Jeremiah 27

1

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 1. Joakim. This revelation was made to the prophet in the beginning of the reign of Joakim: but the bands were not sent, to the princes here named, before the reign of Sedecias. verse 3. Challoner.—He wore them six or seven years. Vat. Tirinus.—But this is uncertain. Septuagint omit this title. Syr. Arab. and so forth read “Sedecias.” Calmet.—As far as Juda may belong to the last chapter. S. Jerom includes the whole verse. Bible.—It seems to be rather a fresh prophecy, or the title may be spurious, like many in the Psalms. See Calmet. 26:1 and 28:1. Isaiah 21:13.

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2

the LORD says to me: “Make bonds and bars, and put them on your neck.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Chains. Hebrew “a yoke and pole,” ( Calmet.) or piece of wood for the necks of slaves. Saint Jerome—Thus would the servitude of these nations be clearly represented. Bible.—Bands and chains were proper signs, as they were used to bind captives. Worthington.

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3

Then send them to the king of Edom, to the king of Moab, to the king of the children of Ammon, to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon, by the hand of the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 3. Edom. Thus he exercises the function of prophet among the nations. Calmet. 1:5. These had come to compliment Sedecias, or rather to form a league.

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4

Give them a command to their masters, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel says, “You shall tell your masters:

5

‘I have made the earth, the men, and the animals that are on the surface of the earth by my great power and by my outstretched arm. I give it to whom it seems right to me.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Eyes. God disposes of all princes, and so forth His prophets speak boldly. Calmet.

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6

Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant. I have also given the animals of the field to him to serve him.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 6. Beasts. The property of those people, or the most barbarous nations. Saint Jerome—Hangmen and executioners may in the same sense be styled God’s servants. Worthington.

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7

All the nations will serve him, his son, and his son’s son, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings will make him their bondservant.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 7. His son; that is Evilmerodach, and his son’s son, that is Nabonydus, or Nabonadius, the Baltassar of Daniel, (chap. 5) and the last of the Chaldean kings. Challoner.—Come. It will not be long before this rod is cast into the fire, the usual fate of those who execute God’s vengeance.

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8

“‘“‘It will happen that I will punish the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon,’ says the LORD, ‘with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

9

But as for you, don’t listen to your prophets, to your diviners, to your dreams, to your soothsayers, or to your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, “You shall not serve the king of Babylon;”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 9. Prophets, who deluded the Jews, as diviners did the Gentiles.

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10

for they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land, so that I would drive you out, and you would perish.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 10. To remove. Hebrew “that I may,” and so forth This will be the effect, though contrary to their intention.

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11

But the nation that brings their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serves him, that nation I will let remain in their own land,’ says the LORD; ‘and they will till it and dwell in it.’”’”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 11. In it. None complied, and though the Idumeans, and so forth joined the Chaldees against Juda, they were punished ( Calmet.) for their former league. verse 3. Bible.

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12

I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

13

Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD has spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

14

Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon;’ for they prophesy a lie to you.

15

For I have not sent them,” says the LORD, “but they prophesy falsely in my name; that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you, and the prophets who prophesy to you.”

16

Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, the LORD says, “Don’t listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, ‘Behold, the vessels of the LORD’s house will now shortly be brought again from Babylon;’ for they prophesy a lie to you.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 16. Time. Hananias specified two years, (Calmet. 28:3) which proved false. Some “silver vessels,” (Baruch 1:8) and not those of gold, it seems, ( Calmet.) or not all, ( Bible.) were restored at the request of Saraias. Calmet. 51:59.

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17

Don’t listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city become a desolation?

18

But if they are prophets, and if the LORD’s word is with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of Armies, that the vessels which are left in the LORD’s house, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, don’t go to Babylon.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 18. Hosts. If they prevail, account me a false prophet. Calmet.—The things taken shall not be soon restored; but more shall be conveyed away. Worthington.

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19

For the LORD of Armies says concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the bases, and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city,

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 19. To thee. Hebrew also, “concerning,” as verse 21. ( Bible.) though ( Calmet.) inanimate things are often spoken to. Saint Jerome

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20

which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didn’t take when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem—

21

yes, the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning the vessels that are left in the LORD’s house, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem:

22

‘They will be carried to Babylon, and there they will be, until the day that I visit them,’ says the LORD; ‘then I will bring them up, and restore them to this place.’”