INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 2 This chapter contains the prophet's message from the Lord to the people of the Jews; in which they are reminded of their former favours, in order to aggravate their sins and transgressions they were chargeable with; to show their ingratitude and unkindness, and to bring t... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME, SAYING. Here begins the book, and Jeremiah's first sermon; and the following contains the message he was sent with, to which the preceding chapter is only a preface or introduction. The Targum calls it, "the word of the prophecy from before the Lord.''... [ Continue Reading ]
GO, AND CRY IN THE EARS OF JERUSALEM,.... Of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the metropolis of Judea. The prophet seems now to have been at Anathoth, and therefore is bid to go from thence to Jerusalem, and there prophesy before the people in it, as the Targum paraphrases it: SAYING, THUS SAITH THE L... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL WAS HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD,.... When first brought out of Egypt into the wilderness, by the Lord's choice and separation of them to be a holy people to him above all others; by covenant with him, and profession of him; and by his giving them holy laws, and placing a sanctuary among them; and... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR YE THE WORD OF THE LORD, O HOUSE OF JACOB, AND ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. The Lord, by the prophet, having observed his great kindness to this people, what they were unto him, and what a regard he had for them, proceeds to upbraid them with their ingratitude, and requires an atten... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, WHAT INIQUITY HAVE YOUR FATHERS FOUND IN ME,.... What injustice or injury has been done them? there is no unrighteousness in God, nor can any be done by him; or what unfaithfulness, or want of truth and integrity in performing promises, had they found in him? he never suffers hi... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SAID THEY, WHERE IS THE LORD?.... They did not ask after him, nor seek his face and favour, nor worship him, nor took any notice of the blessings he bestowed upon them: THAT BROUGHT US UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT? by means of Moses the deliverer, with a mighty hand, and outstretched arm; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BROUGHT YOU INTO A PLENTIFUL COUNTRY,.... "Into the land of Carmel", as in the Hebrew text; that is, "into the land of Israel, which was planted as Carmel,'' as the Targum paraphrases it; with wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olives; a land flowing with milk and honey, Deut... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIESTS SAID NOT, WHERE IS THE LORD?.... Whose business it was to draw nigh to God, and offer the sacrifices of the people, and inquire of God for them; whose lips should keep knowledge, and at whose mouth the law should be sought, they being the messengers of the Lord of hosts, Malachi 2:7: AN... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE I WILL YET PLEAD WITH YOU, SAITH THE LORD,.... Either verbally, by reasoning with them, and reproving them for their ignorance, stupidity, and idolatry; or by deeds, inflicting punishment upon them; so the Targum, "therefore I will take vengeance on you, or punish you, saith the Lord:''... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR PASS OVER THE ISLES OF CHITTIM, AND SEE,.... Or, "to the isles of Chittim" z; so called from Kittim the son of Javan, Genesis 10:4 who, as Josephus says a, possessed the island of Chethima, now called Cyprus; and, from that, all islands, and most maritime places, are, by the Hebrews, called Chit... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH A NATION CHANGED THEIR GODS, WHICH ARE YET NO GODS?.... Though they are not by nature gods which they worship, only nominal and fictitious deities, yet they did not change them for others; but when they once embraced the worship of them, continued therein; so did the Chittim, the inhabitants of... [ Continue Reading ]
BE ASTONISHED, O YE HEAVENS, AT THIS,.... Meaning either the angels in heaven, or the heavens themselves, by a personification: AND BE HORRIBLY AFRAID, BE YE VERY DESOLATE, SAITH THE LORD; all which may be signified by storms and tempests, by thunder and lightning, and by the sun's withdrawing its... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY PEOPLE HAVE COMMITTED TWO EVILS,.... Not but that they had committed more, but there were two principal ones they were guilty of, hereafter mentioned; and it was an aggravation of these crimes, that they were the professing people of God who had committed them: and it may be observed, that su... [ Continue Reading ]
IS ISRAEL A SERVANT?.... That he does not abide in the house, in his own land, but is carried captive, becomes subject to others, and is used as a slave; so the Targum, "as a servant;'' is he not the Lord's first born? are not the people of Israel called the children of the living God? how come th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNG LIONS ROARED UPON HIM, AND YELLED,.... Or, "gave out their voice" e; meaning the kings of the nations, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi explain it; and are to be understood of the kings of Assyria and Babylon, and particularly of Nebuchadnezzar; see Jeremiah 50:17 compared to lions for th... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO THE CHILDREN OF NOPH AND TAHAPANES,.... These were cities in Egypt. Noph is the same with Moph in Hosea 9:6 and which we there rightly render Memphis; as Noph is here by the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; and was formerly, as Pliny g says, the palace of the king... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU NOT PROCURED THIS UNTO THYSELF,.... All this desolation and destruction, both from the Egyptians and the Babylonians; their sin was the cause of it, their idolatry and forsaking the Lord their God, as follows: and so the Targum, "is not this vengeance taken upon thee?'' that is, by the L... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW WHAT HAST THOU TO DO IN THE WAY OF EGYPT,.... By worshipping of idols, in imitation of them; or by sending ambassadors thither for help, when they had their Lord, their God, so nigh, had they not forsaken him; nor had Josiah any business to go out against Pharaohnecho, 2 Chronicles 35:21 and... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE OWN WICKEDNESS SHALL CORRECT THEE,.... That is, either their wickedness in going to Egypt and Assyria, and the ill success they had in so doing might be an instruction to them to act otherwise, and a correction of their sin and folly; or that their wickedness was a reason, and a very just one,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OF OLD TIME I HAVE BROKEN THY YOKE, AND BURST THY BANDS,.... The yoke of the people, as the Targum expresses it, that was upon their necks, and the bands in which they were bound by them; referring to the deliverance of them of old from Egyptian bondage by the hands of Moses, and out of their se... [ Continue Reading ]
