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The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Verse 1. The, and so forth He continues his discourse, (verse 15) or rather addresses the people, when Josias renewed the covenant. 2 Chronicles 34:29. Leviticus 26. Deuteronomy 27. Calmet.
“Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
and say to them, the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘Cursed is the man who doesn’t hear the words of this covenant,
which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace,’ saying, ‘Obey my voice and do them, according to all which I command you; so you shall be my people, and I will be your God;
Verse 4. Fathers. God chooses his people for obedience, not for kindred, and so forth Saint Jerome Worthington.
that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is today.” Then I answered, and said, “Amen, LORD.”
Verse 5. Amen. Septuagint “So be it.” Bible.—Thou hast fulfilled thy engagements.
The LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear the words of this covenant, and do them.
Verse 6. Cities, or to those who come thence to the temple, that all may know.
For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, “Obey my voice.”
Verse 7. For. This and the next verse have not been read by Sept.; ( Calmet.) but only “and they did not comply.” Grabe supplies the rest. Bible.
Yet they didn’t obey, nor turn their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart. Therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn’t do them.’”
Verse 8. Brought; or “will bring,” seems preferable. What does the history of God’s people till the captivity exhibit, but scenes of disorder and of succeeding misery? Calmet.
The LORD said to me, “A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Verse 9. Conspiracy. They are leagued together to do evil, with all earnestness. Saint Jerome
They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
Verse 10. To them, for a long time. Yet they must not despair, or have recourse to idols, (verse 12) or witches. 1 Kennicott. 28.
Therefore the LORD says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on them which they will not be able to escape; and they will cry to me, but I will not listen to them.
Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal.’
Verse 13. Confusion. Thus he contemptuously denotes Baalim. Calmet. 3:24. Calmet.—Various idols were objects of adoration, ( Bible.) so that no city or street, perhaps not any house, was pure. Calmet. 7:18 and 44:17. Isaiah 65:11. Ezekiel 16:25.
“Therefore don’t pray for this people. Don’t lift up cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble.
What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has behaved lewdly with many, and the holy flesh has passed from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice.”
Verse 15. Beloved, dilectus. Hebrew and Septuagint have the fem. Chal. “people.” They presumptuously thought that they would be freed from all their abominations, by partaking of the sacrifices. Calmet.—But the offerings of such are not accepted. Menochius.—The flesh is holy, but is of no service to the obstinate sinner. Worthington.
The LORD called your name, “A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit.” With the noise of a great roar he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.
Verse 16. Burnt, by lightning. The olive was a most useful and beautiful tree.
For the LORD of Armies, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.
The LORD gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it. Then you showed me their doings.
Verse 18. Shewedst me. He insinuates that something more than what appears must be understood. Theod.—All Christians explain what follows of Jesus Christ, (Saint Jerome Worthington.) whom Jeremias prefigured in his sufferings. Calmet.—“Let us follow the rule which shews that all the prophets did most things for a type of our Lord and Saviour; and what was now done by Jeremias, foreshewed what would happen to our Lord.” Saint Jerome
But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter. I didn’t know that they had devised plans against me, saying, “Let’s destroy the tree with its fruit, and let’s cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.”
Verse 19. Meek: pet lamb. The Arabs still keep one in their houses. 2 Kennicott. 12:3. Bochart ii. 46. Calmet.—Knew. I acted as if I had been ignorant. Menochius.—Yet Christ foretold his sufferings. Matthew 20:18. and so forth Worthington.—Bread. Christ, the bread of life, was nailed to the disgraceful wood. Saint Jerome Saint Gregory Mor. iii. 12.—They threaten to beat him, (De Dieu) or to mix a poisonous wood with his food. Calmet. Menochius.—Some Jews had corrupted this text in S. Justin’s time. D.
But, LORD of Armies, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I will see your vengeance on them; for to you I have revealed my cause.
Verse 20. Sabaoth. That is, of hosts or armies; a name frequently given to God, in the Scriptures.—Thy revenge. This was rather a prediction of what was to happen, with an approbation of the divine justice, than an imprecation. Challoner.—He speaks of the impenitent, (Saint Jerome) and wishes they may be converted.
“Therefore the LORD says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy in the LORD’s name, that you not die by our hand’—
Verse 21. Life. What precedes, was spoken concerning the prophet, though it regarded Christ also in a proper but more elevated sense. Calmet.
therefore the LORD of Armies says, ‘Behold, I will punish them. The young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by famine.
There will be no remnant to them, for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.’”
Verse 23. Remains. All these priests shall perish. Psalms 36:28. Bible.—He speaks of the wicked, as a remnant was still left. Calmet. 4. Isaiah 10. Worthington.