In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, Ver. 1. _In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim._] What a sudden change was here, soon after the death of good Josiah! And was there not the like in England after the death of that E... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: Ver. 2. _Diminish not a word._] Or, Detract not aught, viz., for fear or favour,... [ Continue Reading ]
If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. Ver. 3. _That I may repent me of the evil; because of the evil._] _Flagitium et flagellum sicut acus et filum; _ evil of sin produ... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, Ver. 4. _If ye will not hearken unto me._] A conditional menace, the contrary promise whereunto see Jeremiah 26:13. And this was the sum of all Jeremiah's sermons.... [ Continue Reading ]
To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending [them], but ye have not hearkened; Ver. 5. _Both rising early, and sending them._] See Jeremiah 7:13; Jeremiah 11:7; Jeremiah 25:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. Ver. 6. _Then will I make this house like Shiloh._] This same threat Jeremiah had uttered in good Josiah's days, Jer 7:12-14 and no harm ensued. Now, _tempora mutantur,_ truth breedeth hatred;... [ Continue Reading ]
So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. Ver. 7. _So the priests and the prophets._] Like unto these prophets were the scribes and the lawyers in Christ's time. _a_ a _Verbum Domini parit crucem._ The word of God brought forth... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded [him] to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die._ Ver. 8. _That the priests and the prophets, &c._] So they dealt by Steph... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD._ Ver. 9. _Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord?_] Who doubtless... [ Continue Reading ]
When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S [house]. Ver. 10. _When the princes of Judah heard those things._] _Pii viri sunt quibus doluit populi impietas; _ good men they... [ Continue Reading ]
Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man [is] worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. Ver. 11. _Then spake the priests and the prophets._] Against a priest and a prophet; but he had earnestly i... [ Continue Reading ]
Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Ver. 12. _The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house._] In this apology of the prophet thus answering for himself with... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. Ver. 13. _Amend your ways._] Fall out with your faults, and not with your friends. See Jeremiah 7:3 . _ And the Lord will repent him... [ Continue Reading ]
As for me, behold, I [am] in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. Ver. 14. _As for me, behold, I am in your hand._] See here how God gave his holy prophet a mouth and wisdom, such as his adversaries were not able to resist. The like he did to other of his martyrs and confessors,... [ Continue Reading ]
But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. Ver. 15. _Ye shall surely bring innocent blood, &c._]... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man [is] not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God._ Ver. 16. _Then said the princes and all the people._] The _mobile vulgus._ changeable mob, on Jeremiah 26:9. The good prophet i... [ Continue Reading ]
Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying, Ver. 17. _Then rose up certain of the elders._] _Viri illi admodum venerabiles erant,_ saith Oecolampadius. These were very worthy men, whether princes or pleaders, well read in the annals of the ti... [ Continue Reading ]
Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed [like] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. Ver. 18. _Micah the... [ Continue Reading ]
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. Ver. 19. _Did Hezekiah king of Judah._] Laudable example... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: Ver. 20. _And there was also a man._] This seemeth to be the plea of the adverse party, produ... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; Ver. 21. _And when Jehoiakim._] This tiger laid hold with his teeth on all the excellent spirits o... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, [namely], Elnathan the son of Achbor, and [certain] men with him into Egypt. Ver. 22. _And Jehoiakim sent men into Egypt._] Where he might have anything, for he was Pharaoh's feudatory and vassal.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. Ver. 23. _And they set forth Uriah out of Egypt._] As they did here Sir John Cheek out of the Low Countries, and frightened... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. Ver. 24. _Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam._] Who had been one of Josiah's counsellors. 2Ki 22:12 By this man's authority and help Jeremiah was deliver... [ Continue Reading ]