1The enemies sent against Judah are eager to fall upon her. 6God directeth the siege because of her sins. 9The prophet lamenteth the evils that would follow from the corrupt manners that prevailed: 18he proclaimeth God's judgments: 26he calleth the people to mourn for the impending calamities.
1O YE children of Benjamin, 1gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in 2Tekoa, and set up a 3sign of fire in 4Beth-haccerem: for evil 5appeareth out of the 6north,a and great 7destruction.
1 See Jer. 4 on verse 6, and understand by the children of Benjamin, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as the sequel shows. See Judges 1:21 with the annotation.
2 See 2 Sam. 14 on verse 2.
3 As by such signs they are wont to warn the inhabitants, in time of danger, of the enemies’ approach. Other, smoke sign. Hebr. lifting up. Compare Judges 20:38, 40.
4 See Neh. 3 on verse 9. Some are of the opinion that this place was situated between Jerusalem and Tekoa.
5 That is, shows itself, breaks forth.
6 See Jer. 1 on verse 13.
a Jer. 1:13, 14.
7 As Jer. 4:6.
2I have 8likened the 9daughter of Zion to a 10comely and delicate woman.
8 Or, I had made her equal, etc.
9 That is, Jerusalem, and consequently its inhabitants.
10 Or, convenient home-keeper, who remains at home in luxury, to save her delicate feet. Compare Deut. 28:56.
3The 11shepherds with their 12flocks shall come unto her; they shall 13pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his 14place.
11 The princes of the Babylonians. Compare Jer. 49:19.
12 Armies. Compare Jer. 49:20.
13 Hebr. fasten, fix. Understand hereby the siege of Jerusalem.
14 Hebr. hand, that is, place, as elsewhere. See Job 1 on verse 14.
415Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at 16noon. Woe unto us! for the 17day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are 18stretched out.
15 That is, get yourselves ready for war, order the war, proclaim it, let them march up against Jerusalem, as follows. Compare Jer. 12:3; 22:7; 51:27, 28. These are the words of the Babylonians, whom the prophet brings in speaking in this manner, as also verse 5.
16 As Jer. 15:8. That is, at bright daylight, without dread, publicly.
17 That is, our good days are past, adversity and misery are at hand, if they be taken for inserted words uttered by the Jews. Otherwise, they may be also the words of the Babylonians, who complain of themselves for neglecting time and opportunity, being greedy after the prey, as eager soldiers are wont to do.
18 Or, are spread, stretched out, that is, become great, it begins to wax dark; whereby may be understood sorrow and misery. See Gen. 15 on verse 12.
5Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6¶For thus hath the LORD of 19hosts said, Hew ye down 20trees, and 21castb a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be 22visited; she is wholly oppression 23in the midst of her.
19 See 1 Kings 18 on verse 15.
20 To make a fort. See Deut. 20:19.
21 As 2 Sam. 20:15. See there.
b build a raised fortification
22 Compare Jer. 5:9, 29.
23 Hebr. she wholly, oppression is in the midst of her, that is, concerning this entire city, there is nothing more rife in it everywhere, than oppressing with delight and violence; she is full of deceivers and oppressors.
7As a fountain 24casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is 25grief and wounds.
24 Or, giveth up.
25 Which they cruelly inflict unto their neighbors, causing the oppressed everywhere to lament and cry.
8Be thou 26instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul 27depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
26 Or, corrected.
27 Or, be loosed, depart, be dismembered, as one member from another; a very affecting manner of speech, having respect to God’s favor and loving-kindness, which He had kindly disposed and proven to this city, as a husband to his wife. Compare Jer. 2:2, 3.
9¶Thus saith the LORD of hosts, 28They shall 29throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turnc back thine hand as a 30grapegatherer into the baskets.
