INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 32
This chapter contains an account of Jeremiah's imprisonment, and the
cause of it; of his buying a field of his uncle's son, and the design
of it; of his prayer to God, and of the answer returned to him. The
time of his imprisonment, the place where, and the reasons of it... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH FROM THE LORD,.... The word of
prophecy, as the Targum, concerning Jeremiah's buying the field of his
uncle's son, Jeremiah 32:6; and concerning the delivery of the city of
Jerusalem into the hands of the Chaldeans, Jeremiah 32:26; and the
return of the captivity, Jere... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEN THE KING OF BABYLON'S ARMY BESIEGED JERUSALEM,.... And had
done so for some time; for the siege began in the ninth year of
Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Jeremiah 52:4;
AND JEREMIAH THE PROPHET WAS SHUT UP IN THE COURT OF THE PRISON, WHICH
[WAS] IN THE KING OF JUDAH... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ZEDEKIAH KING OF JUDAH HAD SHUT HIM UP,.... In prison, at least in
the court of the prison; he had given orders for his imprisonment,
which were executed, and it was the same as if he had done it himself;
the reason of which was, as follows:
SAYING, WHEREFORE DOST THOU PROPHESY, AND SAY, THUS S... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ZEDEKIAH KING OF JUDAH SHALL NOT ESCAPE OUT OF THE HAND OF THE
CHALDEANS,.... This is a continuation of the prophecy of Jeremiah,
repeated by the king to him, and which concerns himself more
especially; who, upon the taking of the city, would endeavour to make
his escape, as he did; but should n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL LEAD ZEDEKIAH TO BABYLON,.... As he did in chains, from
Riblah, where he was brought unto him after he was taken, endeavouring
to make his escape, Jeremiah 52:8;
AND THERE SHALL HE BE UNTIL I VISIT HIM, SAITH THE LORD; in taking him
away by death; for he continued in Babylon to the tim... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEREMIAH SAID, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING. Not that
he said this to Zedekiah; but the prophet, after the above preface,
returns to declare what the word of the Lord was, which came to him at
the time before mentioned.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HANAMEEL THE SON OF SHALLUM THINE UNCLE SHALL COME UNTO
THEE,.... Hilkiah, the father of Jeremiah, and this Shallum, were own
brothers; so that Jeremiah and Hanameel were brothers' sons, or own
cousins: this coming of Hanameel to Jeremiah being a contingent event,
with respect to second caus... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HANAMEEL MINE UNCLE'S SON CAME UNTO ME,.... Freely and voluntarily,
of his own accord; though it was determined he should, as it was
predicted he would; for God's decrees do not infringe the liberty of
the will: this man came from Anathoth, very probably, to Jerusalem, to
the place where the prop... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BOUGHT THE FIELD OF HANAMEEL MINE UNCLE'S SON; THAT [WAS] IN
ANATHOTH,.... The prophet agreed with his cousin to take his field of
him, at a certain price hereafter mentioned; which may seem strange in
one that was a poor prophet, now a prisoner, and the land just going
to be subject to the Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SUBSCRIBED THE EVIDENCE,.... Or, "wrote in a book" u; the
instrument or bill of sale, the deed of purchase; which described the
field sold, and expressed the condition on which the purchase was
made; and by subscribing it he agreed to it, and laid himself under
obligation to perform it:
AND S... [ Continue Reading ]
SO I TOOK THE EVIDENCE OF THE PURCHASE,.... The deed of purchase, the
book or bill of sale, the instrument of the bargain, as before
mentioned:
[BOTH] THAT WHICH IS SEALED, [ACCORDING] TO THE LAW AND CUSTOM; which
was both sealed by the buyer and seller, and was sealed up, and not to
be looked into... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I GAVE THE EVIDENCE OF THE PURCHASE,.... Both that which was
sealed and that which was open; both the original and the copy; or the
whole, as signed, sealed, and witnessed:
UNTO BARUCH THE SON OF NERIAH, THE SON OF MAASEIAH; this Baruch, as
appears from other places in this book, was one that a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I CHARGED BARUCH BEFORE THEM,.... Before his kinsman, the
witnesses of the deed, and the Jews that were in the court:
SAYING, as follows:... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,.... The order to do the
following is ushered in in this solemn manner, partly that Baruch
might more strictly observe it, and act according to it; and partly
that the persons before whom it was given might take the greater
notice of it, and believe that there... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,.... Who is the
Lord God Almighty, and can do what he pleases; and is the covenant God
