable time. Jeconiah his son
was set up, but kept his throne but three months. |
Chapter XXXVII
The Egyptians raise the siege of the Chaldeans: and king Zedekiah sends to
Jeremiah, to pray and enquire of the Lord for them, ver. 1 - 5. He prophesies the
Chaldeans return and victory, ver. 6 - 10. He is apprehended for a fugitive, beaten, and
put into prison, ver. 11 - 15. He assures Zedekiah of the captivity; and, entreating for
liberty, obtains some favour, ver. 16 - 21.
| 10 |
And burn it - When God is resolved upon an effect, the instruments are little to be
regarded. It is not the arm of flesh, but the power of God which is in that case to be
considered. |
| 12 |
Went forth - Jeremiah knowing the city would suddenly be taken, and that he could be
no farther useful to the people, taking advantage of the withdrawing of the Chaldean army,
resolves to go to his own country, to Anathoth, in the crowd of people that were going
out. |
| 13 |
Of Benjamin - The gate that looked toward the inheritance of that tribe. |
| 16 |
The dungeon - The Hebrew words signify some pit, or deep hole, where were some cells
or apartments, in which they were wont to keep those whom they judged great malefactors. |
| 17 |
Is there - Hath God revealed any thing to thee, concerning the issue of the return of
the Chaldean army. |
Chapter XXXVIII
Jeremiah prophesies; is by the princes, with the king's permission, cast into a
dungeon; but is by Ebed - melech, with the king's consent, taken out again, ver. 1 - 13.
He has a secret conference with the king, in which he counsels him by yielding, to save
his life, ver. 14 - 23. By the king's command he conceals the conference from the princes,
ver. 24 - 27. He abides in prison 'till Jerusalem is taken, ver. 28.
| 5 |
For the king - I see I am as it were no king. I can do nothing against you, you will
do what you please. |
| 10 |
Thirty men - Probably the king commanded Ebed - melech to take thirty men to guard him
against any opposition. |
| 19 |
Lest they - Lest the Chaldeans should deliver me into the hands of those Jews which
have fallen to them. |
| 22 |
The women - Thou that art afraid of the insultings of men, shalt fall under the
insultings of the women. Thy friends - For this thou mayest thank thy priests, and false
prophets. And they - Have forsaken thee, every one shifting for himself. |
Chapter XXXIX
Jerusalem is taken: Zedekiah's sons are slain, his eyes put out, he is sent to
Babylon, All the nobles of Judah are slain: the city is burnt, and the chief of the people
carried captives, ver. 1 - 10. Nebuchadrezzar's charge concerning Jeremiah, ver. 11 - 14.
God's promise to Ebed - melech, ver. 15 - 18.
| 1 |
Tenth month - This month answers to part of our December and January. |
| 3 |
The middle gate - The city was encompassed with two walls, before they came to the
wall of the temple; the gate in the inner wall is supposed to have been that which is
called the middle gate. They would not at first venture farther, 'till they might without
hazarding their persons. |
| 5 |
Riblah - Riblah was upon the borders of Canaan. Zedekiah was a tributary to the king
of Babylon, and so subject to his power, having made a covenant with him, and secured his
allegiance by his oath to him. |
| 12 |
Take him - It is probable, that Nebuchadnezzar had been informed, Jeremiah had
constantly told the king, that the Chaldeans should take the city, and as steadily
persuaded both the king and princes to surrender it to them. |
| 15 |
Now the word - These four verses mention a matter that happened before the things
mentioned in the foregoing verses. |
Chapter XL
Jeremiah being set free by Nebuchadnezzar, goes to Gedaliah, ver. 1 - 6. to whom
the remaining Jews repair, ver. 7 - 12. Johanan revealing Ishmael's conspiracy, is not
believed, ver. 13 - 16.