28 The Babylonians.
29 Hebr. gleaning glean, so that nothing, which is worth anything, shall remain, but all shall be carried away as grapes are thoroughly gleaned in the vintage. Compare 2 Kings 24:15, 16; 25:11, 12; Jer. 52:28, 29, 30, and see of this similitude Judges 8 on verse 2; Judges 20 on verse 45.
c Isa. 24:13.
30 Or, wine-gatherer, who fills one basket after another full with grapes and carries them away; thus shall the Babylonians say to one another: Ye must go back again to fetch away Jews, some at one time, and some at another. Some hold these to be the words of God, as giving that enemy charge to do it.
10To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their eardis 31uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a 32reproach; they have no delight in 33it.
d Jer. 7:26.
31 As covered with a foreskin, so that they are incapable to hearken or attend, or consider. Compare Lev. 26:41; Jer. 5:21; Acts 7:51.
32 They despise it and mock at it.
33 Namely, in the word of the Lord; or, in Him, namely, the Lord.
11Therefore I am full of the 34fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I 35will pour it out upon the 36children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is 37full of days.
34 That is, with declaring or prophesying the fury of the Lord.
35 Other, pour out, as if the Lord, or the prophet by the Spirit of the Lord said: I have waited long enough, tell them in plain terms that God’s wrath shall be poured out without pitying or sparing any.
36 Hebr. the little child. See of the Hebrew word Psalm 8 on verse 2.
37 That is, very old, stricken in years, decrepit.
12Ande their houses shall be 38turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.
e Deut. 28:30.
38 That is, they shall be taken from you and given to others who shall possess them, as Num. 36:7.
13For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is 39givenf to covetousness; and from 40the prophet even unto the priest every one 41dealeth falsely.
39 Hebr. as if one would say: is coveting covetousness, that is, hankers after filthy lucre.
f Isa. 56:11; Jer. 8:10.
40 Understand the false prophets.
41 Hebr. doth, that is, goes about with lies and falsehood. Compare Jer. 5:31; 8:10, etc., where almost the very words are repeated.
14Theyg have 42healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people 43slightly, saying, 44Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
g Jer. 8:11; Ezek. 13:10.
42 That is, they comfort My people against the calamity that is threatened.
43 Or, as a light matter or break; by a flippant speech, by telling a tale, as if it were a jest or a joke, as if the sins and the punishments, which were threatened, were of no concernment.
44 That is, it shall go well; there is no danger.
1545Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, 46they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
45 Other, Have they (namely, the prophets and priests) made my people ashamed, when they committed abomination?
46 The prophets and priests are not ashamed themselves, neither do they make evil doers ashamed, so that there is no shame found among any. Hebr. being ashamed, they are not ashamed.
16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the 47old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, andh ye shall find 48rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
47 Hebr. paths of eternity, that is, in which God in former times has always taught and led His people, to bring them to salvation. Compare Jer. 2 on verse 17; 18:15.
h Mat. 11:29.
48 Comfort and salvation.
17Also I set 49watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
49 Prophets, who shall declare and proclaim to you the judgments which are approaching, as watchmen who are placed upon high places to see afar off and to give warning by the trumpet of the enemies’ approach, or any other ensuing danger. See Isa. 21:11; Ezek. 3:17; 33:7, etc.
18¶Therefore hear, 50ye nations, and know, O 51congregation, 52what is among them.
50 Or, ye Gentiles. To be witnesses of the abominable unthankfulness and obstinacy of My people, and of the justice of My judgments upon them.
51 Of the nations.
52 What wickedness is rife among My people.
19Hear, O 53earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the 54fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
53 See Deut. 4 on verse 26; Deut. 32 on verse 1.
54 The just deserved punishment of their wicked devices and practices. See Prov. 1 on verse 31; Jer. 17:10.
20Toi what purpose cometh there to me 55incense from 56Sheba, and the sweet 57cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not 58acceptable, nor your sacrifices 59sweet unto me.
i Isa. 1:11; 66:3; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6, etc.
