Jeremiah 15

Verse 1. If. The Geneva Bible reads corruptly, “Though Moses … stood,” contrary to Hebrew and Greek Worthington.—And Samuel. These two had shewn a particular love for the people. Exodus 32 and 2 Kennicott. 12. Calmet.—Ezechiel (14:4) specifies Noe, Daniel, and Job, who were eminent for sanctity. Daniel was still alive. Yet God will not grant their request; and he forbids his prophet to pray for those who were resolved not to repent. Calmet. 14:11. Bible.—Their punishment was fixed, and God will not remit it at the request either of the living or of the dead. Hence it is evident, that the dead could and did sometimes make intercession, otherwise they would not here be mentioned. To evade this argument, Prot. in the Geneva Bible, suppose God’s “meaning to be, that if there were any man living, moved with so great zeal towards the people as were these two, yet he would not grant their request, for so much as he had determined the contrary.” Yet surely Jeremias, Daniel, and so forth had a similar zeal; and therefore the text speaks of Moses and Samuel in a state of happiness, where their charity is greater than in this life, as Saint Jerome Saint John Chrysostom (hom. 1. in 1 Thess.) and Saint Gregory (Mor. ix. 12.) explain it. Worthington.—Jeremias had been praying earnestly for the people in the temple. But God answers his request with a severity rarely witnessed in Scripture, ordering him to drive the people out, or to announce that they should be thus treated. Calmet.

Verse 2. Death. This Hebrew phrase intimates that some should die by sickness, and so forth Worthington.

Verse 3. Kinds of persecutors, the sword, and so forth Calmet.

Verse 4. Rage. Hebrew “agitation.” Calmet.—Septuagint “necessities.” Prot. “to be removed into all,” and so forth Bible. This the event verified. Isaiah 11:11.—Manasses. Though he obtained pardon, the people would not imitate his repentance. A dreadful warning for princes! Calmet.—“The people generally perish by the fault of their governors.” Saint Jerome

Verse 5. Peace. All will abhor thee. Calmet.—“The creatures cannot be so clement as the Creator.” Saint Jerome

Verse 6. Intreating thee. Hebrew “of being intreated;” (Saint Jerome) or, “of repenting,” and suspending the effects of my wrath. Calmet.—Septuagint “I will no longer spare them.” Bible.

Verse 7. Will, or “have scattered” the ten tribes, and many of Juda, before the last siege. Calmet.

Verse 8. Man, or “a spoiler of the young man,” ( Bible.) so that the widow shall also be deprived of her children. Hebrew “the young spoiler,” Nabuchodonosor. He shall not come like a night thief, to attack the metropolis.

Verse 9. Seven: many. It is not common for a mother to lose so numerous a family; yet such shall be the misfortune of Jewish parents. The synagogues shall decrease.—Day. Her prosperity shall end on a sudden. Calmet.

Verse 10. Strife. Jeremias was under continual persecution, ( Menochius.) yet ceased not to reprimand the wicked. Bible.—Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit. Cic.—Usury. Such people are exposed to contention. Menochius.

Verse 11. Remnant; posterity, ( Calmet.) or rather possessions, as the prophet never married. Calmet. 16:2. Bible.—God assures him that he shall be protected. Menochius.—The Chaldees treated him with respect. Calmet. 39:2 and 40:1. Sedecias and the people had often recourse to him. Chal. “They will come to intreat thee, when the enemy shall straiten them.” Calmet.

Verse 12. Iron. Shall the iron (that is, the strength of Juda) stand against the stronger iron of the north, (that is, of Babylon) or enter into an alliance upon equal footing with it? No, certainly; but it must be broken by it. Challoner.—Iron is not easily united with brass, though Pliny (xxxiv. 4.) mentions a statue of this nature. Neither iron nor brass can stand against steel, which is meant by the iron from the north. The Jews shall not hurt Jeremias, verse 20. Calmet. 1:17. Calmet.—Prot. “shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?” The riches of Juda shall become a prey, verse 13. Bible.—Stronger kingdoms easily oppress their weak allies. Worthington.

Verse 14. Bring. Septuagint “enslave thee to thy,” and so forth Chal. “thou shalt serve.” Bible.—They have read ( Calmet.) hahabadti. Hebrew has r instead of d, “I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a,” and so forth Prot. Bible.

Verse 15. Patience. That is, let not thy patience and long suffering, which thou usest towards sinners, keep thee from making haste to my assistance. Challoner.—He is actuated by a zeal for God’s glory. Calmet.—He is afraid of his own weakness, and begs to be delivered shortly. Psalms 12:2. Worthington.

Verse 16. Eat them. I received them most cordially, (Ezekiel 3:1. Bible.) as one who is hungry.—Upon me. I was recognized as the prophet of the Lord.

Verse 17. Jesters, who deride religion, (Psalms 1:1) or sport away their time. Calmet.—Hand, through vanity. Lit. and I boast of.” Bible.—I rejoiced in suffering, as this prophet. Many ( Calmet.) supply nor from the former part of the sentence. Menochius.—Threats. I could not refrain from admonishing the people of their ways, ( Bible.) which I would not countenance by my presence. Calmet.—All indeed kept at a distance from me.

Verse 18. Trusted. It is not cured as soon as might be expected. Bible.—It continually breaks out again, ( Menochius.) like a bog not properly drained. Bible.—Hebrew “Thou art become,” and so forth Chal. “break not thy promise, as,” and so forth Do not reject me when I stand most in need of redress. Calmet.—My hopes seem ( Bible.) vain. Worthington.

Verse 19. Converted, and cease to fear the people; ( Calmet.) and confide in my precious words, ( Bible.) despising the vile threats of the people. Menochius.—Mouth; interpreter. Exodus 4:16. Chal. “If thou wilt recall the wicked into the way of justice, though shalt fulfill my will.” See Saint Jerome in Ps. cv. 32.—To thee. Thus Sedecias and the people acted, Calmet. 21:1 and 42:2. Calmet.—The prophet must not give way to sinners, but hey must be reclaimed. Worthington.

Verse 21. Mighty; Chaldees. Providence watched over Jeremias, amid all his enemies. Calmet.