Jeremiah
Verse 1. Blocks; idols, ( Calmet.) and other occasions of sin. Bible.
EXPLANATIONS
Jeremiah 4
Historical chapter commentary
Jeremiah
Verse 2. Swear, when requisite. Calmet.—Thus thou wilt learn to confess one God. Theod.—If all were upright, oaths would be unnecessary. Matthew 5:34. But as they are not so, ( Calmet.) this may be a religious act. Worthington.—Justice. These three conditions are essential. Bible.—Him; the people, ( Calmet.) or God. Saint Jerome—An oath must attest God, and be used when a thing is true and of moment. Worthington.
Jeremiah
Verse 3. Thorns. Your misconduct hinders your advancement. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 4. Hearts. Understand, and act with purity. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 5. Cities. Nabuchodonosor is at hand.
Jeremiah
Verse 7. Robber. Nabuchodonosor attacks unjustly, ( Calmet.) though he be God’s scourge.
Jeremiah
Verse 9. Heart; counsel and vigour.—Prophets of falsehood.
Jeremiah
Verse 10. Alas! Prot. “Then I said: Ah! Lord God, surely thou hast deceived,” and so forth ( Bible.) by permitting the people to follow false prophets. Isaiah 63:17. Psalms 43:19.
Jeremiah
Verse 11. Desert of Arabia. It may designate Nechao, (2 Chronicles 35:20) who slew Josias, after whose death all fell to ruin.
Jeremiah
Verse 15. Ephraim. At Bethel and Dan the calves were adored. Calmet.—But they were now no more. Bible.—The irruption of Nabuchodonosor is announced. He set himself up for a god.
Jeremiah
Verse 16. Guards. The Chaldees will besiege the city, and prevent provisions from entering. 4 Kennicott. 25:1. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 19. My. God, (Saint Jerome) the people, (Grot.) or rather Jeremias speaks.
Jeremiah
Verse 20. Moment. The cities are destroyed as easily as a tent.
Jeremiah
Verse 22. Me, practically. They have not honoured me as they ought. Calmet.—If they were indeed devoid of sense, they would be excused. Worthington.
Jeremiah
Verse 23. Void. Hebrew “Thohu and bohu,” like chaos. Genesis 1:2. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 25. Gone. Beasts feel the wrath of God, and in a land uninhabited; not even birds will remain. Osee 4:3. Saint Jerome
Jeremiah
Verse 26. Carmel: the beautiful country of Palestine, ( Bible.) Jerusalem, (Theod.) or the mountain so called.
Jeremiah
Verse 27. Destroy, when Jechonias was led captive. God allowed the people still eleven years to repent; and he afterwards restored the Jews. Calmet.—He will never suffer his church to perish. Worthington.
Jeremiah
Verse 28. Repented. Only a finite being can do this. God’s resolution is here unconditional and fixed.
Jeremiah
Verse 30. Stone, or antimony, like Jazabel, (4 Kennicott. 9:30) to darken and enlarge the eye-lids.—Lovers. Infidel nations of Egypt, and so forth
Jeremiah
Verse 31. Child. Hebrew and Septuagint “a first-born,” when the pains are most acute. Calmet.