| 1 |
Ramah - Ramah was a city in the tribe of Benjamin near Gibeon. Babylon - Jeremiah was
by mistake and expressly contrary to the king's orders carried amongst the other
prisoners; probably the captain of the guard at that place called over his prisoners, and
among them found the prophet contrary to his expectation. |
| 5 |
Now - Jeremiah before he was gone out of the presence of Nebuzar - adan, declaring
that he was more inclined to stay in his own country, Nebuzar - adan bid him, Go back. |
| 8 |
Ishmael - It is likely these were commanders of parties, which either were within the
city 'till it was taken, and then escaped, or where somewhere in the country, and not so
much regarded by the Chaldeans, who were more intent upon the conquest of the city, than
pursuing these little parties. |
| 10 |
I will dwell - I have choice made of Mizpah, a city upon the frontiers, to make my
residence, it being a convenient place for me to receive orders from the king of Babylon.
But ye - Gather such fruits as the country affords, as you use to do in the times of
peace. |
| 12 |
Returned - Probably upon the king of Babylon's first invading Judah, many fled, and
more as he went on his conquests, over - running the country; and it is likely at the
taking of the city, many escaped, and fled into several countries, as they had
opportunity, or judged this or that country would be safest; some fled to Moab, some to
Ammon some to Edom, some one way, and some another: but when they heard that the king of
Babylon had set a governor of their own religion and country over them, they came back to
him; and there being few people left in the land, which was wonderfully fruitful, they
gathered plenty of grapes, and other summer fruits. |
| 13 |
Moreover - They had been with him before, but now they come to discover a conspiracy
against his life. |
Chapter XLI
Ishmael, under a colour of friendship kills Gedaliah and others, both Jews and
Chaldeans, ver. 1 - 9. He purposes to carry the residue captive to the Ammonites, but they
are rescued from him by Johanan, who intends to flee into Egypt, ver. 10 - 18.
| 1 |
Now - Three months after the city was taken. Ishmael - The same Ishmael that came to
Gedaliah, ver.8,9, to whom he sware protection; only here we are told he was
of the royal blood, which might both raise his spirits, as having a more legal pretence to
the government, and rendered him a fitter instrument, for Baalis the king or queen of the
Ammonites to make use of. The princes - Some of the princes, who had escaped the army of
the king of Babylon. |
| 3 |
Slew - All those who were about the court of Gedaliah. |
| 4 |
No man - No man who lived at any distance from Mizpah. |
| 5 |
There came men - Who possibly had not heard of the temple being burnt. Cut themselves
- With all indications of mourning used in those countries. |
| 8 |
He forebare - His covetousness prevailed over his cruelty. |
Chapter XLII
Johanan and the people desire Jeremiah to enquire of God, promising obedience to
his will, ver. 1 - 6. Jeremiah assures them of safety in Judea, ver. 7 - 12. and
destruction in Egypt, ver. 13 - 18. Reproves their hypocrisy and obstinacy, ver. 19 - 22.
| 6 |
Good or evil - Whether grateful or ungrateful to us. |
| 10 |
I repent - I am satisfied with the punishment your nation hath undergone, and as to
the remainder, will change the course of my providence. |
Chapter XLIII
Johanan and the commanders discredit Jeremiah's prophecy, ver. 1 - 3. and with the
people, carry him and Baruch into Egypt, ver. 4 - 7. He prophesies by a type, the conquest
of Egypt by the Babylonians, ver. 8 - 13.
| 7 |
Tahpanhes - It was at this time the place where the king of Egypt made his residence. |
| 12 |
Carry them - He shall carry away both the idols, and the inhabitants of Egypt captive.
With the land - With the spoils of the land of Egypt, he shall clothe his army. |
| 13 |
Beth - shemesh - Beth - shemesh is the name of a city, which had its name from a
famous temple of the sun. |
Chapter XLIV
Jeremiah represents to the people in Egypt, the former sins and punishment of
Judah, ver. 1 - 10. He prophesies of their destruction in Egypt, ver. 11 - 14. Their
obstinacy, ver. 15 - 19. Threatened, ver. 20 - 28. For a sign, the destruction of Egypt is
foretold, ver. 29, 30.
| 1 |
At Migdol - It seems the Jews that went into Egypt had planted themselves at these
four places. Migdol was a city upon the borders of the Red Sea. Noph was a city, which the
Greeks and Latines called Memphis; it is thought to be that, which is now called Cairo.
