Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. The prayer, and so forth This title is not in Hebrew Septuagint and so forth Theodoret has passed over the chapter, as if he doubted of its authenticity. It does not follow the order of Hebrew letters like the preceding, and seems to be a form of prayer for those who retired into Egypt. Calmet.—Jeremias foresees what would happen, and prays as the people would do. Worthington.
Verse 2. Aliens. The Idumeans seized and kept possession of the southern parts.
Verse 3. Father. Many had none surviving, and all had lost their king. Worthington.
Verse 4. Water. Even this was not given for nothing.
Verse 6. Hand; engaged to serve Egyptians, Babylonians, ( Calmet.) or other nations, to procure sustenance. Worthington.
Verse 7. Iniquities. This was the usual complaint of the Jews, (Calmet. 31:29) as if they had committed no offence themselves. If any virtuous people were involved in common ruin, they bore it with resignation, and acknowledged that they had deserved it. 1 Ezra 9:6. and 2 Ezra 1:6. Esther 14:6. Daniel 3:29.
Verse 8. Servants. One had command over another. Matthew 24:45. The Chaldees were like slaves, and the race of Cham was condemned to servitude. Genesis 9:26. Calmet.—The Jews had formerly dominion over Edom, and so forth who now treated them so cruelly. Menochius. Lyran.
Verse 9. Sword. Any one might kill us.
Verse 11. Oppressed. Hebrew “afflicted.” Brutal insolence prevailed. Calmet.
Verse 12. Hand. Thus Leonidas was treated, after his head was cut off, by Xerxes. Herod. vii. 238.
Verse 13. Indecently, like the Sodomites. Hebrew “they made the young men grind” at the mill, in their prison, ( Bible.) as Samson (Judges 16:21) and Sedecias (according to the Septuagint Calmet. 52:11) were forced to do. To grind is often used in a bad sense; but it is not necessary to adopt it here. Calmet. Amama.—The Chaldees treated their captives without pity or shame. Bible.—Wood; burdens, or stumbling-blocks, unless they were crucified; or, “roasted,” if we admit a small alteration in the Hebrew Calmet. 4:10. Calmet.—They were forced to grind naked, and were beaten with staves. Worthington.
Verse 14. Gates, where sentence was usually passed. Bible.—The Jews had judges at Babylon, (Daniel 13:5) but not at first, nor everywhere.
Verse 16. Crown, used at feasts; ( Calmet.) or, we have lost the sovereign power. Worthington.
Verse 17. Dim, the natural consequence of extreme want. 1 Kennicott. 14:27.
Verse 18. Foxes, which were very common. Judges 15:4. Thus, Horace says:
Agros atque lares patrios, habitandaque fana
Apris relinquet et edacibus lupis. Epod. 16.
Verse 21. Convert. Thy grace must work upon our hearts, ( Calmet.) before we can expect redress, ( Bible.) and an end of our banishment. Tirinus. Grot.—Beginning, when our fathers observed the law. Saint Thomas Aquinas Menochius. See Calmet. 31:18. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. ii. and iv. Worthington.
Verse 22. Thou hast. We might read with an interrogation, ( Bible.) in Hebrew “Hast thou?” and so forth The Jews superstitiously repeat the last verse, for fear of ending the book in an ominous manner, as they do at the end of Isaias and Malachias. Calmet.—Having treated us so severely, stop thy hand. Worthington.—But I perceive it will be in vain to beg for redress till the seventy years be expired. Menochius.
BARUCH
THE PROPHECY OF BARUCH