Verse 1. Letter. Lit. “book.” Bible.—It was probably sent at the beginning of the reign of Sedecias by his ambassadors, and is different from that sent by Baruch 1 and Calmet. 52:28.—Prophets. Chal. “scribes.” Calmet.—Septuagint “false prophets.” verse 8. Bible.—Daniel had begun to prophesy, A. 3402. Ezechiel commenced only five years after the captivity of Jechonias. One prophet frequently instructs another, as Nathan did David. Daniel 9:2 and 1 Peter 1:11. Calmet.—Jeremias declares that the captivity would continue long. He comforts and rebukes to Calmet. 40. Worthington.
Verse 3. Gamarias, the son of Saphan, is different. These two are unknown.
Jeremiah
Verse 5. Build. Establish yourselves, as you must remain a long time in captivity. We are exhorted not to be attached to the things of the world, to remind us that we shall not live long. Calmet. 16:2 and 35:7 and 1 Corinthians 7:29.
Jeremiah
Verse 7. Peace. We must submit to the magistrates, where we reside. Baruch 1:11 and 1 Timothy 2:1.
Jeremiah
Verse 8. Prophets. There were many false ones. verse 21. Ezekiel 13.—Dreams. The prophets, or people. They are vain.
Jeremiah
Verse 10. Seventy. Dating from the 4th of Joakim to the 1st of Cyrus, A. 3468. Calmet. See Calmet. 25:1. 11. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 11. An end. Septuagint “these things.” This version is much abridged. From verse 15 to 21 is omitted in S. Jerom’s and the Rom. edit.; but not in the Comp. or Theodoret. Calmet.—Grabe inserts what is wanting, and places the 15th at the end of our 20th verse. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 15. Said. Expressing your confidence in Providence; or rather, if we join this with what follows, he rebukes them for trusting in false prophets, who represented their condition as worse than that of their brethren, who were left behind; whereas it was really better. verse 17 and Calmet. 24:2. 8. Calmet.—The deluded people suppose that the false prophets had been sent by God. Worthington.
Jeremiah
Verse 19. By night, or “early,” de nocte, as soon as the night was over. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 22. Curse. verse 18. The malediction which has befallen the Jews, “overtake thee.” Worthington.—Fire, in frying-pans, (see 2 Maccabees 7:5) or cauldrons of boiling oil. This death shews that these were not the infamous judges who tempted Susanna, ( Calmet.) as the Jews quoted by ( Bible.) S. Jerom, Salien, and so forth would infer from verse 23 and Daniel 13:57. They were stoned to death by the people. ib. 62. Calmet.—Yet the king might order their dead bodies to be cut in two and burnt, to express his horror of their wicked conduct. Daniel 13:55. 59. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 23. Folly. A crime. Judge 19:23 and 2 Kennicott. 13:12.—Witness, the sovereign truth. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 24. And. God orders his prophet what to say, to an accusation sent from Babylon, in consequence of the former letter. verse 5. 28. Bible.—Nehelamite, “torrent,” (Saint Jerome) or “dreamer.” We know of no place of this name.
Jeremiah
Verse 25. The second priest, (4 Kennicott. 25:18) a chief officer of the temple. Calmet. 21:1.
Jeremiah
Verse 26. Joiada, whose zeal had been conspicuous long before, under Joas, in persuading him to destroy the false prophets. 4 Kennicott. 11:17. Sophonias is exhorted to imitate him, by treating Jeremias in like manner. Calmet.—Thou. Hebrew “ye should be officers.” Prot. Bible.—There were many chief priests.—Raveth. Hebrew “is possessed, and counterfeits the prophet.” Such were to be slain, being confined till sentence had been passed. Deuteronomy 18:20. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 28. Time, before you will return. Bible.—Sophonias read the letter, approving of its contents, (Saint Jerome) though this is not certain. He took no violent steps against Jeremias, as Phassur had done. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 32. Sit, in an honourable station, or they shall all die. Calmet.