The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Ver. 1. _The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord._] To him it came, but to be imparted to other prophets, say some; priests of Anathoth, say others, Jer 11:2 which might be the reason why they were so enraged against him, and sought his lif... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; Ver. 2. Hear ye the words - and speak ye.] Ye priests, whose ordinary office it is to teach Jacob God's judgments, and Israel his law. Deu 33:10... [ Continue Reading ]
And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed [be] the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Ver. 3. _And say thou unto them._] Thou, Jeremiah, whether the rest will join with thee or not. _ Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant._] It is proba... [ Continue Reading ]
Which I commanded your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: Ver. 4. _From the iron furnace._] Where iron is melted,... [ Continue Reading ]
That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as [it is] this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD. Ver. 5. _A land flowing with milk and honey._] With plenty of dainties. The city of Aleppo is so called by the Turks,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them. Ver. 6. _Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them._] Else ye hear to no purpose; as the salamander liveth in the fire, and is... [ Continue Reading ]
For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day [that] I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, [even] unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. Ver. 7. _Rising early,_] _i.e., _ Endeavouring earnestly. See Jeremiah 5:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded [them] to do; but they did [them] not. Ver. 8. _Yet they obeyed not._] See Jeremiah 7:24 . _ Therefore I will... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Ver. 9. _A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah._] A combination in sinful courses, this is not unity but conspiracy. See Ezekiel 22:25 Hosea 6:9. Such is the unity of the Antichri... [ Continue Reading ]
They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Ver. 10. _They are turned away to the iniquities of their fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. Ver. 11. _Which they shall not be able to escape._] To avert, avoid, or abide. _ I will not hearken unto them._] See Pro 1:28... [ Continue Reading ]
Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. Ver. 12. Then shall the cities of Judah … go and cry unto the gods.] Or, Let them go and cry unto them - _q.d., _ let... [ Continue Reading ]
For [according to] the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and [according to] the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to [that] shameful thing, [even] altars to burn incense unto Baal. Ver. 13. _For according to the number of thy cities._] See Jeremiah 2:28 . _ And ac... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear [them] in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. Ver. 14. _Therefore pray not thou for this people._] See on Jeremiah 7:16 . _ When they cry unto me for their trouble._] It is not the... [ Continue Reading ]
What hath my beloved to do in mine house, [seeing] she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. Ver. 15. _What hath my beloved to do in mine house?_] _i.e., _ Mine once beloved people, which had the liberty of mine house, an... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, [and] of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. Ver. 16. _The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree._] Green all the year long, fair and fruitful; this was thy prosperous... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal. Ver. 17. _For the evil of the house of Israel._] That "evil" by a... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD hath given me knowledge [of it], and I know [it]: then thou shewedst me their doings. Ver. 18. _And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it,_] _i.e., _ Of the treacherous plot of my countrymen of Anathoth against me, who should never have dreamt of any such danger; _Deus pro suis excuba... [ Continue Reading ]
But I [was] like a lamb [or] an ox [that] is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. Ver. 19. _But I was... [ Continue Reading ]
But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause. Ver. 20. _But, O Lord of hosts._] Thou who art _potentissimus et liberrimus,_ a most powerful and free agent. _ That triest the reins and t... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: Ver. 21. _Of the men of Anathoth that seek thy life._] Where shall a man find worse friends than at home? A prophet is nowhere so little set by as i... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine: Ver. 22. _Behold, I will punish them._] _Sic tandem bona causa triumphat._ The visible vengeance of God followeth close at the heels of the p... [ Continue Reading ]
And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, [even] the year of their visitation. Ver. 23. _And there shall be no remnant._] Behold the severity of God: their bloody design was to destroy Jeremiah's stock and fruit, stalk and grain together. Jer 11:19 God m... [ Continue Reading ]