Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Helcias, the high priest who discovered the book of the law, (Clem. Strom. i. and so forth) though this be uncertain.—Anathoth, a village to the north of Jerusalem, to which many priests had retired, though it did not belong to them. Calmet.
Verse 3. Joakim. His immediate predecessor and successor, both called Jechonias, ( Bible.) are passed over, as their reign was short, ( Calmet.) only lasting three months each. Bible.—Fifth. Jerusalem was taken on the 9th of the preceding month. But the temple was not burnt, nor the captives sent off till the fifth month, or the 10th of the civil year. Calmet. 39:8 and 52:13 and 4 Kennicott. 25:2. Calmet.—Jeremias also prophesied in Egypt. Calmet. 44. Worthington.—But this title alludes to his principal predictions. Menochius.
Verse 5. Knew, with affection, and designed thee for this office for eternity. Many think ( Calmet.) that Jeremias was purified from original sin before his birth. Saint Augustine—He had this privilege, and was also a priest, prophet, virgin, and martyr. Worthington.—Yet to sanctify, often means only to set aside. Exodus 13:2. Sirach 49:9.—Nations, whose overthrow he points out. Calmet. 25:27. 32. and so forth Calmet.
Verse 6. Ah. Hebrew ahah. Septuagint “thou Being.” Prot. “Then said I: Ah, Lord God.” Bible.—He does not imitate a child. He might be above 30 years old, though some say ( Calmet.) only 14, ( Tirinus.) or less; yet he finds himself devoid of eloquence, like Moses. Exodus 14:10. Calmet.
Verse 9. Mouth; perhaps Bible. with a coal, by means of an angel, (Isaiah 6:5) in a sort of dream. He found himself changed into a new man.
Verse 10. Root up, to announce the fall and restoration of many nations. Ezekiel 4:2. Calmet.—Jeremias spoke of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews. Worthington.
Verse 11. Watching. Hebrew “of an almond.” Septuagint “nut-tree.” Bible.—The almond-tree flourishes in January, and bears fruit in March. Theod. Pliny xvi. 25.—Thus God will speedily send his scourge from Babylon, to punish his people. Calmet.—The sense is the same. Menochius.—God’s law is outwardly bitter, but the kernel is sweet. Theod. Worthington.
Verse 13. North, whence the wind blows, to make the fire burn more intensely. Assyria lay to the north, and Babylon to the east of Judea; but the troops always penetrated the northern frontier, as they could not pass through the Desert Arabia. The caldron represented Jerusalem. Ezekiel 11:3 and 24:3.
Verse 14–15. North. The tributary kings were forced to attend. Judith 2:7 and 3 Kennicott. 20:1.—About. The princes thus took Sedecias, and sent him to Reblatha. Calmet. 39:3. Calmet.
Verse 17. Loins. Make haste, and take courage. Job 38:3. Menochius.
Verse 19. Prevail. God does not promise peace, but victory. Worthington.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.