Pathros was the province, since called Thebais. |
| 14 |
For none - Only such shall escape, as have been forced into Egypt against their wills;
and as did not fall in with the idolatry of the Egyptians. |
| 15 |
All the men - It should seem those that did it were mostly women, and that they did it
with some privacy, so that all their husbands did not know of it. |
| 26 |
The Lord liveth - There shall not any be left alive of the Jews that are in Egypt, to
swear The Lord God liveth. |
| 29 |
This shall be a sign - Signs are usually antecedent to the thing signified, but the
word is taken in a larger notion in this place for that which should attend the thing
signified by it. |
Chapter XLV
Jeremiah instructs and comforts Baruch, ver. 1 - 5.
| 3 |
I find no rest - Upon Baruch's reading the prophecies both he and Jeremiah were
advised to hide themselves. This probably disturbed Baruch, and made him lament his
condition. |
| 5 |
Seek them not - Dost thou expect what none is like to meet with who feareth God? Upon
all flesh - I am bringing calamities upon the whole nation. |
Chapter XLVI
The overthrow of Pharaoh's army, ver. 1 - 12. The conquest of Egypt by
Nebuchadrezzar, ver. 13 - 26. God's people comforted, ver. 27, 28.
| 1 |
The word - This verse contains the title of all the ensuing discourses; for, tho'
there be some verses in these chapters that relate to the Jews, yet they are all
concerning their restoration. The prophecies of judgments from the beginning of this
chapter to the fifty - second, are all against foreign nations, which are called Gentiles.
|
| 4 |
Brigandines - Coats of mail. |
| 6 |
Let not the swift - It is in vain for the swift to flee away, the mighty men shall not
escape, but they shall stumble and fall at Carchemish, which was near the river Euphrates,
and northward from Egypt. |
| 9 |
And the Lydians - They were all auxiliaries to the Egyptians in this expedition. |
| 10 |
Made drunk - These phrases only metaphorically signify, the great slaughter God would
make that day amongst the Egyptians. |
| 12 |
Stumbled - Stumbling one upon another, so that both those that went before, and those
who followed after, should fall together. |
| 14 |
Declare - Publish this over all the land of Egypt. |
| 17 |
Pharaoh - Hath made a great noise, but it cometh to nothing. Passed - That is, he hath
passed the time himself fixed when he would cone, and fight the Chaldeans. |
| 18 |
Surely - He shall as certainly come and encompass you with his armies, as Tabor is
encompassed with mountains, and as Carmel is by the sea. |
| 20 |
A serpent - Egypt is now like an heifer that makes a great bellowing, but the time
shall come when she shall make a lesser noise like the hissing of a serpent. With axes -
For the Chaldeans shall come with an army, armed with battle - axes, as if they came to
fell wood in a forest. |
| 23 |
Tho' - Tho' it seem impenetrable. |
Chapter XLVII
The destruction of the Philistines, Tyrians, Zidonians, and others by the seaside,
ver. 1 - 7.
| 1 |
Before - In the time of the Philistines prosperity. |
| 4 |
The day - Which God hath set, and appointed for their ruin. Caphtor - Tyre and Sidon
were neighbours to the Philistines, and so were often called to their help. The
Philistines and Caphtorim were related, for their first progenitors, Philistim and
Caphtorim, were both the sons of Mizriam the son of Ham, one of the sons of Noah. |
| 5 |
The remnant - Those who lived in the valleys near Ashkelon. But thyself - Why will you
afflict yourselves, when all your mourning will do you no good. |
| 6 |
O thou sword - Perhaps they are the words of the prophet, lamenting the havock which
he made among the Philistines by the Chaldeans. |
| 7 |
How - God lets the prophet know that he had given this sword its commission, and
therefore it could not stop 'till Ashkelon and the people on the sea - shore were
destroyed by it. |
Chapter XLVIII
The judgment of Moab, ver. 1 - 6. for their pride, ver. 7 - 10. for their security
and human confidence, ver. 11 - 15. especially for their contempt of God, and insolence
towards his people, ver. 26 - 46. Their restoration, ver. 47.
