1The captivity of Judah for her sin. 5Trust in man is cursed, in God is blessed. 9The heart, though deceitful, cannot impose upon God. 12In God alone is sure salvation. 15The prophet complaining of scoffers, prayeth God to support him: 19he is sent to exhort to a due observation of the sabbath.
1THE sin of Judah is 1written with a 2pen of iron, and with the 3point of a 4diamond: it is graven upon the 5table of their heart, and upon the horns of 6your 7altars;a
1 By this comparison God will show that they were most inwardly and desperately wicked, obstinate and impenitent. Compare Jer. 13:23.
2 Hebr. graver of iron.
3 Hebr. nail.
4 Other, durable, and consequently very hard stone, or very hard iron, because some are of the opinion that the Hebrew word schamir comes from keeping. Compare Ezek. 3:9.
5 Compare this manner of speech with Prov. 3:3 with the annotation.
6 O ye Jews; as such changings of persons, and inserted addresses, are very usual with the prophets.
7 Which ye set up unto idols, and whose horns ye sprinkle in public with the unclean blood of your idolatrous offerings, whereunto the words horns may be applied.
a Jer. 11:13.
28Whilst their children remember their altars and their 9groves by the green treesb upon the high hills.
8 The aforesaid wickedness of the parents appears in their children, into whom they thus implanted idolatry, that upon all occasions when they come near to any fair green tree or upon any mountain, they have nothing else in their mouths but idolatry, which their parents commit in such places, and therefore they will do no less. Compare Jer. 7:18. Other, they remember their altars, etc., as they remember their children, that is, they love idolatry as they love their own children; as such they dote on them.
9 Or, grove-gods.
b Jer. 2:20.
3O my 10mountain in the field, I will give thyc substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, 11and thy high places for sin, 12throughout all thy borders.
10 Namely, Zion, or, my mountains, namely, of Judah, together with the plain field. Other (since the Hebrew word may signify both): O thou mountain runner, or, thou that dwellest in the mountains, in the field shall I prevail against thee, etc.; that is, thou who reliest upon thy mountainous land, and thinkest thyself to be in no danger; or, thou who daily wanderest and runnest to and fro upon the mountains to commit thine idolatry, (which also very well agrees with the foregoing, and with the following words) I will give all thy riches for a prey unto thine enemies, who shall spoil without difficulty and rob away all things easily, as if it was done upon the level field. See Jer. 20:5, etc.
c Jer. 15:13.
11 Or, to wit thy high places, where thou hast bestowed all thy substance upon thine idols, and wherein thy sin principally consists. Compare Hosea 10:8. Some conceive that these words are transposed in the Hebrew (as it occurs sometimes) and render it: for the sin of thy high places, by comparison from Jer. 15:13.
12 Compare Jer. 15:13.
4And thou, even 13thyself, shalt 14discontinue from thine 15heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to served thine enemies in the land which thou knoweste not: for 16ye have kindled a firef in mine anger, which shall burn 17for ever.
13 That is, by your own fault.
14 That is, must omit the tillage of Canaan; the land shall enjoy her Sabbath or rest. Compare Exod. 23:10, 11; Lev. 26:33, 34, 35.
15 Namely, this land of Canaan.
d Deut. 28:68.
e Jer. 16:13.
16 Ye have procured My heavy wrath, and consequently this plague. Compare Jer. 15:14.
f Jer. 15:14.
17 In respect of the impenitent, who shall feel the fire of My wrath unto all eternity. Otherwise: a long time, namely, seventy years, as the words for ever is sometimes taken. See Gen. 13 on verse 15; Deut. 15 on verse 17, etc.
5¶Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in 18man, and maketh 19flesh his 20arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
18 As the backsliding Jews trusted Egypt, and in their own riches. See verse 11; Isa. 31:1.
19 That is, a frail, miserable person. See Psalm 56 on verse 4.
20 That is, strength, help, protection. See 2 Chron. 32 on verse 8.
6For he shall be like the 21heath in the desert, and shall not 22see when 23good cometh; but shall 24inhabit the 25parched places in the wilderness, in a 26salt land and 27not inhabited.
21 Or, a tamarisk tree, or, shrub, which is sometimes found in most dry and barren places, where no other trees grow, as writers about herbs testify. Other, a tree that is made quite bare; as the Hebrew word, in its own proper signification, is taken in Psalm 102:17.
22 Or, feel. Hebr. see, that is, feels, perceives. Some understand these and the following words of the wicked man himself, who shall not see good, but, etc., the sense being all one. Compare Psalm 68:6.
