Historical chapter commentary
Verse 2. Espousals. He speaks ironically. Theod.—Yet the Israelites at first shewed greater proofs of love than they did afterwards. It is true they often prevaricated, in the wilderness. Exodus 32:1. Amos 5:25. Psalms 77. and so forth Calmet.—The Lord declares his gratuitous love, and then upbraids his people. Bible.—He had caused them to multiply in Egypt, and gratuitously made choice of them. Worthington.
Verse 3. Increase; most desirable. Osee 9:10. God punished those who attempted to injure his people: yet they abandoned his service.
Verse 5. Vanity; idols, whom he will not mention, to spare their shame. Calmet.
Verse 7. Carmel. That is, a fruitful, plentiful land. Challoner. Worthington.—All Palestine is thus designated. Menochius.
Verse 8. Priests were silent, or abandoned themselves.—Pastors; “princes.” Chal. Manasses, Amon, and so forth—In Baal, promoting his worship. Bible.—The land was full of false prophets, and none stood up for the Lord.
Verse 9. Children; the Israelites, under Moses, and their posterity transgressed.
Verse 10. Cethim; Macedon. It here denotes the western nations, as Cedar does those of the east.
Verse 11. Glory; the true God and his ark. Psalms 3:4 and 1 Kennicott. 4:21.
Verse 12. Gates; angels, or the temple.
Verse 13. Water. The idols and nations, to which they have had recourse, injure them. Calmet.—The Jews did just the reverse to what God commanded. Worthington.
Verse 14. Slave. From such, labour and tribute were required. Matthew 17:24. John 8:33.
Verse 15. Lions; kings of Assyria, and so forth The decree for the devastation of Juda had already passed, though it was not put in execution.
Verse 16. Taphnes, 16 miles from Pelusium, in Egypt. The nation proved only detrimental to the Jews, by engaging them in their abominations, instead of affording relief.
Verse 18. Troubled. Hebrew shichor, or Nile water, (Joshua 13:3) which was thought as good as wine, and grew better for keeping. Strabo xvii.—Hence the people adored it. Vitruv. viii.—God often reproached the Jews for distrusting in his protection, and seeking aid from the Egyptians, who deceived them. We know not that Josias did so. Calmet.—He even opposed them, and lost his life in defending the country. 4 Kennicott. 23:29. Bible.—He was probably obliged to pay tribute to the Assyrians, whom Achaz had called in. 2 Chronicles 28:23. These alliances the Lord condemned.
Verse 20. Thou. Septuagint Yet Hebrew and Chal. have, “I have permissively broken,” or foretold this infidelity.
Verse 21. Chosen. Hebrew Sorek. Judges 16:4. Isaiah 5:2 and 16:8. Calmet.—God created all things good, planted his Church in justice, and no evil proceeds from Him. Worthington.
Verse 22. Borith. An herb used to clean clothes, and take out spots and dirt, ( Challoner.) like kali, soda, ( Calmet.) or soap. Langius.—Prot. “and take thee much soap.” Bible.
Verse 23. Valley of Hinnom, under the very walls of Jerusalem. Calmet.—Runner. Hebrew “dromedary,” which takes its name from its swiftness. Bible.—The female camel continues all day with the male, and cannot be approached. Aristot. Pliny x. 63.—Juda is represented as no less libidinous. Calmet.
Verse 24. Away. The female may easily be found by the poisonous hippo-manes. Georg. iii.—Thus Jerusalem is an impudent prostitute. Bible.
Verse 25. Foot, and the parts which modesty covers. My exhortations are slighted. Calmet.—Despair opens the door to every sort of impurity. Ephesians 4:19. Bible.
Verse 26. Taken. Juda affected still to be very pious. verse 23.
Verse 28. Cities. All were abandoned. Ezekiel 16:24. Osee 10:1.
Verse 30. Prophets; Zacharias, (2 Chronicles 24:21.) Isaias, and so forth Matthew 23:34. Calmet.—Punishment is designed by God to cause people to repent. Worthington.
Verse 31. See, or hear. The sword seems to be animated. Calmet.—Lateward. Hebrew “darksome land.” Have I not heaped blessings on my people?—Revolted. Prot. “Lords.” Bible.
Verse 33. Thou who. Hebrew “Therefore have I.” Calmet.—Prot. “hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.” Bible.—Thou hast opened a school of vice.
Verse 34. Innocent children, immolated to Moloc, or people murdered, whose blood thou hast not concealed. 4 Kennicott. 21:16.
Verse 37. Head, like the violated Thamar. 2 Kennicott. 13:19. The king of Egypt was routed, when coming to assist Sedecias. Calmet. 37:3. 10. Calmet.
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
that is, the Euphrates River
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).