| 2 |
Heshbon - Heshbon was one of the principal cities of the Moabites. Probably the
enemies sat there in counsel, when they had taken it, against the other parts of the
country. |
| 3 |
Horoniam - Another city of Moab. |
| 5 |
Luhith - To this city the Moabites fled for sanctuary, and flying made so great an out
- cry that their enemies who pursued them heard it. |
| 6 |
And be - Save your lives, though all ye have be lost. |
| 7 |
Trusted - In thy idols. Chemosh - Chemosh was their principal idol. |
| 9 |
Give wings - The Moabites have need of wings like a bird to escape that ruin which is
coming upon them. |
| 11 |
At ease - The Moabites ever since they began to be a people, have been a quiet people.
Settled - Like a cask of wine, that has not been racked but has continued in the same
state. Not emptied - A metaphor of wine which is drawn out from vessel to vessel, when it
is drawn off the lees. It is expounded by the next words. Therefore - And this is the
reason why they retain their old sins, pride, presumption, and luxury. |
| 12 |
Wanderers - The Chaldeans, who wandered from their own country to conquer other
people. Break his bottles - He had before compared the Moabites, to wine settled upon the
lees, here he saith, that God would send those that should not only disturb, but destroy
them. |
| 13 |
Bethel - The golden calves, which Jeroboam set up at Dan and Bethel. |
| 16 |
Is near - Josephus tells us this destruction came upon the Moabites five years after
the siege of Jerusalem. |
| 17 |
Staff - A staff and a rod are as well, ensigns of power and government, as instruments
to punish offenders. |
| 18 |
Dibon - Dibon, Aroer, and Ataroh were built by the children of Gad. It should seem the
Moabites were not come into the possession of them. In thirst - It was a place well
watered, but God threatens she should be in thirst, that is, driven into some dry, barren
countries. The spoiler - The king of Babylon. |
| 20 |
Arnon - Arnon was the name of a river; it was the border of Moab: probably the
adjacent country or city might take its name from the river. |
| 25 |
The horn - That is the beauty and the strength of Moab. |
| 26 |
Drunken - Fill him with the intoxicating wine of God's vengeance. |
| 27 |
Was he found - Why didst thou deal by Israel as men deal by thieves, when they are
brought to shame? |
| 28 |
O ye - Still the prophet speaks of the Moabites, as a people whose armies were routed,
and calls to them to leave their houses in cities, not promising themselves any security,
either to or from their houses, or from the walls of the cities, but to get them to rocks,
which are naturally fortified, and from whence (if from any place) security may be
promised. |
| 30 |
I know - He shall never execute what he thinks to do. But - His boastings and his
lies, still never effect his designs. |
| 31 |
Kir - herez - A city of Moab. |
| 32 |
Sibmah - Sibmah was famous in those days for vines. Jazer - Jazer was it seems first
taken, and carried into captivity. |
| 36 |
Pipes - The prophet means such pipes as they were wont to use at funerals, and other
sad occasions. |
| 40 |
He - Nebuchadnezzar shall come swiftly, and spread himself over Moab. |
| 43 |
Fear - A variety of dangers upon all sides. |
| 45 |
Heshbon - Heshbon was it seems a place of force. The crown - That is, the glory. |
| 47 |
Bring again - It seems this is to be understood of a spiritual reduction of them, by
calling them into the kingdom of the Messiah. |
Chapter XLIX
The judgment of the Ammonites, ver. 1 - 5. Their restoration, ver. 6. The judgment
of Edom, ver. 7 - 22. Of Damascus, ver. 23 - 27. Of Kedar, and Hazor, ver. 28 - 33. Of
Elam, and its restoration, ver. 34 - 39.
| 1 |
No heir - During the long tract of time that there were wars between the Jews and
Ammonites, the land of Gad and Reuben which lay beyond Jordan, fell into the hands of the
Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites. Hence it is that the prophet saith, Hath Israel no sons?
