The occasion of this prophecy Jer. 14–15 was a drought, the terrible effects of which are described with much force. Probably, therefore, it belongs to the early years of Jehoiakim, when Jeremiah saw all the efforts of Josiah’s reign utterly frustrated.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEARTH - Really, the drought,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE BLACK UNTO THE GROUND - The people assembled at the gates, the usual places of concourse, are in deep mourning and sit humbly on the ground.... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE ONES - mean ones, the common people. The word is unique to Jeremiah Jeremiah 48:4. THE PITS - i. e., tanks for holding water. COVERED THEIR HEADS - The sign of grief.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS CHAPT - Rather, is dismayed. “The ground” is used metaphorically for the people who until the ground. IN THE EARTH - i. e., “in the land.”... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE DRAGONS - “Like jackals” Jeremiah 9:11. NO GRASS - The keen sight of the wild donkey is well known, but they look around in vain for herb.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THOU IT - Rather, “deal thou, act thou for Thy Name’s sake, i. e., not according to the strict measure of right and wrong, but as a God merciful and gracious.... [ Continue Reading ]
ASTONIED - The word may possibly mean “one who is taken by surprise and loses his presence of mind.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The answer is addressed to the people. Jeremiah had prayed as their representative, but he must not intercede: for to the same degree that God was determined to punish them, to the same degree (thus) they love to continue their offence.” Compare Jeremiah 15:6 note. THEREFORE THE LORD ... - Translat... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR CRY I. E - prayer offered aloud. OBLATION - A meat-offering Leviticus 2:1. THE SWORD, FAMINE, AND PESTILENCE - The two latter ever follow upon the track of the first Ezekiel 5:12, and by these God will consume them, yet so as to leave a remnant. The chastisement, which crushes those who hard... [ Continue Reading ]
The false prophets in Jeremiah’s days were so numerous and influential an to counteract and almost nullify the influence of the true prophet. We find in Isaiah the first indications of the internal decay of the prophetic order; and Micah, his contemporary, denounces the false prophets in the stronge... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINATION - i. e., “conjuring,” the abuse of the less understood powers of nature. It was strictly forbidden to all Jews Deuteronomy 18:10. A THING OF NOUGHT - Probably a small idol made of the more precious metals Isaiah 2:20. These methods the prophet declares to be the “deceit of their heart, i... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL POUR ... - i. e., their wickedness shall be brought home to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
A message from God to the effect that the calamity would be so overwhelming as to cause perpetual weeping; it is set before the people under the representation of Jeremiah’s own sorrow. THE VIRGIN DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE - The epithet testifies to God’s previous care of Judah. She had been as jealous... [ Continue Reading ]
A second (compare Jeremiah 14:7) earnest intercession, acknowledging the wickedness of the nation, but appealing to the covenant and to God’s Almighty power. LOTHED - More exactly, “hath thrown away as worthless.” Jeremiah 14:20 OUR WICKEDNESS, AND - Omit and. National sin is the sin of the fathe... [ Continue Reading ]