INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 16 In this chapter the ruin and destruction of the Jews is set forth, and confirmed by the prophet's being forbid to be merry, or to go into the house of feasting or mourning, with the reasons thereof; also the sins of the people, the cause of it, are pointed at; and afterw... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING. The Targum is, the word of prophecy from the Lord: whether this is a new prophecy, or the former continued, is not certain; the latter seems probable. This introduction is omitted in the Septuagint and Arabic versions.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL NOT TAKE THEE A WIFE,.... Not because it was unlawful; for it was lawful for prophets to marry, and they did; but because it was not advisable, on account of the calamities and distresses which were coming upon the nation; which would be more bearable by him alone, than if he had a wife,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD CONCERNING THE SONS AND CONCERNING THE DAUGHTERS THAT ARE BORN IN THIS PLACE,..... This is a reason given why the prophet should not have, and why he should not be desirous to have, sons and daughters in such a place and country, devoted to destruction: AND CONCERNING THEIR... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL DIE OF GRIEVOUS DEATHS,.... Such as the sword, famine, and pestilence. The Targum particularly adds famine. It may be rendered, "deaths of diseases, or sicknesses" u; such as are brought on by long sickness and lingering distempers; by which a man consumes gradually, as by famine, and is... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, ENTER NOT INTO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING,.... On account of his dead relations or neighbours; since they were taken away from the evil to come, and therefore no occasion to mourn for them: moreover, this was to show the certainty of what is before and after said; that, at the ti... [ Continue Reading ]
BOTH THE GREAT AND THE SMALL SHALL DIE IN THIS LAND,.... The nobles as well as the common people, high and low, rich and poor; none shall be exempted from the grievous deaths by the sword, famine, and pestilence. THEY SHALL NOT BE BURIED, NEITHER SHALL MEN LAMENT FOR THEM; as before, Jeremiah 16:4... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SHALL MEN TEAR THEMSELVES,.... Either their flesh, or their clothes: or, "stretch out" y; that is, their hands, and clap them together, and wring them, as persons in great distress do: or "divide", or "break", or "deal unto them" z; that is, bread, as at their funeral feasts. Thus the Septua... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL NOT ALSO GO INTO THE HOUSE OF FEASTING,.... Which it was lawful to do, and which the prophet doubtless had done at other times; but now a time of calamity coming on, it was not proper he should; and the rather he was to abstain from such places, and from pleasant conversation with his fri... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,.... Who is able to do what he here threatens he will, and which he will do, notwithstanding his being the God of Israel; their hearts not being right with him, nor they steadfast in his covenant. BEHOLD, I WILL CAUSE TO CEASE OUT OF THIS PLACE, I... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN THOU SHALT SHOW THIS PEOPLE ALL THESE WORDS,.... Or, "all these things" a; which he was forbid to do; as marrying and having children, going into the house of mourning or feasting, with the reasons of all, because of the calamities coming upon them: AND THEY SHALL SA... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALT THOU SAY UNTO THEM,.... In answer to their questions; not in a general way, but by observing to them particular sins, and those gross ones, they had been guilty of: BECAUSE YOUR FATHERS HAVE FORSAKEN ME, SAITH THE LORD; that is, his worship, as the Targum; they had quitted his service, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE HAVE DONE WORSE THAN YOUR FATHERS,.... Not only committed the same sins, but greater, or, however, attended with more aggravating circumstances; they were wilfully and impudently done, and obstinately persisted in; and therefore deserving of the great evil of punishment pronounced against the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WILL I CALL YOU OUT OF THIS LAND,.... By force, and against their wills, whether they would or not, and with abhorrence and contempt: it is to be understood of their captivity, which was but a just punishment for the above sins; for since they had cast off the Lord and his worship, it was... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD,.... Or nevertheless, "notwithstanding" d their sins and iniquities, and the punishment brought upon them for them: or "surely", verily; for Jarchi says it is an oath, with which the Lord swore he would redeem them, though they had behaved so ill unto... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE LORD LIVETH,.... Or they shall swear by the living Lord; or declare his power, as the Targum: "that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north"; that is, from Babylon, which lay north of Judea. The Jews d gather from hence, that the land of Israel was higher than all other... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL SEND FOR MANY FISHERS, SAITH THE LORD, AND THEY SHALL FISH THEM,.... Which some understand of the Egyptians, who lived much on fish, and were much employed in catching them, to which the allusion is thought to be; but rather the Chaldeans are intended, whom God, by the secret instinct... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MINE EYES ARE UPON ALL THEIR WAYS,.... Not only which they may take to hide themselves from their enemies, and where they should be directed to find them; but their evil ways in which they walked, and which were the cause of their calamities; these, how secret soever they were, were under the ey... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FIRST I WILL RECOMPENSE THEIR INIQUITY AND THEIR SIN DOUBLE,.... Or, "but first I will recompense", c. f meaning, before he showed favour to them, and returned their captivity, Jeremiah 16:15, he would punish them according to their sins; not double to what they deserved, but to what: they were... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, MY STRENGTH AND MY FORTRESS,.... These are the words of the prophet, rising out of the temptation which beset him; casting off his impatience, diffidence, and unbelief; calling upon God, and exercising faith in him; having received the promise of the restoration of his people to their land,... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL A MAN MAKE GODS UNTO HIMSELF,.... Can a man make his own gods? a poor, weak, mortal man? can he make gods of gold, silver, brass, wood, or stone? can he put deity into them? and when he has made images of these, can he be so stupid as to account them gods, and worship them? can he be so sottis... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I WILL THIS ONCE CAUSE THEM TO KNOW,.... Or, "at this time", as the Targum; when the Gentiles shall be convinced of the idolatry they have been brought up in, and of the vanity and falsehood of their idols; they shall be made to know the true God, God in Christ, Christ himself, wh... [ Continue Reading ]