YET I HAD PLANTED THEE A NOBLE VINE, WHOLLY A RIGHT SEED,.... It is usual to compare the people of the Jews to a vineyard, and to vines; and their settlement in the land of Canaan to the planting of vines in a vineyard; see Isaiah 5:1. Kimchi says this is spoken concerning Abraham; no doubt respect... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOUGH THOU WASH THEE WITH NITRE,.... The word נתר, "nitre", is only used in this place and in Proverbs 25:20 and it is hard to say what it is. Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, that some say it is what is called "alum"; and others that it is a dust with which they wash the head, and cleanse everyt... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW CANST THOU SAY, I AM NOT POLLUTED,.... No man can say this; for all are defiled with sin; but this was the cast and complexion of these people in all ages; they were a generation of men that were pure in their own eyes, but were not cleansed from their filthiness; they fancied that their ceremon... [ Continue Reading ]
A WILD ASS USED TO THE WILDERNESS,.... That is, one that has been brought up in the wilderness, and has been accustomed to live, and run, and range about there; as men in general are compared to this creature for its ignorance, stupidity, folly, stubbornness, and unteachableness, Job 11:12, so the J... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHHOLD THY FOOT FROM BEING UNSHOD,.... That it may not be unshod, be naked and bare. The sense is, either, as some, do not take long journeys into foreign countries for help, as into Assyria and Egypt, whither they used to go barefoot; or wore out their shoes by their long journeys, and so returne... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE THIEF IS ASHAMED WHEN BE IS FOUND,.... Taken in the fact, or convicted of it; that is, as the Targum explains it, one that has been accounted faithful, and is found a thief; for, otherwise, those who have lost their character, and are notorious for their thefts and robberies, are not ashamed... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING TO A STOCK,.... "To a tree" f; to a piece of wood; that is, to an image made of it; so the Targum, "they say to an image of wood;'' what follows: THOU ART MY FATHER; ascribing that to the idol which belongs to God, who was their Father that made them, and upheld them, was the author of the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHERE ARE THY GODS THAT THOU HAST MADE THEE?.... This is, or would be, the Lord's answer to them, what is become of your gods? why do not you apply to them for help in time of trouble? the gods that you have chosen for yourselves and worshipped; the gods, not that made you, but whom you yourselv... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE WILL YE PLEAD WITH ME?.... Strive and contend, chide, murmur, and complain, when evil came upon them, as if the Lord dealt hardly with them, and as if they had never sinned against him; when their case would not bear to be brought into judgment and examined openly; what would they get by t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN VAIN HAVE I SMITTEN YOUR CHILDREN,.... Or, "for vanity" g; for vain speaking, for making vain oaths and vows; so it is explained in the Talmud h; but the sense is, that the rod of chastisement was used in vain; the afflictions that came upon them had no effect on them to amend and reform them; th... [ Continue Reading ]
O GENERATION, SEE YE THE WORD OF THE LORD,.... Take notice of it, consider it; or, hear it, as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions. Jarchi and Kimchi think i the pot of manna was brought out, and shown them, to be looked at by them, for the conviction of them, and confirmation of what follow... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN A MAID FORGET HER ORNAMENTS,.... Which she has provided for her wedding day, and is then to wear, and which may be the next; such as ear rings, bracelets, and jewels, which are never out of her mind, and can scarce sleep for thinking of them, how richly she shall be adorned with them; wherefore... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY TRIMMEST THOU THY WAY TO SEEK LOVE?.... To seek the love, and gain the affections and esteem, of the idolatrous nations; as a lascivious woman dresses herself out in the best manner to excite the lust and move the affections of her lovers; and as Jezebel, who painted her face, and tired her head... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO IN THY SKIRTS IS FOUND THE BLOOD OF THE SOULS OF THE POOR INNOCENTS,.... Either of the innocent infants of poor persons, who were sacrificed to Moloch; or of the poor prophets of the Lord, whom they slew, because they faithfully reproved them for their sins; and the blood of those being found i... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THOU SAYEST, BECAUSE I AM INNOCENT,.... Or, "that I am innocent"; though guilty of such flagrant and notorious crimes, acting like the adulterous woman, Proverbs 30:20 to whom the Jews are all along compared in this chapter; which shows the hardness of their hearts, and their impudence in sinnin... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY GADDEST THOU ABOUT SO MUCH TO CHANGE THY WAY?.... Or, "by changing thy way" t; sometimes going one way, and sometimes another; sometimes to Egypt, and then to Assyria; seeking sometimes to the one for help, and sometimes to the other; at one time serving the gods of the one, in order to curry fa... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THOU SHALT GO FORTH FROM HIM,.... From the Egyptian, without any help, and with shame; or, "from this" u; that is, from this place, from Jerusalem, and from the land of Judea, into captivity; notwithstanding all the promised and expected help from Egypt, 2 Kings 24:7: AND THINE HANDS UPON THI... [ Continue Reading ]