God had given that country of Gilead to Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad; and as mens estates
ought to descend to their heirs, so this land should have descended to their posterity,
but the Ammonites had taken and possessed it. |
| 3 |
Ai - A city of the Ammonites, not the same mentioned, Josh 7:2, for that
was on the other side Jordan. By the hedges - Where they might be hidden, and not so
easily seen. |
| 4 |
Flowing - Either flowing with water, or plenty of corn and grass. |
| 5 |
Right forth - So that you shall be glad to flee, and never look back. Gather up - None
will receive or entertain you. |
| 6 |
I will bring - Probably this refers to the conversion of the Ammonites, as well as
other Heathens, to Christ. |
| 7 |
Edom - The Edomites were the posterity of Esau the eldest son of Isaac, but
disinherited; the blessing being given to his younger brother Jacob, who was head of the
twelve tribes of Israel. God promised him that he should have a fat, and plentiful
country, tho' his brother should be his lord; and foretold, that he should break his
brother's yoke from off his neck: the land of Seir was his country. The Edomites coasted
southward upon Canaan, the Israelites passed by their coasts to go into Canaan, their way
lay thro' Edom, but their king refusing to suffer them to go through, God ordered them to
go another way. Balaam prophesied their ruin. They were enemies to the Israelites in the
time of Saul, 1Sam 14:47, and David, 2Sam 8:14, and Amaziah, 2Kings
14:17, who slew of them ten thousand, and took Selah, calling it Jokteel. Many of
the prophets foretold their ruin, Jeremiah in this place, Ezek 25:12 - 14
Joel 3:19 Amos 9:11,12, and others. Teman - Was a city of Edom. |
| 8 |
Dedan - Was a city of Arabia joining to Idumea, Isa 21:13, they being
neighbours to the Edomites are called to flee, and to get into caves, where they might
dwell deep in the earth and be in some security. |
| 9 |
If - Edom shall be totally destroyed; their destruction should not be like the
gleaning of grapes, where the gatherers content themselves with taking the principal
clusters: nor yet like the robbings of thieves, who take for their hunger, and when they
have got enough leave the rest. |
| 12 |
They - The Jews, who in comparison with others did not deserve to drink of the cup,
yet have drank of it, and can you think to escape? When an Israelite hath not escaped the
justice of God, an Edomite must not expect it. |
| 13 |
Bozrah - Edom is expressed under the name of Bozrah, (a part for the whole) Bozrah
being its principal city. |
| 14 |
An ambassador - He speaks after the manner of earthly princes, who use to send their
ambassadors to other princes to declare their minds to them. God hath inclined them to
come against Edom. |
| 19 |
Behold - The Edomites shall come up fiercely against Nebuchadrezzar, but will suddenly
flee, yea even from their own country. Appoint - Into whose hands shall I give that
country. For who - For I can do whatsoever I please. Will appoint - And who will appoint
me a time to plead with men? Who is - Where is that king or potentate that will stand
before me? |
| 20 |
Teman - Edom and Teman signify the same thing. The least - The least of
Nebuchadrezzar's forces shall drag them out of their lurking places. |
| 23 |
Damascus - Being the head of this country, is put for the whole country. Hamath -
Hamath and Arpad were two cities also of Syria. On the sea - Their inhabitants that live
near the sea shall be troubled. |
| 25 |
Of my joy - A city of great renown. The king of Syria is here supposed to speak. |
| 27 |
Ben - hadad - Was the common name of the kings of Syria. |
| 28 |
Kedar - Was one of the sons of Ishmael, whose posterity inhabited part of Arabia
Petraea. Hazor was the head city to several kingdoms in Joshua's time. |
| 29 |
They - The Chaldeans. |
| 30 |
Flee - These seem to be the prophet's words. |
| 31 |
Arise - The result of Nebuchadrezzar's counsels, giving charge to his armies to march
against the Kedarens, who lived at ease and took no care, nor had any neighbours that
could assist them. |
| 34 |
Against Elam - Probably the Persians. |
| 38 |
My throne - God calls the throne of Cyrus or Alexander his throne; because he gave it
the conqueror. |
| 39 |
But - We had the like promise as to Moab, chap.48:47, and as to Ammon,
ver.49:6, the same latter days either signify after many days, or in the time
of the Messiah. In the former sense it may refer to Cyrus, who conquered Persia. In the
latter sense it refers to the spiritual liberty which some of these poor Heathens were
brought into by the gospel. We read Acts 2:9, that some of the Elamites were
at Jerusalem at pentecost, and were some of those converted to Christ. |
Chapter L
The judgment of Babel, and the land of Chaldea, for their idolatry, tyranny and
pride; with gracious promises of the redemption of Israel intermixed, ver. 1 - 46.
