_And it came to pass_, &c. Jeremiah here inserts a history of some
things which related to, or had a connection with, his prophecies; (as
we find Isaiah did with regard to his;) and, accordingly, we are here
informed how they came to be written, namely, by the express order of
God, that they might s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take thee a roll of a book_ Compare Isaiah 8:1; Ezekiel 2:9;
Zechariah 5:1. The ancient manner of writing was upon long scrolls of
parchment, which they afterward rolled upon sticks. On these words it
is remarked by Harmer, (vol. 4. chap. 7, obs. 122,) “Many things
were rolled up, much in the shape... [ Continue Reading ]
_It may be that the house of Judah will hear_, &c. That is, will
hearken, and lay to heart, _all the evil, &c., that they may return_,
&c. Blaney translates the verse, “Peradventure the house of Judah
may hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them, so as to return
every one from his evil way,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Jeremiah called Baruch_ Baruch was the most faithful disciple of
this prophet: he served him as long as he lived in the capacity of his
secretary, and never left him till his death. _And Baruch wrote from
the mouth of Jeremiah all the words_, &c. We need not ask how Jeremiah
could remember all... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up_ It is not said, that
“he was shut up in prison” at this time: but barely that _he was
shut up_, or _confined_, as עצור signifies, that is, under some
such confinement, or restraint, as precluded his going to the house of
the Lord. _Therefore go thou... [ Continue Reading ]
_It may be they will present their supplications_ Hebrew, תפל
תחנתם לפני יהוה, _peradventure they may prostrate
themselves in supplication before Jehovah;_ or, more literally, _their
supplication may fall before Jehovah_, which, undoubtedly, says
Blaney, “respects the humble posture of the supplican... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the fifth year, &c., they proclaimed a fast_ “It was customary
among the Jews to proclaim anniversary fasts upon certain days, in
memory of some great calamities which had befallen them at that time.
Of this kind were the fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth
months, mentioned Zechariah... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Michaiah, the son of Shaphan, had heard_, &c. Shaphan's family
were all great men at court: see note on Jeremiah 26:24; _he went down
into the king's house_, &c. It is uncertain whether this Michaiah went
to make this relation to the princes, who sat in the secretary's
chamber, as a piece of n... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they heard all the words_ It is hardly to be imagined that all
these counsellors would sit still till they had heard all the
prophecies read which Jeremiah had uttered for the last twenty-two
years; but _all_ signifies many, or, the substance of all his
prophecies. _They were afraid both one a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they went in to the king into the court_ “They were before, it
is said, Jeremiah 36:12, in the king's house, that is, in the exterior
precincts of the palace, where were apartments and offices fitted up
for the principal officers of state, and for the attendants of the
court. But, from what is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the king sat in the winter-house_ The princes and great men had
distinct houses, or apartments, fitted for the several seasons of the
year, Amos 3:15. _In the ninth month_ Which answers to the latter end
of our November and part of December. _And there was a fire on the
hearth burning before hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jehudi had read three or four leaves_ Hebrew, דלתות,
_rolls_, or _scrolls_, for their books, as we have observed, consisted
of several pieces of parchment rolled upon each other. Dr. Waterland
renders the word _columns_, and Blaney, _sections_, observing that to
render it _leaves_, “seems rath... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet they were not afraid_ No, not those princes that trembled at the
word when they heard it the first time, Jeremiah 36:16. The fear with
which they were then seized quickly wore off, or else they durst not
discover it in the king's presence, who showed no concern himself.
_Nor rent their garments... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nevertheless, Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah had made intercession_,
&c. These three princes appear to have had a greater dread of God upon
their hearts than the rest, for, so far as they durst, they interposed
and besought the king not to burn the roll; but he would not hearken
to their advice; s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah_, &c. Jeremiah now
receives orders to write in another roll the same words that were
written in that which Jehoiakim had burned. Observe well, reader,
though the attempts of hell against the word of God are very daring,
yet not one tittle of it shall fall... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall have none to sit on the throne of David_ That is, none that
shall be king any considerable time; Jeconiah, his son, was set up,
but kept his throne only three months, and left none to succeed him in
a direct line. _And his dead body shall be cast out_ See note on
Jeremiah 22:19. _And I wil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then took Jeremiah another roll_ Here we are shown, that wicked men
gain nothing by opposing themselves to the revealed will of God, how
ungrateful soever it may be to them, but the addition of guilt to
their souls, and the increase of divine wrath; God's counsels shall
stand, and what he speaks sh... [ Continue Reading ]