Historical chapter commentary
Verse 2. Heart; what pleases them, ( Bible.) without being inspired. There were always such impostors. These deluded the people at Jerusalem, ( Calmet.) or at Babylon. verse 9. Sanct.—They might be distinguished by the sincere: yet caused irreparable injury to the ignorant people. Bible.
Verse 3. Nothing. Yet would lead the blind, though they are not directed by God.
Verse 4. Deserts, or ruins. They sought only to gratify themselves.
Verse 5. Enemy. You do not admonish sinners of their evil ways, nor strive to avert God’s indignation, in imitation of true prophets, (Exodus 32:10) but rather undermine the wall like foxes.
Verse 9. Upon, to punish.—Counsel. They shall not be consulted, or have any credit.—Writing. They shall perish in the city, or in banishment. Calmet.—Their works shall not be accounted canonical. Sixt. Bib. ii. 2.
Verse 10. Straw. Iniquity ruins my people, ( Calmet.) and these do not endeavour to reform their manners. Bible.—They ought to demolish such a work, and not dab it over. Theod.—One false prophet builds, and another strives to support his authority; (Jun.) or God has given the people his law, but these people corrupt it. Saint Jerome—A wall built without proper mortar, will easily be washed down: so vain hopes of security, without amendment, deceive the people. Worthington.
Verse 11. Hailstones. Lit. “stones,” like those which fell on the enemies of Josue, (10:11. Bible.) or thunderbolts. Grot. Calmet.—Such will be the fate of all the buildings of the wicked. Matthew 7:27. Bible.—None can resist the judgments of God, who will employ the Chaldeans. Menochius.
Verse 14. You. Lit. “it.” But Hebrew and Septuagint have, “ye.” Bible.—The wall and the inhabitants shall perish. Calmet.
Verse 17. Daughters: so false prophets are styled in scorn, (Vat.) or witches; (Rabbins) though it seems rather that there were false prophetesses as well as true ones. Such were Prisca and Maximilla among the Montanists. Women have commonly fostered heresies. Calmet.—These pretended to be illuminated, like Debora and Holda; but flattered the people in their sins, instead of reclaiming them. Worthington.
Verse 18. Cushions, by making people easy in their sins, and promising them impunity, ( Challoner.) by disguising the truth, or not admonishing people of their danger. Calmet. 3:17. He alludes to the cushions used on sofas.—Pillows. Sym. “veils;” (Septuagint and Kimchi) or “nets” designed “to take” the unwary; as mispachot maybe properly rendered. verse 20, 21. Isaiah 5:7. Calmet.—Souls. That is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security. Challoner. Worthington.—People are often said to do what they only announce. Leviticus 13:11. These impostors pretended to save, while they really destroyed. They shewed a cruel mercy, detaining the people in captivity, or rather Hebrew “shall you catch?” and so forth Do you expect to pass unpunished? Calmet.—We might read the Vulg. “Did they give?” and so forth Prot. “Will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?” Bible.
Verse 19. Violated me. That is, dishonoured and discredited me. Challoner.—Prot. “and will ye pollute?” and so forth Bible.—They employed the name of God to give credit to their lies, for the smallest advantage.—Souls, and so forth That is, to sentence souls to death, which are not to die: and to promise life to them who are not to live. Challoner.—They contradicted Jeremias, who exhorted the people to surrender. Calmet.
Verse 20. Catch. Hebrew also, “hunt the souls to make them into gardens, ( Bible.) or flourishing.” Septuagint “you gather souls there.” The original seems to be incorrect. verse 18.
Verse 22. Just. Jeremias, or any other, particularly the more simple, who were easily seduced and filled with apprehensions. You shall therefore die, (verse 23) and your imposture shall be made known. Calmet.