Jeremiah 6:1-8
THE ADVICE TO FLEE FROM JERUSALEM... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ADVICE TO FLEE FROM JERUSALEM... [ Continue Reading ]
O ye children of Benjamin, here addressed particularly because Jerusalem was situated on the border of their territory and because Jeremiah wanted to appeal especially to the members of his own tribe in the capital city, GATHER YOURSELVES TO FLEE OUT OF THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM, to escape the impendin... [ Continue Reading ]
I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman, literally, "The comely and delicate one! I destroy the daughter of Zion," laying waste the city and the entire country, as a rich and luxuriant meadow is laid waste by senseless cropping.... [ Continue Reading ]
The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her, the hostile armies under their cruel generals; THEY SHALL PITCH THEIR TENTS AGAINST HER ROUND ABOUT; THEY SHALL FEED EVERY ONE IN HIS PLACE, ruthlessly pasturing and treading down the territory which he occupies. The invaders are now pictured as e... [ Continue Reading ]
Prepare ye war against her, literally, "sanctify war," the reference being to the solemn ceremonies with which a campaign of war was opened; ARISE AND LET US GO UP AT NOON, their zeal to attack being so great that even the unfavorable hour of noon could not detain them. WOE UNTO US! FOR THE DAY GOET... [ Continue Reading ]
Arise and let us go by night, in spite of the night and all unfavorable circumstances, AND LET US DESTROY HER PALACES, all her lofty buildings including her fortifications.... [ Continue Reading ]
For thus hath the Lord of hosts said, either the prophet or the enemies inserting this statement in explanation of the assault made on Jerusalem, HEW YE DOWN TREES AND CAST A MOUNT AGAINST JERUSALEM, constructing breastworks for the siege. THIS IS THE CITY TO BE VISITED, where punishment is well app... [ Continue Reading ]
As a fountain casteth out her waters, a well causing its water to flow in a steady and uninterrupted quantity, SO SHE CASTETH OUT HER WICKEDNESS, which springs forth in a steady stream; VIOLENCE AND SPOIL, injustice and plunder, IS HEARD IN HER, because she was given to these forms of wickedness; BE... [ Continue Reading ]
Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, so the Lord addresses her in a tender appeal, LEST MY SOUL DEPART FROM THEE, unwilling as His love is to take this step, LEST I MAKE THEE DESOLATE, A LAND NOT INHABITED, this warning being repeated here once more, in order to cause her to return to her senses. An app... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, They, namely, the invaders whose approach was here prophesied, SHALL THOROUGHLY GLEAN THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL AS A VINE, not hastily nor superficially, but with the greatest thoroughness, as the divine judgment is ever executed. TURN BACK THINE HAND AS A GRAPE-GATHERER IN... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHET VOICES THE FURY OF THE LORD... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom shall I speak and give warning, so the prophet now voices his objection, THAT THEY MAY HEAR? Of what use is all remonstrance under such circumstances? BEHOLD, THEIR EAR IS UNCIRCUMCISED, closed against all admonitions by their own carnal-mindedness, AND THEY CANNOT HEARKEN, owing to the hard... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord, so that its abundance must voice itself, like a stream overflowing its banks; I AM WEARY WITH HOLDING IN, restraint was no longer a virtue; I WILL POUR IT OUT UPON THE CHILDREN ABROAD, those playing in the streets and lanes, AND UPON THE ASSEMBLY OF YOUNG... [ Continue Reading ]
And their houses shall be turned unto others, transferred to them as the spoils of war, WITH THEIR FIELDS AND WIVES TOGETHER. Cf Deuteronomy 28:30; FOR I WILL STRETCH OUT MY HAND UPON THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND, SAITH THE LORD, namely, for the purpose of chastising them.... [ Continue Reading ]
For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, all classes of people, those of no influence as well as the powerful and mighty, EVERY ONE IS GIVEN TO COVETOUSNESS, the love of money suppressing every good intention, every laudable purpose; AND FROM THE PROPHET EVEN UNTO THE PRIEST, the v... [ Continue Reading ]
They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, touching upon the faults and transgressions of the body politic in a superficial manner only, SAYING, PEACE, PEACE! WHEN THERE IS NO PEACE. The prophets and priests, the leaders of the people, who were, by God's command, the watch... [ Continue Reading ]
