Jeremiah
Verse 2. Gate, before all the people. This discourse ends Calmet. 13. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
Jeremiah 7
Historical chapter commentary
Jeremiah
Verse 3. Dwell. Hebrew “make you dwell here.” Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 4. Lord. The triple repetition shews the vain confidence of the people, who blindly imagined that the temple would screen them, ( Calmet.) and that external sacrifices would suffice. But they were rejected with the temple. Worthington.
Jeremiah
Verse 7. Dwell. Hebrew and Septuagint as verse 3. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 9. Not, which have done you no good, and deserve not to be styled gods. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 10. Because. Hebrew also, “although,” (Sa. Grot.) “to perform,” (Chal. Mont.) or “by doing.” God must surely approve of our conduct, since we are unmolested. Saint Thomas Aquinas Lyr.—But the Vulg. seems preferable, and the people attribute their success to idols. Calmet. 44:17 and 2 Chronicles 28:23.
Jeremiah
Verse 11. Robbers. Our Saviour alludes to this. Matthew 21:13.—Seen. Think not to hide yourselves, as in a den. My temple shall not be an asylum for wretches. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 12. Beginning, under Josue. Bible.—The sins of a few priests caused this place to be abandoned, (1 Kennicott. 2:22 and 3:4. Psalms 77:60) and shall the crimes of a whole people escape? Calmet.—It is true, that place and Jerusalem were once sanctified: but the people being criminal, God retires. Worthington.
Jeremiah
Verse 13. Early. Sparing no opportunity of reclaiming you. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 15. Ephraim. The ten tribes ( Worthington.) had been led into captivity in the days of Ezechias, the great-grandfather of Josias. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 16. Praise, offered to appease my wrath. Bible.—This admirably shews the force of the saints’ intercession, which God does not reject, but rather encourages by such declarations. Abraham and Moses did not leave off praying for the guilty, (Genesis 18:23. Exodus 32:10) and the Lord complains that there was none to withhold him. Isaiah 64:7. Ezekiel 22:30. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 18. Heaven. That is, the moon, which they worshipped under that name. Challoner.—Some understand the sun also the stars. Calmet. 44:17. Isaiah 65:11. All the family contributes to promote this idolatry.
Jeremiah
Verse 21. Flesh. I reject your holocausts. Keep them for yourselves. Calmet.
Jeremiah
Verse 22. I commanded them not: that is such sacrifices as the Jews at this time offered without obedience; which was the thing principally commanded: so that in comparison with it, the offering of the holocausts and sacrifices was of small account. Challoner.—The observance of the decalogue would suffice. Victims were to teach internal piety. Leviticus 1. Worthington.—God “brought them out of Egypt, not for the sake of their sacrifices, but that they might … hear his word.” S. Iræn. iv. 17.—This was the principal design. See Matthew 9:13. Os. 6:6 and 1 Corinthians 1:17. Maldon. Menochius. Calmet.—The rules for sacrifices were given after the adoration of the calf, as necessary preservatives against idolatry. Saint Thomas Aquinas i. 2. q. 102. a. 3.—Yet the paschal lamb, and so forth had been already commanded. Calmet.—Many such absolute expressions imply a condition or comparison. Gloss. Proverbs 8:10.—I brought. Several MSS. read thus more accurately than the Hebrew “He brought,” (Ken.) which Prot. abandon, ( Bible.) though the present reading may stand. Chappel. Crat.—Every variation should be noticed, as this and the former verse “seem greatly corrupted; perhaps the Syr. version will be the best guide to their true meaning.” Kennicott.—Yet the passage is sufficiently intelligible in the Vulg. and Sept.
Jeremiah
Verse 27. Thee. Septuagint omit this verse, which Grabe replaces. The people will be more inexcusable. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 29. High. People lamented in such places. Calmet. 9:13. Judges 11:35. Calmet.—Wrath, which he treats with the utmost severity. Bible.
Jeremiah
Verse 30. Abominations. Hebrew We have lit. “stumbling-blocks,” offendicula. Bible.—Manasses placed idols in the very temple, as the last kings of Juda did. 4 Kennicott. 23:4. Ezekiel 8:3.
Jeremiah
Verse 31. Valley, to the south of the city. Here Moloc was adored, and Josias therefore contaminated the place. 4 Kennicott. 23:10. Calmet.—It was very delightful. Saint Jerome
Jeremiah
Verse 32. Place, elsewhere. Bible.—This was verified when Nabuchodonosor and Titus besieged the city. Calmet.—The latter was quite shocked. Jos. Bel. vi. 14. See Calmet. 19 and 31:40.
Jeremiah
Verse 34. Bride. None shall think of marrying, (Calmet. 16:9 and 25:10. Calmet.) all being filled with lamentation. Menochius.
Jeremiah
or, seed