_THE ENEMIES SENT AGAINST JUDAH, ENCOURAGE THEMSELVES: GOD SETTETH THEM ON A WORK BECAUSE OF THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. THE PROPHET LAMENTETH THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD BECAUSE OF THEIR SINS: HE PROCLAIMETH GOD'S WRATH: HE CALLETH THE PEOPLE TO MOURN FOR THE JUDGMENT ON THEIR SINS._ _Before Christ 612._... [ Continue Reading ]
O YE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN— Jeremiah continues to inveigh against the disorders of the Jews; he addresses himself to the tribe of Benjamin, to prepare to defend themselves and their city against the Chaldeans; and for that purpose to flee out of the city, and erect their standards in _Tekoa,_ and _Be... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE LIKENED THE DAUGHTER OF ZION— There seems to be nothing in the simile in this verse, that can at all suit with the continuation of it in the third; and therefore I cannot but approve the interpretation which Houbigant and several others give; _I have likened the daughter of Sion to pleasant p... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO US, &C.— This is the complaint of the enemy, that they are retarded from their intended expedition by the approach of the night. In the next verse they determine to go up, though it _be by night;_ whereby the great eagerness of the Chaldeans to undertake the siege, from their confidence of... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST A MOUNT— The margin of our Bibles reads, _Pour out the engine of shot._ The original word סללה _solelah,_ signifies a warlike engine used in sieges for casting stones or missile weapons. See Pilkington's Remarks, and Calmet's Dissertation, _Sur la Milice des anciens Hebreux._... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST MY SOUL DEPART FROM THEE— That is to say, "Lest my affections be utterly alienated from thee, so that I cast off all bowels of compassion towards thee, and give thee up to ruin and desolation." Houbigant renders it, _Lest my soul be alienated,_ &c. See Psalms 81:12 and chap Jeremiah 51:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL THROUGHLY GLEAN THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL AS A VINE— As much as to say, "Come, ye Chaldeans, into my vineyard; make the vintage; gather even to the very last grapes." The people of the Lord are very frequently represented under the figure of a vine, and their enemies as vintagers, or gatherer... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, &C.— Houbigant is of opinion, that these words cannot with any propriety be applied to the prophet; but that they are a continuation of the discourse from Jeremiah 6:9. Accordingly he renders them, _Therefore, I will fulfil my fury, I am weary with bearing these things, I will pour out my... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE HEALED ALSO THE HURT, &C.— _But they apply only a slight medicine to the wounds of the daughter of my people; saying, Peace, peace, when there shall be no peace._ See chap. Jeremiah 8:11. Houbigant renders the latter part of the next verse, _Therefore they shall fall, when I bring their ru... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND YE IN THE WAYS— "Imitate the traveller, when at a loss which way to direct his steps; inquire in what way the patriarchs of old walked: imitate their practices, wherein you will find true comfort and satisfaction." See Lowth and Calmet.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO I SET WATCHMEN OVER YOU— "I have given you prophets, _as watchmen_ or centinels, to advertise you of the approach of the enemy, that you may obey their voice, and prevent the evils which they threaten. But all this has answered no end with you." See Isaiah 56:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HEAR, YE NATIONS— "You, Chaldeans, and all the various people who compose the army coming against Jerusalem; nay, let all the world (Jeremiah 6:19.) be witnesses of the resolutions which I have taken against my people, in just vengeance for their sins,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHAT PURPOSE, &C.— Sheba was part of Arabia Felix, and famous for its incense and perfumes. Respecting the _sweet cane,_ see Isaiah 43:24. The prophet here reproves the hypocrisy of the Jews, who endeavoured to cover their inward corruption by the external appearances of religion:—which the proph... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, A PEOPLE, &C.— The Chaldeans are here again described as in chap. Jeremiah 5:15, &c. a distant nation, violent, cruel, armed with bows and spears, and well mounted: Instead of _sides of the earth,_ we may read, the _coasts, ends,_ or _extremities._... [ Continue Reading ]
GIRD THEE WITH SACKCLOTH— As the wearing of sackcloth girt round the body next the flesh (see 2 Kings 6:30.) is often mentioned in Scripture as usual in times of mourning and lamentation, and appears, according to our notions, a very harsh kind of discipline, it may not be amiss to take notice what... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SET THEE FOR A TOWER, &C.— The prophet in these verses evidently takes his ideas from metals, and the trial of them; and the verbs in the latter clause of this verse, referring to such trial, manifestly require something corresponding in the preceding part. But what have a _tower_ and a _fort... [ Continue Reading ]