23 That is, good weather, rain, seasonable warmth, etc.
24 Hebr. dwell, that is, abide or continue always.
25 Or, barren. Hebr. properly: parched, kindled, that is, very dry, withered.
26 That is, unfruitful. See Deut. 29:23; Psalm 107:34. Hebr. in a land of saltiness.
27 Hebr. and where thou shalt not or shouldst not dwell; or, which shall not be inhabited or is not inhabited, or is not inhabitable; as the Hebrew word (which otherwise signifies sitting, dwelling, abiding) is sometimes so taken, when it is used of places. See Isa. 13:20; Jer. 50:39; Ezek. 29:11, etc.
7Blessedgis the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
g Psalm 2:12; 34:8; Prov. 16:20; Isa. 30:18.
8For he shall be as a treeh planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not 28see when heat cometh, but her leaf 29shall be green; and shall 30not be carefuli in the year of 31drought, neither 32shall cease from 33yielding fruit.
h Psalm 1:3.
28 Or, feel. Hebr. see, as in the 6th verse, that is, it suffers no damage by it, withers not because of it.
29 Hebr. is. See Psalm 37 on verse 18.
30 It is spoken by way of comparison, as before, shall not see, that is, shall not feel.
i full of care or anxiety*
31 See of the Hebrew word Jer. 14 on verse 1.
32 Hebr. departeth not.
33 Hebr. making. See Jer. 12 on verse 2.
9¶The 34heart is 35deceitful 36above all things, and 37desperately wicked: who can know it?
34 Of man since the fall, as long as it is not renewed by the Spirit of regeneration. And so wicked in heart were the hypocritical and backsliding Jews, who departed from God and trusted not in Him, although they would not be known to be such, but soothed and flattered themselves in their wickedness, and despised the reproofs of the prophets, for which God declares that He will be their Judge, in the next verse.
35Or, fraudulent, deceitful, keeping back, prone to supplanting. The Hebrew word akob is the same from which the patriarch Jacob had his name, because in his birth he took his brother by the heel; but that it also has the signification of craft, lying in wait, deceit¸ fraud, supplanting, etc., appears not only here, but also Gen. 27:36; Joshua 8:13; 2 Kings 10:19; Jer. 9:4.
36 Or, more than any thing.
37Tending to death, whereunto death cleaveth, incurable, desperately wicked. From the Hebrew word man has here the name of enosch, signifying his mortal or miserable condition, into which he is fallen through sin.
1038I the LORD searchj the heart, I 39try the reins, 40even to give every man according to his 41ways, and 42according to the fruit of his doings.
38 Or, I the LORD (it being as an answer to the previous question) that searcheth the heart, that trieth the reins.
j 2 Sam. 16:7; Psalm 7:9.
39 See Psalm 7:9.
40 Thus the Hebrew letter vau is also used for and that, or, even, Jer. 15:13; Ezek. 17:9; Joel 2:12; Amos 3:11; Micah 2:10. Likewise Joshua 9:27; Judges 7:22, etc.
41 That is, purposes, conduct in life. See Gen. 6 on verse 12.
42 That is, according as his works, dealings or his doings require. Also Jer. 21:14; 32:19. Compare Prov. 1 on verse 31; Jer. 6:19.
11As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and 43hatcheth them not; so he that 44getteth riches, and 45not by right, shall leave 46them in the 47midst of his days, and at his 48end shall 49be a fool.
43 Hebr. bringeth not forth, because the partridge is caught, or, because the male, finding the eggs which the female hides, breaks them, treads them under foot, or through fierceness breaks them in pieces, as the naturalists testify, so that many of the eggs do often perish. Other, As a partridge gathereth eggs, which she hath not laid, etc. Understand strange eggs of other fowl; for which cause the young ones, when they are hatched, would forsake these strange dams.
44 Hebr. maketh.
45 That is, unjustly.
46 Namely, riches.
47 Compare Psalm 55 on verse 23.
48 Or, last, that is, end, at last.
49 That is, be esteemed, and accounted a fool, as John 15:8; 2 Tim. 2:21, etc.
12¶A 50glorious high throne 51from the beginning is the place of our 52sanctuary.
50 Where God always has manifested His honor, grace and power for the good of His church, and consequently will severely punish the unthankfulness of despisers, who rely themselves upon other help, as follows.
51 That is, from the beginning of building.
52 That is, of the temple.
13O LORD, the 53hope of Israel, allk that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they 54that depart from me shall be written in the 55earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the 56fountainl of living waters.
53 Whose help Israel expects in troubles; as Jer. 14:8. See there.
k Psalm 73:27; Isa. 1:28.