of his people, and therefore will do them good by all his providences
in the issue of things:
HOUSES, AND FIELDS, AND VINEYARDS, SHALL BE POSSESSED IN THIS LAND... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN I HAD DELIVERED THE EVIDENCE OF THE PURCHASE UNTO BARUCH THE
SON OF NERIAH,.... When he had finished his worldly business, and
which yet was by a divine order, and to answer a divine purpose, then
he betook himself to prayer; and it is proper we should be quite free
from worldly cares and c... [ Continue Reading ]
AH LORD GOD!.... Which the Vulgate Latin version repeats three times,
"Ah, ah, ah", as being greatly distressed with the trouble that was
coming upon his people; and, it may be, not without some doubts and
temptations about their deliverance; or, at least, was pressed in his
mind with the difficulti... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHOWEST LOVINGKINDNESS UNTO THOUSANDS,.... Not to thousands of
persons only, but to a thousand generations, even such that love,
fear, and serve him; see Exodus 20:6; this is very properly added, for
the further strengthening of faith; for though the omnipotence of God
assures us that there is... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT IN COUNSEL, AND MIGHTY IN WORD,.... Counsel belongs to him, and
he does all things after the counsel of his will, all things in
nature, providence, and grace; and such a display of his wisdom is
there in all, that show him to be excellent in counsel; to excel all
others; not only to be great,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HAST SET SIGNS AND WONDERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, [EVEN] UNTO
THIS DAY,.... The prophet here descends to particular instances of the
power, wisdom, and goodness of God; and begins with the miracles
wrought in Egypt, the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians for refusing
to let Israel go; these wer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAST BROUGHT FORTH THY PEOPLE ISRAEL OF THE LAND OF EGYPT,.... As
he promised Abraham, some hundreds of years before, that they should
come out from thence; and where they had been as bondsmen, though they
were the Lord's peculiar people, whom he had chose for himself above
all people, and there... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAST GIVEN THEM THIS LAND, WHICH THOU DIDST SWEAR TO THEIR FATHERS
TO GIVE THEM,.... Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; so that God was faithful
to his word, kept his covenant and oath; and the faithfulness of God
is observed and acknowledged by the prophet, along with other
perfections of God before ta... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CAME IN AND POSSESSED IT,.... After forty years travel in the
wilderness; they entered into it with Joshua at the head of them, and
the Lord with them; giving victory over the Canaanites, who were soon
subdued; and the Israelites with little trouble settled in their land,
which was divided... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE MOUNTS, THEY ARE COME UNTO THE CITY, TO TAKE IT,.... These
were ramparts or batteries, that were erected against the city, the
more easily to annoy it: some take them to be engines from which they
cast out stones; and others suppose them to be battering rams, used to
break down the walls... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU HAST SAID TO ME, O LORD GOD,.... Or, "O Lord God, yet thou
hast said to me" b; notwithstanding this is the case, the country all
around is in the hand of the enemy, and the city is as good as
delivered up to them, yet thou hast given me such orders, as follows:
BUY THEE A FIELD FOR MONEY,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO JEREMIAH,.... This is an answer to
the prophet's prayer, and particularly to the latter part of it;
showing the consistency of the destruction of the city with his
purchase of a field, and with God's promise of fields and vineyards
being purchased and possessed ag... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I [AM] THE LORD, THE GOD OF ALL FLESH,.... Jehovah, the
self-existent Being, that gives being to all creatures; and is
particularly the God of all men, the Maker and Preserver of them, and
that provides for them; who are called "flesh", to denote their
weakness and corruption, how unworthy o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD, BEHOLD, I WILL GIVE THIS CITY INTO THE
HAND OF THE CHALDEANS,.... As he had foretold by the prophet, and was
just now going to be fulfilled. Here the Lord repeats and confirms the
first of the two things which seemed contradictory; the destruction of
the city by the Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHALDEANS, THAT FIGHT AGAINST THIS CITY, SHALL COME,.... Or
rather "shall enter", as Aquila renders it; for they were come to it
already, and were fighting against it, battering the walls, and
throwing in their arrows, and putting to the sword such as came out,
or were within their reach:
A... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH,.... The former