55 Which thou causest to come with great trouble and charges, to make incense for Me, pretending to please Me therewith.
56 See Gen. 10 on verse 7; Isa. 60:6.
57 Or, cinnamon, sweet-smelling reed or cane, as Exod. 30:23.
58 Hebr. for or according to pleasure, delight, acceptance, that is, I have no pleasure in them. Compare Psalm 19:14; Isa. 56:7.
59 That is, acceptable.
21Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay 60stumblingblocks before this people, and the 61fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
60 Thus the Lord calls all the instruments, means and occasions of the ruin of the Jews.
61 All kinds of people, of what condition or quality so ever they be.
22Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the 62north country, and a greatj nation shall be 63raised from the sides 64of the earth.
62 As verse 1.
j Jer. 50:41, 42, 43.
63 By God, to march up to the borders of Judah, and from there into the midst of the land.
64 Or, of the land, that is, ends, uttermost parts, or borders.
23They shall 65lay hold on bow and 66spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and 67they ride upon horses, 68set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.
65 Hebr. carry, that is, hold and carry. Compare Jer. 50:42, etc., where the very same is prophesied of the Medes and Persians, who would come against Babel.
66 Or, standard spear or pole. See Joshua 8 on verse 18.
67 Namely, this people, or everyone, that is, of this people.
68 Or, is prepared.
24We have heard the 69fame thereof: our hands wax 70feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman ink travail.
69 The rumor of the approach of this people. This is a lively description of the future calamity.
70 Our courage gave way. See 2 Sam. 4 on verse 1.
k Jer. 4:31; 49:24; 50:43.
25Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and 71fear is on every side.
71 As Jer. 49:29.
26¶O daughter of my people, girdlthee with 72sackcloth, and 73wallow thyself in 74ashes: make thee mourning, 75as for an only son, 76most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
l Jer. 4:8.
72 As Jer. 4:8.
73 Other, sprinkle thyself with, etc.
74 See 2 Sam. 1 on verse 2; Jer. 25:34.
75 That is, as for the death of an only begotten son. See Amos 8:10; Zech. 12:10.
76 Hebr. wailing of bitternesses.
2777I have set thee for a 78tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their 79way.
77 The words of God to Jeremiah.
78 Or, a tower of spying out, looking out. Compare Jer. 23:13. Other, a well-tried tower, that is, proven for strength, that is, a strong invincible tower. Compare Jer. 1:18.
79 That is, would observe their doings, examine them, and pass a right sentence concerning the same, and declare it unto them.
28They are all 80grievous revolters, walking with 81slanders: they are 82brassm and iron; they are all 83corrupters.
80 That is, the most wicked revolters who may be found. Compare Gen. 9 on verse 25.
81 Slandering Me, My Word, My prophets, in particular thee, and stir up by backbiting one another against thee. See of this manner of speech Lev. 19 on verse 16.
82 That is, stiff-necked, or, of little worth, whereas they ought to be like gold and silver. Compare Ezek. 22:18, etc.
m Ezek. 22:18.
83 Corrupting themselves and others. Other, corrupt children.
2984The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the foundern85melteth in vain: for the wicked are not 86plucked away.
84 The sense of these words is, that all the labor, which the good prophets have employed, to purify this people from the dross of their sins, was in vain. The similitude is taken from the refining of metals.
n a person who casts metal or glass in a mold
85 Hebr. melted melting, for to refine. Other, in vain hath the melter melted.
86 That is, could not have been severed from the dross of their wickedness. Other, the wickednesses, the wicked things, that is, all the evil; as the Hebrew word (which otherwise continually signifies the wicked) is also taken Psalm 78:49. Compare Jer. 15:19, where the same similitude is used, but in another case. They are two distinct things, to cleanse the wicked from their wickedness, and to distinguish the godly from the wicked.
30Reprobate silver shall men 87call them, because the LORD hath rejectedo them.
87 Hebr. They call them, or, did call them, that is, they call them, they are called, as elsewhere often.
o Isa. 1:22.