| 2 |
Bel - Bel and Merodach were the two principal idols of the Babylonians. |
| 3 |
The north - From Media which lay northward to Babylon and Assyria. |
| 4 |
In those days - In the days wherein God shall begin to execute judgment upon Babylon,
(which was in the time of Cyrus) the children of Judah shall come out of captivity, and
some of the children of Israel hearing that their brethren were gone out of Babylon, shall
go up also from the several places into which they were disposed by the Assyrians: weeping
for their sins, or for joy that God should shew them such mercy. |
| 6 |
Their shepherds - Their civil and ecclesiastical governors have been a cause of it.
The former by their wicked commands and example; the latter by example as well as
doctrine. Turned them - To offer sacrifices unto idols. From mountain - From one idolatry
to another. Forgotten - They have forgotten me. |
| 7 |
Habitation - Some think this is a name here given to God, who indeed is the habitation
of justice, but whether the Chaldeans would call him so, may be a question. Others
therefore think the preposition in is understood, making this the aggravation of the Jews
sins, that they were committed in a land which ought to have been an habitation of
justice. |
| 8 |
Remove - God commands his people to remove out of Babylon, and to go forth chearfully
like the he - goats of a flock leading the way. |
| 10 |
Satisfied - Satisfied with spoil and plunder. |
| 11 |
Because - They rejoiced at the ruin of the Jews. Fat - The cause for which Babylon is
threatened, was doubtless their luxury of all sorts commonly attending great wealth. |
| 12 |
Mother - Your country, shall be ashamed of you, who are not able to defend her. |
| 15 |
Given her hand - Acknowledging themselves overcome, and yielding. As she hath done -
Unmerciful men find no mercy. |
| 16 |
Every one - Either such strangers as for commerce had their abodes in Babylon, or such
assistance as the Babylonians had gotten against their enemies. |
| 17 |
Israel - The whole twelve tribes. Lions - Enemies cruel as lions had carried them into
captivity. |
| 20 |
Not found - God will no longer punish the sins of the Jews, they should be sought for
as to punishment and not found. Reserve - Whom I save from the captivity of Babylon. |
| 21 |
Merathaim - The names of some places which Cyrus took in his way to Babylon. |
| 22 |
The land - Of Chaldea. |
| 26 |
Open her store - houses - The granaries, or treasures of the Babylonians. |
| 27 |
Bullocks - The great and rich men of Babylon. |
| 28 |
The vengeance - The revenge which God had taken for his holy temple, which the
Chaldeans had destroyed. |
| 33 |
Together - Together in this place signifies no more than that they were both
oppressed, or alike oppressed. |
| 34 |
Plead - He will actually and readily effect it. |
| 36 |
Dote - Their soothsayers and wizards shall dote, not foreseeing what will be. Dismayed
- Their hearts shall fail them when this day comes. |
| 37 |
Horses - Through they be full of chariots and horses, the enemy shall destroy them.