are mentioned, as well as the latter, though they had been carried
captive some years ago, to justify the dealings of God with them; and
besides, there were some of the ten tribes that remained, and were
mingled with the tribes of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CITY HATH BEEN TAME [AS] A PROVOCATION OF MINE ANGER AND OF
MY FURY,.... Or, "upon mine anger, and upon my fury this city was to
me" h; that is, it was upon his heart, and in his mind and purpose,
being provoked to anger and wrath by their sins, to have destroyed it
long ago, though he had... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF ALL THE EVIL OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND OF THE CHILDREN
OF JUDAH,.... His anger and fury were because of their sins, and so
his carrying them captive:
WHICH THEY HAVE DONE TO PROVOKE ME TO ANGER; which was done, as if
they had done it on purpose to provoke him; and which was done, not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY HAVE TURNED UNTO ME THE BACK, AND NOT THE FACE,.... When he
reproved them for their sins; called them to repentance; instructed
them in their duty; and warned them of the dangers they exposed
themselves to; instead of turning the face to him, as scholars to
their masters, and as subjects to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY SET THEIR ABOMINATIONS,.... Their idols, which were
abominable to the Lord, and ought to have been so to them: these they
placed
IN THE HOUSE (WHICH IS CALLED BY MY NAME), TO DEFILE IT; in the
temple; as by Ahaz, Manasseh, and others: see Jeremiah 7:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BUILT THE HIGH PLACES OF BAAL, WHICH [ARE] IN THE VALLEY OF
THE SON OF HINNOM,.... Or "the high places of that Baal k, which is in
the valley of the son of Hinnom"; to distinguish him from other
Baalim; and who seems to be the same with Molech after mentioned; and
the signification of their... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,
CONCERNING THIS CITY,.... Here begins the confirmation of the other
part of the prophecy concerning the return of the Jews to their city
and country, when they should again buy and possess fields and
vineyards; which was thought impossible,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL GATHER THEM OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES,.... At the end of the
seventy years' captivity; and which will have a greater accomplishment
in the latter day, when the Jews shall be converted, and gathered from
their present dispersion all over the earth:
WHITHER I HAVE DRIVEN THEM IN MINE ANGER,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD. A comprehensive
summary of the covenant of grace, which shall be made known to the
Jews at the time of their conversion, and the blessings of it applied
to them, and bestowed on them; though now a "loammi", Hosea 1:9, is
written upon them; see Je... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL GIVE THEM ONE HEART AND ONE WAY,.... "One" and the same
heart; the same heart to one as to another; gracious souls, truly
converted persons, be they Jews or Gentiles, have the same experience;
they have all, more or less, a sight and sense of sin, and the evil of
it; are brought off of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL MAKE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH THEM,.... Which is made
known and manifest at conversion; when the grace of it is applied; the
blessings of it bestowed; and the promises of it made good; and
therefore said to be made; for otherwise the covenant of grace here
spoken of was made from all... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, I WILL REJOICE OVER THEM TO DO THEM GOOD,.... His covenant
people, to whom he gives one heart and one way, and who have his fear
implanted in them, and shall never depart from him, but persevere to
the end: these he loves with a love of complacency and delight; he
rejoices over them, not as con... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, LIKE AS I HAVE BROUGHT ALL THIS GREAT EVIL
UPON THIS PEOPLE,.... The Chaldean army now besieging them, the famine
and pestilence among them, as well as their captivity, which was just
at hand and certain:
SO WILL I BRING UPON THEM ALL THE GOOD THAT I HAVE PROMISED THEM; in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FIELDS SHALL BE BOUGHT IN THIS LAND,.... After the return from the
Babylonish captivity, which this respects; and of which the prophet's
purchasing a field of his uncle's son was a pledge and token; in doing
which, as a right thing, he is confirmed; as well as the cavils and
objections of the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN SHALL BUY FIELDS FOR MONEY,.... They shall have plenty of money,
and they shall lay it out in land, and carry on husbandry, cultivate
the ground, which had lain long untilled, but now should be manured
for public as well as private good. This some understand of particular
churches planted in Jud... [ Continue Reading ]