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? rather, "They are put to shame because they have wrought abominable things. " NAY, THEY WERE NOT AT ALL ASHAMED, NEITHER COULD THEY BLUSH; they were devoid of all sense of decency, of all feeling of shame. THEREFORE THEY SHALL FALL AMONG THEM TH... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the Lord, rather, "Thus has Jehovah spoken," namely, in the ancient days, when He had shown the children of His chosen people the way of salvation. STAND YE IN THE WAYS AND SEE, looking around on all sides, AND ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS, diligently inquiring for the paths traveled in ancient... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPENDING JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED... [ Continue Reading ]
Also I set watchmen over you, seers and prophets, whose duty it was to point out threatening calamities to the people and thus to lead them to repentance, SAYING, HEARKEN TO THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET, which was blown for the purpose of rallying the children of Israel around the banner of the true God... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore hear, ye nations, the Gentile people everywhere, AND KNOW, O CONGREGATION, either the entire assembly of the nations which are here summoned, or the faithful few in Israel who still formed the Church of Jehovah, WHAT IS AMONG THEM, what punishment the Lord is about to inflict. And the prop... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear, O EARTH! BEHOLD, I, Jehovah Himself, as He brings out with emphasis, WILL BRING EVIL UPON THIS PEOPLE, EVEN THE FRUIT OF THEIR THOUGHTS, the result of their counsels, the consequence of their evil scheming, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HEARKENED UNTO MY WORDS NOR TO MY LAW, BUT REJECTED IT.... [ Continue Reading ]
To what purpose cometh there to Me incense from Sheba, that from the coasts and islands of Southern Arabia, AND THE SWEET CANE, the calamus, FROM A FAR COUNTRY? the root of which was used in the preparation of the anointing-oil. All external worship without faith of the heart and the obedience of lo... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore, thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people, the devices of the enemies which would bring about their ruin, AND THE FATHERS AND THE SONS TOGETHER, both being equally guilty, SHALL FALL UPON THEM; THE NEIGHBOR AND HIS FRIEND SHALL PERISH, all the people with... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth, from its remotest regions, the expression being vague in agreement with the indefinite geographical notions to be found among the Jews at that time. The Chaldean horde... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall lay hold on bow and spear, as weapons of offense, of powerful attack; THEY ARE CRUEL AND HAVE NO MERCY, giving no quarter, determined on merciless extinction; THEIR VOICE ROARETH LIKE THE SEA, in their angry or triumphant battle-cry; AND THEY RIDE UPON HORSES, SET IN ARRAY AS MEN FOR WAR,... [ Continue Reading ]
We have heard the fame thereof, the report which was spread about their prowess, OUR HANDS WAX FEEBLE, sinking down without a show of resistance; ANGUISH HATH TAKEN HOLD OF US AND PAIN AS OF A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL.... [ Continue Reading ]
Go not forth into the field, in venturing outside of the walls of Jerusalem, NOR WALK BY THE WAY, along the roads of Judah; FOR THE SWORD OF THE ENEMY AND FEAR IS ON EVERY SIDE. All these facts are set forth as the basis of another appeal.... [ Continue Reading ]
O daughter of My people, the nation which the Lord has chosen for His own, GIRD THEE WITH SACKCLOTH, the garment of repentance, AND WALLOW THYSELF IN ASHES, in an excess of sorrow and grief; MAKE THEE MOURNING, AS FOR AN ONLY SON, MOST BITTER LAMENTATION, such as was expressed by beating the breast;... [ Continue Reading ]
I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among My people, literally, "as a prover," or explorer, and an assayer, one who separates the metal from the dross, THAT THOU MAYEST KNOW AND TRY THEIR WAY, testing it out for truth and solid worth.... [ Continue Reading ]
They are all grievous revolters, mutineers and betrayers in the highest degree, WALKING WITH SLANDERS, deliberately seeking opportunities to indulge in slandering and reviling others; THEY ARE BRASS AND IRON, debased and hardened in their opposition to the Lord; THEY ARE ALL CORRUPTERS, having only... [ Continue Reading ]
The bellows are burned, in the long process which was intended to purify the people and produce some amount of gold, THE LEAD IS CONSUMED OF THE FIRE, or, "out of its fire comes lead," instead of the precious metal which the Lord had a right to expect; THE FOUNDER MELTETH IN VAIN, there were no such... [ Continue Reading ]
Reprobate silver shall men call them, silver so thoroughly mixed with the baser metals as to be worthless for all ordinary purposes, BECAUSE THE LORD HATH REJECTED THEM. All those whom the Lord has tried in the oven of His test, whom He has found wanting in the qualities which should be found in a t... [ Continue Reading ]