_THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON THE JEWS FOR THEIR PERVERSENESS, FOR THEIR ADULTERY, FOR THEIR IMPIETY, FOR THEIR CONTEMPT OF GOD, AND FOR THEIR GREAT CORRUPTION IN THE CIVIL STATE, AND ECCLESIASTICAL._ _Before Christ 612._... [ Continue Reading ]
RUN YE TO AND FRO— This is a continuation of the preceding discourse, wherein the Almighty justifies the severities of the judgments denounced in the former chapter. The expressions are strong, but not to be taken precisely in the letter; signifying only the extreme degeneracy of the times, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THEY SWEAR FALSELY— _Nevertheless,_ &c. See Jeremiah 5:7 and ch. Jeremiah 4:2. Let what we say be ever so true, if we believe it not to be so, we have not spoken truth. Custom has brought many to church and to meeting, who forget why they came thither when they are there; and too frequently d... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT THINE EYES UPON THE TRUTH?— The eyes turned upon, or towards an object, denote, not only a diligent inspection and nice discernment of it, but also an earnest expectation or looking after it. The phrase may here be taken in both senses, that God both seeth and discerneth the truth, and also... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE I SAID, SURELY, &C.— The meaning of this verse is sufficiently plain from that which follows. Houbigant, however, renders it better thus: _But I thought thus with myself; these men of mean condition are certainly foolish, because they have not known,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE A LION, &C.— By the _lion,_ say some, Nebuchadnezzar is meant: see chap. Jeremiah 4:7. By the _wolf,_ Nabuzaradan; and by the _leopard,_ Antiochus Epiphanes. Others by the _lion_ think that the Babylonians are understood; by the _wolf_ the Medes and Persians; and by the _leopard_ the Greek... [ Continue Reading ]
GO YE UP, &C.— See Jeremiah 5:17 and the note on Jeremiah 5:27 of the preceding chapter. Instead of _take away her battlements,_ &c. Houbigant reads, _Leave her foundations, for they are the Lord's._ See his note. It is well known from history, that the Chaldeans left the foundations of the walls of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID, IT IS NOT HE— היא לוא _lo hu._ "Not He;" that is, either, he hath not spoken, or, he will not do as the prophets have threatened in his name. See Psalms 94:7. For they said, Jehovah will not see, Neither will the God of Jacob regard.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PROPHETS SHALL BECOME WIND— These are the words of the wicked. _"The prophets,"_ say they, _"shall become wind;"_ all their prophesies are vain and to no purpose. _"The word_ [that is to say, of true prophesy] _is not in them: Thus shall it be done unto them;_ nay, the very evils which they... [ Continue Reading ]
SO SHALL YE SERVE STRANGERS— Some understand and read this, _strange gods;_ but it seems best to understand it of strange people. "As you have refused to have me for your God, your master, and king, you shall have other kings and masters in a strange land, and shall experience the difference between... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US NOW FEAR THE LORD— The vicissitudes of seasons, of cold and heat, of drought and moisture, so wisely fitted for the growth of the fruits of the earth, and other uses of human life, are so remarkable a proof of the being of a God, and his providence, as to be obvious to the meanest capacity; a... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A CAGE IS FULL OF BIRDS— _A trap-cage._ כלוב _kelub,_ comes from כלב _keleb,_ a _dog;_ and this name was undoubtedly given to the trap-cage, because it served the same purpose as a dog in assisting to catch game. That sort of trap-cage also seems to be alluded to, in which tame birds are put to h... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THEY OVERPASS, &C.— _Yea, they have exceeded all expression of wickedness;_ or, _have been wicked beyond expression._ Houbigant renders it, _Therefore they burst forth into words of iniquity._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHETS PROPHESY FALSELY— Instead of, _The priests bear rule by their means,_ Houbigant and others render it, _And the priests give them their hands;_ that is to say, approve, applaud, and unite with them in the same false and destructive measures; both priests and prophets agreeing to speak pl... [ Continue Reading ]