INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 12 This chapter contains the prophets complaint of the prosperity of the wicked, and the Lord's answer to it; an account of the deplorable and miserable estate of the Jewish nation; and a threatening to the neighbouring nations that had used them ill; with a promise of deli... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUS ART THOU, O LORD, WHEN I PLEAD WITH THEE,.... The six first verses of this chapter properly belong to the preceding, being of the same argument, and in strict connection with the latter part of it. Jeremiah appears to be under the same temptation, on account of the prosperity of the wicked... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST PLANTED THEM,.... In the land of Canaan, fixed the bounds of their habitation, given them a firm and comfortable settlement; for all the good things, even of the wicked, come from God: YEA, THEY HAVE TAKEN ROOT; as everything that is planted does not; but these did, though it was downward... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU, O LORD, KNOWEST ME,.... The Lord knew him before he was born, Jeremiah 1:5, he knew what he designed him for, and what use he would make of him; and he knew him now, and loved him, and cared for him, as his prophet; he knew his sincerity and faithfulness, and took notice of it, with what i... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG SHALL THE LAND MOURN,.... The land of Judea, being desolate, and bringing forth no fruit, through the long drought that had been upon it: AND THE HERBS OF EVERY FIELD WITHER; for want of rain to come upon it: FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF THEM THAT DWELL THEREIN? this opens the cause, the reason... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU HAST RUN WITH THE FOOTMEN, AND THEY HAVE WEARIED THEE,.... The Targum introduces the words thus, "this is the answer which was made to Jeremiah the prophet, concerning his question; a prophet thou art, like to a man that runs with footmen, and is weary.'' THEN HOW CANST THOU CONTEND WITH H... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVEN THY BRETHREN, AND THE HOUSE OF THY FATHER,.... The men of Anathoth; EVEN THEY HAVE DEALT TREACHEROUSLY WITH THEE; by laying schemes, and consulting methods, to take away his life privately; his enemies were those of his own house; which is oftentimes the case of good men, and especially of... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE FORSAKEN MY HOUSE,.... The temple, where the Lord took up his residence, and vouchsafed his presence to his people; this was fulfilled in the first temple, when it was destroyed by the Chaldeans; and more fully in the second, when Christ took his leave of it, Matthew 23:38 and when that voice... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE HERITAGE IS UNTO ME AS A LION IN THE FOREST,.... Which roars, and terrifies passengers from going that way; and which rends and tears in pieces all it meets with. This expresses the clamours of these people against God and his providences, and their rage, fierceness, and cruelty, against his pr... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE HERITAGE IS UNTO ME AS A SPECKLED BIRD,.... Or, "is not mine heritage unto me as a speckled bird?" b as a bird of various colours, delightful to look at, as the peacock, so Jerom interprets it here; it was so formerly, but not so now; or as a bird of various colours, and unusual, which other bi... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY PASTORS HAVE DESTROYED MY VINEYARD,.... This is a metaphor which is often used of the people of Israel and Judah; see Psalms 80:8, the pastors that destroyed them are not their own governors, civil or religious, but Heathen princes, Nebuchadnezzar and his generals. So the Targum paraphrases it... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE MADE IT DESOLATE,.... Which is repeated to denote the certainty of it; astonishment at it, and that it might be observed: AND BEING DESOLATE IT MOURNETH UNTO ME; not the inhabitants of it for their sins, the cause of this desolation; but the land itself, because of the calamities upon it;... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPOILERS ARE COME UPON ALL HIGH PLACES THROUGH THE WILDERNESS,.... Of Judea; or which lay between Chaldea and Judea, through which the Chaldean army came; called here the "spoilers", because they spoiled and plundered all places where they came; nor could the high, strong, and fortified places w... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE SOWN WHEAT, BUT SHALL REAP THORNS,.... Which may be understood literally, the land of Judea being cursed for their sins, and become barren and unfruitful, as the earth originally was for the sin of the first man, Genesis 3:19, or rather figuratively, which some interpret of the prophets as... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD AGAINST ALL MINE EVIL NEIGHBOURS,.... Or, "concerning" h them; the Egyptians, Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Tyre, and Sidon; whom the Lord calls his "neighbours", because they were near the land of Canaan, where his people dwelt, to whom he vouchsafed his presence,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, AFTER THAT I HAVE PLUCKED THEM OUT,.... Not the Jews only, but more especially their neighbouring nations; after they have been plucked up and carried captive, and been in captivity some time: I WILL RETURN, AND HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM; or, "have compassion on them again... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, IF THEY WILL DILIGENTLY LEARN THE WAYS OF MY PEOPLE,.... Not their evil ways of sin or superstition, they sometimes stray into; but the ways which God has prescribed to them, and has directed them to walk in, and in which they do walk; and which are to be learned of the Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF THEY WILL NOT OBEY,.... Or "hear" k; the word of the Lord, and hearken to the ministers of the Gospel, and be subject to the ordinances of it; or as the Targum, "will not receive instruction:'' I WILL UTTERLY PLUCK UP AND DESTROY THAT NATION, SAITH THE LORD: root it up from being a nation,... [ Continue Reading ]