Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Go, Jeremias, and you who publicly adhere to me.—Man. Sodom would have been spared for the sake of ten just people. Genesis 18:32. Before the reform of Josias, Jerusalem was strangely corrupted, though these expressions be hyperbolical, and spoken as it were in the heat of debate. Josias, Holda, and others, were living at this time, and renowned for their piety.
Verse 2. Falsely. Some may confess my name. But they swear falsely. Calmet. 4:2. Calmet.—Unless the requisite conditions be observed, an oath is unlawful. Worthington.
Verse 3. Return. The miseries with which, Achaz, and so forth were afflicted, produced no amendment.
Verse 4. Foolish idiots, ( Calmet.) who have had no means of receiving instruction. Bible.—Such might be more excusable; but when the chiefs offend, the evil is irremediable.
Verse 6. Lion. Nabuchodonosor.—Wolf. Cambyses, ( Calmet.) and leopard. Epiphanes. Bible.—The Chaldees, Persians and Greeks afflicted them. Saint Jerome—The first beast may designate Nabuc: the second Nabuzardon: the third, Alexander or Epiphanes. Worthington.
Verse 7. How can. I have only the character of judge left. Calmet.
Verse 8. Stallions. Hebrew mashcim, ( Bible.) “stretching out,” as others translate. Ezekiel 23:20. Saint Jerome—The horse is the most intemperate of all animals but man. Aristot. Hist. vi. 22.
Verse 10. Destroy, at the first taking of the city, verse 18 and Calmet. 4:27.—Branches. Children of Jechonias, (Calmet. 22:30) and the people. Calmet.—Hebrew “her battlements,” ( Bible.) Chal. “palaces.”
Verse 13. Them. The evil shall fall on the head of these impostors. So the wicked deride the prophets ( Calmet.) impugning the known truth. Bible.
Verse 14. Fire. Thou shalt declare their impending ruin.
Verse 15. Ancient. Nemrod founded the empire of Ninive and of Babylon. Genesis 10:10. Nabopolassar had succeeded to the ancient Assyrian and Chaldee sovereigns. Under his son, Nabuchodonosor, the dominions were much enlarged.—Say. 4 Kennicott. 18:26.
Verse 17. Devour. Hebrew “destroy.” They did not eat human flesh.
Verse 19. Own. You shall thus know the difference between the masters. Calmet.
Verse 21. Understanding. Lit. “heart.” Calmet. 4:22. Bible.
Verse 22. It. Nature and chance are improper terms. God regulates all, and has established those laws which preserve the world.
Verse 24. Rain, in autumn and in spring. Deuteronomy 11:14. Calmet.—Fulness. Hebrew “the weeks for harvest.” Bible.—That of barley began at the Passover, and that of wheat ended before the feast of weeks, (Exodus 34:22. Leviticus 23:10. Calmet.) or Pentecost. Bible.
Verse 25. Away. The rain comes unseasonably.
Verse 26. Man. As some tyrants have done, though this implies ( Calmet.) the eagerness with which the wicked strive to corrupt mankind. Bible.
Verse 28. Of the widow, is not in Hebrew Calmet.—Fatherless. Prot. add, “yet they prosper, and they,” and so forth Bible.
Verse 29. Nation? It is contrary to God’s justice not to punish the guilty. Worthington.
Verse 31. Clapped. Hebrew “came down to, or received in, or domineered by their hands.” The priests concurred with these impostors for their own ends. Calmet.