_JEREMIAH IS SENT TO CALL FOR TRUE REPENTANCE, TO PREVENT THE JEWS'
CAPTIVITY: HE REJECTETH THEIR VAIN CONFIDENCE, BY THE EXAMPLE OF
SHILOH: HE THREATENETH THEM FOR THEIR IDOLATRY: HE REJECTETH THE
SACRIFICE, OF THE DISOBEDIENT: HE EXHORTETH TO MOURN FOR THEIR
ABOMINATIONS IN TOPHET, AND DECLARES TH... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH— We have here a new discourse, which
reaches to the 13th chapter, wherein the prophet declaims against the
vices of Judah and Jerusalem, particularly their hypocrisy and false
confidence in their religious principles; delivering also some threats
against Edom, Moab, Am... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD ARE THESE— These _gates,_ in which Jeremiah
was commanded to stand: so in the Gospel our Savour says, _See you all
these things?_ pointing to the temple, of which one stone was not to
be left upon another. The threefold repetition of _the temple of the
Lord,_ expresses great v... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE DELIVERED TO DO— _We are delivered, though we have done,_ &c.
The old version of 1611 renders it, _We have been delivered, though we
have done,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GO YE NOW UNTO MY PLACE WHICH WAS IN SHILOH— Shiloh was the
place where, upon the first coming of the Israelites into Canaan, the
tabernacle, in which was the ark of God's presence, was set up, by
divine appointment no doubt; and there it continued for a long space
of time until the days of Samu... [ Continue Reading ]
RISING UP EARLY, &C.— See 2 Chronicles 36:15. The phrase means,
"making all possible haste, and using every endeavour, continually and
carefully preventing you with my remonstrances: I employed, with all
possible attention, severity, and softness, promises and threats; but
all to no purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THE WHOLE SEED OF EPHRAIM— The ten tribes, who were sent into
captivity in the reign of Hezekiah, the great-grandfather of Josiah,
under whom Jeremiah prophesied.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, PRAY NOT THOU, &C.— This is not said to Jeremiah, because
God would not have him affected with love for his country; but to
assure him, that if he prayed it would be in vain, as he had
determined to punish the incorrigible sins of the Jews. These
expressions, however, admirably mark out t... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN— _The queen of heaven_ was the _moon;_ the
same as _Astarte_ or _Ashtaroth._ The prophet here describes the whole
family as busied in preparing their sacrifices and superstitious rites
to this idol. Houbigant renders the words _other gods,_ very properly,
by _strange gods;_ an... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT YOUR BURNT-OFFERINGS, &C.— Houbigant renders this, _Put together
your burnt-offerings with your peace-offerings; and eat their flesh._
The meaning is, "Eat your sacrifices yourselves, your burnt-offerings
and your peace-offerings. I am equally regardless of one and the
other. I have nothing to d... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WENT BACKWARD, &C.— _And they turned from me, and not towards
me,_ (Jeremiah 7:25.). _Since the day that your fathers came forth out
of the land of Egypt, unto this day. And I sent unto them,_ &c.
_JEREMIAH 7:27. THEREFORE,_ &C.— _And when thou shalt speak all
these things unto them, they will... [ Continue Reading ]
CUT OFF THINE HAIR, O JERUSALEM— See Job 1:20. Isaiah 15:2 and
Ezekiel 27:31. Jerusalem is here addressed as a woman under extreme
misery, and exhorted to take upon her the habit and disposition of a
mourner, and to bewail the calamities which were fallen upon her.
Instead of, _Take up a lamentation... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGH PLACES OF TOPHET— The valley of Hinnom, or of the son of
Hinnom, was near Jerusalem, and was the scene of those horrid
sacrifices which the Israelites, in imitation of their idolatrous
neighbours, made of their Children to Moloch. Tophet was the
particular spot in the valley where the fires... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER— The reason of this name is given in the
words immediately following; _for they shall bury in Tophet till there
be no place:—"_Till it is intirely filled, and there is no vacant
space left." Houbigant and the Vulgate render the last clause, _And
they shall bury in Tophet,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WILL I CAUSE TO CEASE, &C.— "There shall be no more marriages;
no more shall the voice of mirth and rejoicing be heard; or the sound
of musical instruments, which usually attends this sort of festivals."
See Pindar's third Pythian Ode, line 30.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, This chapter begins a new sermo... [ Continue Reading ]