_O ye children of Benjamin_, &c. The prophet proceeds in his
remonstrances, rebukes, and faithful warnings to the disobedient Jews.
A great part of Jerusalem stood in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua
18:28; on which account, and because Jeremiah, being of Anathoth, was
of that tribe, and probably lived... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have likened_, &c. There being nothing for _woman_ in the Hebrew
text, and the word נוה, here rendered _comely_, frequently
signifying a _pasture_, a _sheep-fold_, and _a habitation_, the verse
is translated different ways by learned men. Houbigant and several
others read it and the next verse th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prepare ye war against her_ The prophet now drops the metaphor, and
tells them in plain terms whom he means by the _shepherds_ namely,
_warriors._ These seem to be the words of God giving a commission to
the Chaldeans, by his prophet, to make war upon Jerusalem. _Arise, and
let us go up at noon_, &... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thus hath the Lord of hosts said_ To the Chaldeans: God would
have the Jews to know, that they have not so much to do with the
Chaldeans as with him; that they are his rod to scourge them for their
sins. And thus God is said to hiss for, or hist, those whom he would
employ in such work, Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem_, &c. Take warning by the many
threatenings and judgments I have denounced against thee; amend thy
ways and doings, lest, if thou persist in thy wickedness, I be utterly
alienated from thee; and I cast off all bowels of compassion toward
thee, and give thee up to rui... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall thoroughly glean_ As if he had said, Come, ye Chaldeans,
into my vineyard; collect the vintage; gather even to the very last
grapes; _the remnant of Israel as a vine_ The prophet, by this, seems
to express, that all the remains of the Israelites, who had escaped
when the main body of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_To whom shall I speak and give warning?_ I cannot find out any that
will so much as give me a patient hearing, much less will any take
warning. I cannot speak with any hope of success. _Behold, their ear
is uncircumcised_ A figurative expression, not unfrequent with the
prophets, signifying the rej... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore I am full of the fury_ את חמת, _the anger_, or
_wrath_, as it should rather have been rendered; _of the Lord_ An
expression which is to be understood of that divine justice which is
worthy of God, and which inflicts most heavy, and yet most just,
punishment on the obstinately wicked, afte... [ Continue Reading ]
_For, from the least of them_, &c. Old and young, rich and poor, high
and low, those of all ranks, professions, and employments; _every one
is given to covetousness_ Greedy of filthy lucre; and this made them
oppressive, for of that evil, as well as others, the love of money is
the bitter root. Nay,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stand ye in the ways_, &c. He now turns his speech to the people, and
gives them counsel; by a metaphor taken from travellers, who, being in
doubt of their way, stand still, and consider, whether the direction,
which they have received from some false guide, be right or not. _Ask
for the old paths_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore hear, ye nations_ The very heathen are called upon to take
notice of these threatenings and denunciations of God's wrath against
the Jews, lest they should think that the calamities which were soon
to fall upon that people had happened by chance, and not by the
appointment of that God who... [ Continue Reading ]
_To what purpose incense from Sheba?_ Sheba was a part of Arabia
Felix, and famous for its spices and perfumes, Isaiah 9:6. Here the
prophet reproves the hypocrisy of the Jews, who sought to cover their
inward corruption by the external shows of religion; which the
prophets often declare to be of no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people_ I will suffer
such things to be laid in their way as shall be the occasion of their
destruction. Or, I will bring calamities upon them, by which they
shall fall. _The neighbour and his friend shall perish_ Men of all
sorts and conditions. _Beh... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have set thee for a tower_, &c. According to this reading, God
speaks here by way of encouragement to the prophet, and tells him he
had made him a fortified tower, that he might be safe, notwithstanding
all the attempts of the wicked against him. But Lowth, with some
others, thinks that “the sens... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are all grievous revolters_ Obstinate and refractory; _walking
with slanders_ Making it their business to detract from thee and the
other prophets. Blaney translates the clause, _They are all of them
the dross of revolters, passing with a fraudulent currency;_ an
interpretation for which he as... [ Continue Reading ]