Mingled people - People that were not native Chaldeans, but under their dominion. |
| 38 |
Dried - This phrase has a plain reference to Cyrus's stratagem used in the surprize of
Babylon; one part of it was fortified by the great river Euphrates, which Cyrus diverted
by cutting several channels, 'till he had drained it so low, that it became passable for
his army; others think that a want of rain is here threatened. |
| 40 |
No man - Cyrus only made them tributaries, and took away their government. But
Seleucus Nicanor, a Grecian prince, utterly destroyed Babylon, so that in the time of
Adrian the Roman emperor, there was nothing left standing of that great city. |
Chapter LI
The severe judgment of God against voluptuous, covetous, tyrannical and idolatrous
Babel, in the revenge, and for the redemption of Israel, ver. 1 - 58. Jeremiah delivers
the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates, in token of the perpetual
sinking of Babylon, ver. 59 - 64.
| 5 |
Forsaken - Not utterly forsaken. |
| 6 |
Soul - By soul is meant life, and by iniquity the punishment of the Babylonian's
iniquity. |
| 7 |
Drunken - She had made all the nations about her drunken with the Lord's fury. Mad -
Through the misery they felt from her. |
| 9 |
We - The prophet seems to personate the mercenary soldiers, saying, they would have
helped Babylon, but there was no healing for her. |
| 10 |
Some - These words are spoken in the person of the Jews, owning the destruction of
Babylon to be the mighty work of God, and an act of justice, revenging the wrongs of his
people. |
| 12 |
Set up - These seem to be the prophet's words to the Babylonians, rousing them out of
their security. Historians tell us that the city was fortified by walls of fifty cubits
high, and two hundred cubits broad, and by a very deep and large ditch. |
| 13 |
Waters - Babylon is said to dwell upon many waters, because the great river Euphrates,
did not only run by it, but almost encompass it branching itself into many smaller rivers,
which made several parts of the city, islands. |
| 23 |
Break in pieces - The sense of all these three verses is the same; that God had made
use, and was still making use of the Babylonians to destroy many nations, to spoil much
people, wasting their goods, routing their armies, killing all sorts of their inhabitants.
|
| 25 |
Mountain - Babylon was very high for its power, and greatness, and had very high walls
and towers, that it looked at a distance like an high rocky mountain. They had destroyed
many people. Burnt - Thy cities and towers which appear like a mountain shall be burnt. |
| 27 |
As caterpillars - The Median horses are compared to their insects, either with respect
to their numbers, or in regard of the terror caused by them when they came, being a great
plague to the places which they infected. |
| 29 |
The land - Babylon, or the land of Chaldea. |
| 31 |
At one end - Cyrus entered the city at one end, by the channel of the river, which he
had drained, and surprized Belshazzar in the midst of his feast. |
| 32 |
The passages - The passages over the river Euphrates, and all the other passages by
which the Babylonians might make their escape, were guarded with soldiers. Reeds - On the
border of the river Euphrates were vast quantities of great and tall reeds, which with the
mud in which they stood, were as another wall to the city; but the Medes had burnt them so
as the way was open. |
| 33 |
Threshing floor - Babylon had been a threshing instrument, by which, and a threshing -
floor in which God had threshed many other nations; God now intended to make it as a
threshing - floor wherein he would thresh the Chaldeans. Tread her - So they used to
prepare their threshing - floors against the time of harvest. The time - The harvest which
the justice of God would have from the ruin of the Chaldeans. |
| 34 |
Me - The prophet speaks this in the name of the Jews. Cast me out - As beasts of prey
eat what they please of other beasts they have preyed upon, and leave the rest in the
field. |
| 36 |
Dry up - Alluding to what Cyrus did. |
| 38 |
They - The Babylonians, upon the taking of their city. |
| 39 |
Heat - When they shall grow hot with wine, I will make them a feast of another nature.
Interpreters judge that Belshazzar, Dan 5:1, made a feast to a thousand of
his Lords, when he and his wives, and concubines, drank wine in the vessels belonging to
the temple, during which feast the city was taken. And not awake - While they were merry
with their wine, they fell into a sleep which they never awoke out of. |
| 41 |
Sheshach - A name given to the city of Babylon. |
| 42 |
The sea - A multitude of enemies. |
| 44 |
Bel - Bel was the principal Babylonian idol. Bring forth - All the vessels of the
temple, 2Chron 36:7, and whatever gifts the Babylonians had presented to him.
