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The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
Verse 1. Helcias, the high priest who discovered the book of the law, (Clem. Strom. i. and so forth) though this be uncertain.—Anathoth, a village to the north of Jerusalem, to which many priests had retired, though it did not belong to them. Calmet.
The LORD’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Verse 3. Joakim. His immediate predecessor and successor, both called Jechonias, ( Bible.) are passed over, as their reign was short, ( Calmet.) only lasting three months each. Bible.—Fifth. Jerusalem was taken on the 9th of the preceding month. But the temple was not burnt, nor the captives sent off till the fifth month, or the 10th of the civil year. Calmet. 39:8 and 52:13 and 4 Kennicott. 25:2. Calmet.—Jeremias also prophesied in Egypt. Calmet. 44. Worthington.—But this title alludes to his principal predictions. Menochius.
Now the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Verse 5. Knew, with affection, and designed thee for this office for eternity. Many think ( Calmet.) that Jeremias was purified from original sin before his birth. Saint Augustine—He had this privilege, and was also a priest, prophet, virgin, and martyr. Worthington.—Yet to sanctify, often means only to set aside. Exodus 13:2. Sirach 49:9.—Nations, whose overthrow he points out. Calmet. 25:27. 32. and so forth Calmet.
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
Verse 6. Ah. Hebrew ahah. Septuagint “thou Being.” Prot. “Then said I: Ah, Lord God.” Bible.—He does not imitate a child. He might be above 30 years old, though some say ( Calmet.) only 14, ( Tirinus.) or less; yet he finds himself devoid of eloquence, like Moses. Exodus 14:10. Calmet.
The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
But the LORD said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.
Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says the LORD.
Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
Verse 9. Mouth; perhaps Bible. with a coal, by means of an angel, (Isaiah 6:5) in a sort of dream. He found himself changed into a new man.
Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Verse 10. Root up, to announce the fall and restoration of many nations. Ezekiel 4:2. Calmet.—Jeremias spoke of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews. Worthington.
Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
Verse 11. Watching. Hebrew “of an almond.” Septuagint “nut-tree.” Bible.—The almond-tree flourishes in January, and bears fruit in March. Theod. Pliny xvi. 25.—Thus God will speedily send his scourge from Babylon, to punish his people. Calmet.—The sense is the same. Menochius.—God’s law is outwardly bitter, but the kernel is sweet. Theod. Worthington.
Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”
The LORD’s word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north.”
Verse 13. North, whence the wind blows, to make the fire burn more intensely. Assyria lay to the north, and Babylon to the east of Judea; but the troops always penetrated the northern frontier, as they could not pass through the Desert Arabia. The caldron represented Jerusalem. Ezekiel 11:3 and 24:3.
Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
Verse 14–15. North. The tributary kings were forced to attend. Judith 2:7 and 3 Kennicott. 20:1.—About. The princes thus took Sedecias, and sent him to Reblatha. Calmet. 39:3. Calmet.
For behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the LORD. “They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.
Verse 14–15. North. The tributary kings were forced to attend. Judith 2:7 and 3 Kennicott. 20:1.—About. The princes thus took Sedecias, and sent him to Reblatha. Calmet. 39:3. Calmet.
I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
“You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them.
Verse 17. Loins. Make haste, and take courage. Job 38:3. Menochius.
For behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.
They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says the LORD, “to rescue you.”
Verse 19. Prevail. God does not promise peace, but victory. Worthington.