54 That is, they who depart from me as Thy prophet, who prophecies in Thy Name. Hebr. my departers, or revolters. Compare Jer. 18:19. Other, they that depart, namely, from Thee.
55 The Lord Christ says in Luke 10:20, that the names of His disciples are written in heaven; it is said here, on the contrary, that backsliders shall be written in the earth, that is, though they are counted here upon earth among the people of God and the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, and consequently are generally held to be external members of God’s church, and do sometimes bear great sway among them, that yet notwithstanding they do not pertain to the number of the elect, and shall not have a place in heaven, but shall be reckoned among those whose portion is only in the earth. Compare Psalm 69:28, and that their memory among God’s people on earth shall perish, as that which is written in the earth does very easily perish.
56 See Jer. 2:13.
l Jer. 2:13.
1457Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art 58my praise.
57 The prophet, being troubled at the general and abominable wickedness of his people with whom he had to do, and considering his present and future dangers and likewise his own infirmities and weakness, whereof Jer. 15:18, etc., prays unto God that He would raise him up, strengthen and preserve him both in soul and body.
58 That is, He Whom I alone praise and extol, as my Savior. Compare Deut. 10 on verse 21.
15¶Behold, they 59say unto me, Wheremis the word of the LORD? let it come now.
59 Mocking at Thy threats, and at Thy longsuffering in delaying punishment. Compare Isa. 5:19; Ezek. 12:22, 23, 25, 27, 28; 2 Peter 3:4.
m Isa. 5:19; 2 Peter 3:4.
16As for me, I have not 60hastened from being a 61pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the 62woeful day; thou knowest: 63that which came out of my lips was right before 64thee.
60 As if the prophet said: They tell me continually that I am very urgent and hasty, and wish nothing more, but that destruction may seize upon them; whereas Thou, Lord, knowest well that I have in no other way carried myself, nor demeaned myself more hasty, than it becomes a prophet who follows Thee, to do only telling them that which Thou gavest me in charge. This agrees very well with what went before, and with what follows. Other, I have not indeed been instant, that I should not be a shepherd after thee; that I have not shown myself unwilling and backward, to follow Thee. See Jer. 1:4, etc.
61 That is, more than it behooves a prophet, feeding and ruling Thy people with Thy word.
62 That is, I have not wished for the time of their destruction or longed for it. See Jer. 18:20, or have had no delight in myself to prophecy unto them of their ruin, they are Thy words, etc. The Hebrew word is the same, which is used in verse 9 of man’s heart.
63 Hebr. the issue of my lips.
64 That is, I have spoken it sincerely, as in Thy presence, being fully assured that I neither diminished nor added thereto, whereof Thou art witness.
17Be not a 65terror unto me: thou art my hopen in the day of 66evil.
65 Or, dismay. Other, ruin, breaking, destruction; that Thou wouldst cast me down, as Thou hast threatened me, if I would refuse to follow Thy calling, Jer. 1:17.
n Jer. 16:19.
66 That is, of misery, as also in the next verse.
18Leto them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the 67day of evil, and destroy them with 68double destruction.
o Psalm 35:4; 40:14; Jer. 15:15.
67 See Psalm 37 on verse 13.
68 That is, perfect. Compare Jer. 16:18.
19¶Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the 69children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
69 This refers to one of the most important gates of the city, where the greatest part of the people met together, because the kings were wont to go in and out through this gate.
20And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
21Thus saith the LORD; Takep heed 70to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
p Neh. 13:19.
70 That is, as ye love the salvation of you own soul. Or, take heed to yourselves, look to your own persons, watch your own selves. Compare Deut. 4:15; Joshua 23:11.
22Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but 71hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.q
71 See Exod. 20 on verse 8.
q Exod. 20:8; 23:12; 31:13; Ezek. 20:12.
23But they 72obeyedr not, neither inclined their ear, but made their 73neck stiff, that they might not 74hear, nor receive 75instruction.
72 That is, hearkened not.
r Jer. 11:10; 13:10; 16:12.
73 As Jer. 7:26.
74 As Jer. 16:12.
75 See Prov. 1 on verse 2: Prov. 7 on verse 22.
24And it shall come to pass, if ye 76diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
76 Hebr. hearkening shalt hearken.
25Thens shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the 77men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall 78remain for ever.
s Jer. 22:4.
77 Or, every one. Hebr. man, as Jer. 4:3.
78 Or, shall be inhabited for ever. Compare Jer. 7:3, 7, etc.
26And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.
27But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a 79fire in the 80gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
79 The war of the Babylonians, whereby Jerusalem and all Judea shall be laid desolate. Compare verse 4.
80 Of Jerusalem.