The wall - And the city of Babylon shall be also ruined. |
| 45 |
Go out of her - At all hazards escape for your lives. |
| 48 |
Then - All the creatures in heaven and earth shall rejoice at the vengeance which God
shall take upon Babylon. |
| 49 |
Of all the earth - This term must be understood in a restrained sense; the Chaldeans
coming up from all parts of Chaldea to help Babylon, were slain there, as by the means of
Babylon the Israelites were slain that came from all parts of Judea to help Jerusalem. |
| 50 |
Ye - Ye Jews, leave Babylon as soon as liberty is proclaimed. Remember - And remember
in Judea the great things both of justice and mercy which God hath done. |
| 51 |
We - We Jews are ashamed to hear the enemies reproaching us, for our God, or for our
religion. Strangers - Pagans that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, are come,
not to worship, but to plunder, the sanctuaries of the Lord; even into the courts of the
priests and of the Israelites; yea, into the most holy place. |
| 52 |
Wherefore - For this profanation of my holy place, I will be revenged not only upon
their idols, but upon the worshippers of them, and cause a groaning of wounded men over
all the country of the Chaldeans. |
| 55 |
The great voice - The noises caused from multitudes of people walking up and
trafficking together. A noise - The noise of her enemies that shall break in upon her
shall be like the roaring of the sea. |
| 56 |
Because - Little more is said here than was before, only the words hint the taking of
Babylon by a surprize when the king, and the inhabitants were not aware of it, which we
had before also told us, ver.39,40. Requite - The wrongs done to his people. |
| 57 |
Drunk - A plain allusion to the posture the king of Babylon, and the thousand of his
lords were in, when their city was taken while they were drinking wine in the bowls that
were brought from the temple at Jerusalem. |
| 58 |
Weary - Though the people should labour to quench this fire, or to rebuild this city,
yet it would be all lost labour. |
| 59 |
In the fourth year - This circumstance lets us know that this prophecy was many years
before Babylon was destroyed; for it was seven years before Jerusalem was taken; so as it
must be above sixty years before it was fulfilled in the first degree. |
| 61 |
Shalt read - Probably to the Jews, that were in Babylon. |
| 62 |
Shalt say - Thou shalt testify that thou believest what thou hast read. |
| 64 |
Weary - With that weight of judgment which shall be upon them. The words - The
prophetical words of Jeremiah; for the matter of the next chapter is historical, and the
book of Lamentations is not prophetical. |
Chapter LII
A repetition of the reign of Zedekiah: of the siege, taking, and destruction of
Jerusalem, with the causes thereof, and what farther happened there, ver. 1 - 30. Evil -
merodach advances Jehoiakim, ver. 31 - 34.
| 2 |
Zedekiah - It is generally thought that this chapter was not penned by Jeremiah, who,
it is not probable, would have so largely repeated what he had related before; and could
not historically relate what happened after his time, as some things did which are
mentioned towards the end of the chapter. Probably it was penned by some of those in
Babylon, and put in here as a preface to the book of Lamentations. |
| 24 |
Three - It is probable there were more keepers of the door, but the captain of the
guard took only three of the chief. |
| 30 |
All the persons were four thousand and six hundred - How amazingly were the Jews
diminished, that this handful was all who were carried captive! |
| 34 |
All the days of his life - Here ends the history of the kingdom of Judah. I shall only
observe the severe judgment of God upon this people, whose kingdom was made up of the two
tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and half the tribe of Manasseh. In the numbering of the
persons belonging to these two tribes, Numb 1:27,35,37, (counting half of the
number of the tribe of Manasseh) we find one hundred twenty - six thousand one hundred: Numb
26:22,34,41, we find of them one hundred forty - eight thousand four hundred and
fifty. Here, ver.52:30, we find no more of them carried into captivity, than
four thousand and six hundred. From whence we may judge what a multitude of them were
slain by the sword, by the famine, and pestilence! It is a dreadful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God, to mock his messengers, despise his words, and misuse his
prophets, 'till there be no remedy, 2Chron 36:16. |
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