Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Strengthen. Hebrew also, “Flee, Benjamites, from the midst,” and so forth Jerusalem belonged partly to this tribe, which prided itself on its valour.—Thecua was in the lot of Juda, 15 miles south of Jerusalem.—North. The Chaldees approach. Calmet. 1:13. Calmet.
Verse 3. Shepherds. So captains are styled, because they feed and govern soldiers. Worthington.
Verse 4. Prepare. Lit. “sanctify.” Observe the usual formalities of demanding reparation, offering victims, and so forth The Chaldees thus encourage one another, and will allow themselves no rest day or night. verse 5.
Verse 7. Cold. Hebrew “come forth.” All the citizens imitate her vices.
Verse 8. Instructed, by afflictions and prosperity, by public and internal admonitions. Willful ignorance is criminal, and drives God away. Calmet. 51:9. Psalms 80:12.
Verse 9. Basket. Chaldees, destroy all. Nabuchodonosor took Joakim twice, and afterwards Jechonias and Sedecias. Calmet. 29:2.
Verse 10. Uncircumcised. Impure and deaf. Calmet.—Non vocat impossibilitas supplicio quæ de contemptu et infidelitate descendit. Saint Jerome
Verse 11. In. Jeremias is indignant. The Lord then orders him to pour, or declare what will ensue. Calmet.
Verse 13. Prophet. Septuagint “false prophet.” Calmet. 4:31. Bible.
Verse 14. Disgracefully. They shall be ashamed, when the contrary to what they declared shall come to pass. Calmet. 8:11.
Verse 16. Paths, of patriarchs, and of Moses. Avoid novelty in religion. Calmet.—This advice is very applicable to the present generation. Bible.
Verse 17. Watchmen. Prophets. Ezekiel 3:17 and 33:2.
Verse 18. Congregation. Septuagint “shepherds feeding their flocks have heard.” The Chaldees are apprised of my resolution against Juda. Calmet.—After the Jews had been called repeatedly in vain, the Gentiles obey. Matthew 10:5. Worthington.
Verse 20. To me. For want of proper dispositions; otherwise the offerings of the best things were enjoined, and commendable. The Jews are taught not to depend on external observances, while they neglect the heart. Calmet.
Verse 22. North. As Babylon lay with respect to Jerusalem, ( Worthington.) or rather to the east. Bible.
Verse 26. Only son. Let thy grief be extraordinary. Amos 8:10. Zechariah 12:10.
Verse 27. Trier of my people, as of gold in the furnace. Job 22:25.
Verse 29. Bellows, or crucible.—Lead, which was intermixed to purify the dross (Saint Jerome) of gold and silver. But brass and iron could not be thus purified. All would be lost labour. Afflictions do not correct the obstinate. Calmet.