Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Ver. 1. _Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying._] The prophet being thus called and confirmed, _as _ Jer 1:1-19 sets forthwith upon the work. _Est autem hoc caput plenum querelae, et quasi continuum pathos._ In this chapter the Lord heav... [ Continue Reading ]
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land [that was] not sown. Ver. 2. _Go thou and cry._] For if I myself should do it immediately from heaven, m... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. Ver. 3. _Israel was holiness unto the Lord._] A people consecrated and set apart for his peculiar; Exo 19:5 Psa 114:2 holy with a federal holiness... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Ver. 4. _Hear ye the word of the Lord._] This is often inculcated in both Testaments, to procure attention. "I received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you." 1Co 11:23 "This we say unto you by... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Ver. 5. _What iniquity have your fathers found in me?_] How unreasonable was their apostasy! and how senseless is your pleading from their example! No... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither said they, Where [is] the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? Ver. 6. _Neither s... [ Continue Reading ]
And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. Ver. 7. _And I brought you into a plentiful country._] You lived in my good land, but not by my good laws; you had _aequissi... [ Continue Reading ]
The priests said not, Where [is] the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after [things that] do not profit. Ver. 8. The priests said not, _a_ Where is the Lord?] Ignorant they were, and idle. They... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead._ Ver. 9. _I will yet plead with you,_] _i.e., _ Debate the case with you, and set you down by sound reason. So he did to our first parents when they had sinned; but doomed the serpent without any m... [ Continue Reading ]
For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Ver. 10. _For pass over the isles of Chittim._] The western parts of the world - Greece, Italy, Cyprus, &c. _ And send unto Kedar._] The eastern parts, where dwell Kedarens,... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for [that which] doth not profit. Ver. 11. _Hath a nation changed their gods?_] No; they are too pertinacious in their superstitions. Xenophon saith it was an oracle of Apollo, that those gods are ri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD._ Ver. 12. _Be astonished, O heavens!_] A poetic and pathetic expression. Compare Deu 32:1 Isaiah 1:2 . _ Be horribly afraid._] _Horripilamini portento malitiae, quod iam dicturus sum; _ be aghast at... [ Continue Reading ]
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Ver. 13. _For my people have committed two evils._] Contrary to those two good things that I have commanded them, viz., "Depart from e... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah 2:14 [Is] Israel a servant? [is] he a homeborn [slave]? why is he spoiled? Ver. 14. _Is Israel a servant?_] _sc., _ Bought with money. _a_ Is he a homeborn slave?] _Verna,_ a slave by birth; _q.d., _ if he be either of the two, he may thank himself. He was my son, nay, my spouse, if he co... [ Continue Reading ]
The young lions roared upon him, [and] yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. Ver. 15. _The young lions roared upon him, and yelled,_] _i.e., _ The King of Babylon and his forces, more fierce and fell than young lions. Would any take the Church's picture? sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. Ver. 16. _Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes._] Two chief cities of Egypt, the inhabitants whereof were said to be most effeminate and servile fellows; _a_ even these shall overtop thee, knock thee down, as an ox by a b... [ Continue Reading ]
Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way? Ver. 17. _Hast thou not procured this to thyself?_] The same may the Lord say to every sufferer: and further add, "Did not I warn you, saying, Sin not against the child?" Gen 42:22 Oh... [ Continue Reading ]
And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? Ver. 18. _And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt?_] Why trusteth thou to carnal combinations, which thou hast formerly found to... [ Continue Reading ]
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. Ver. 19. _Thine own wickedness shall correct th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot._ Ver. 20. _For of old time I have broken thy yoke._] Or, For when of old I broke thy yoke, &c. - _sc., _ i... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? _Ver 21. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine._] Heb., A sorek, or with slips of sorek. Jdg 16:4 See Isaiah 5:3, a parallel text; Exodus 15:17 Psalms 44:3; Psalms 8... [ Continue Reading ]
For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, [yet] thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. Ver. 22. _For though thou wash thee with nitre._] Much used of old by fullers and neat laundresses, say Isidore and Athanasius, _a_ now not known in these parts; apothecaries... [ Continue Reading ]
How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: [thou art] a swift dromedary traversing her ways; Ver. 23. _How canst thou say, I am not polluted?_] _q.d., _ With what face? but that sin hath woaded an impudence in thy face.... [ Continue Reading ]
A wild ass used to the wilderness, [that] snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. Ver. 24. _A wild ass used to the wilderness._] Untameable and untractable, Job 39:8 especially w... [ Continue Reading ]
Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. Ver. 25. _Withhold thy foot from being unshod, &c._] Cease thy vain vagaries to the wearing out of thy shoes, and exposing thyself to extreme... [ Continue Reading ]
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Ver. 26. _As the thief is ashamed when he is found._] As usually he is at length, notwithstanding all his sleights and wiles. That was a cunning thie... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us._ Ver. 27. _Saying to a stock, Thou art my father,_] _i.e., _ My God. Isa 44:17 W... [ Continue Reading ]
But where [are] thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. Ver. 28. _But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee?_] Thou hast sure no need of my help. _Quasi tu huius ind... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD._ Ver. 29. _Wherefore will ye plead with me?_] Putting me to my proofs. Is not the case clear enough? Will ye not yield to reason? See on Jeremiah 2:19 . _ Ye all have transgressed against me._] And yet ye have t... [ Continue Reading ]
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. Ver. 30. _In vain have I smitten your children._] My hammers have but beaten cold iron; ye are incorrigible, irreformable. See Isaiah 1:5. _See Trapp on "_ Isa 1:5... [ Continue Reading ]
O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? Ver. 31. _O generation, see ye the word of the Lord,_] _q.d., _ O generation, rather leonine than human! as Jeremiah 2:30. "See... [ Continue Reading ]
Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. Ver. 32. _Can a maid forget her ornaments?_] Not lightly or easily, as minding them many times more than is meet, and then their ornaments are but the nest of pride; and while they think t... [ Continue Reading ]
Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways. Ver. 33. _Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love?_] _Cur bonificas?_ so Calvin rendereth it why dost thou make good thy way? that is, set a good gloss upon it, even the best side outwards. The same wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. Ver. 34. _Also in thy skirts._] In the skirts of thy garments. Heb., In thy wings - an allusion, say some, to birds of prey, which stain their wings with the blood of... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. Ver. 35. _Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent._] _Antiquum obtines; _ thou standest still upon thy justification. This doubleth thy fault. _Homo ag... [ Continue Reading ]
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. Ver. 36. Why gaddest thou _a_ about so much to change thy way?] Or, Changing thy way; as hoping some way to mend thyself. Keep home, and trust God; go further, and fare worse. Cre... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them. Ver. 37. _Yea, thou shalt go from him._] Or, From hence, into captivity. _ With thine hands._] Lamenting, as did Tamar. 2Sa 13:19 _ For the Lord hath... [ Continue Reading ]