Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Ver. 1. _Oh that mine head were waters._] _Mira sermonis transfiguratione utitur propheta,_ A wonderful wish of this weeping prophet, and to be taken up by God... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they [be] all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. Ver. 2. _Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place._] Some sorry shed, such as those worthies had who dwelt in dens a... [ Continue Reading ]
And they bend their tongues [like] their bow [for] lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. Ver. 3. _And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies._] To the impeaching of others in their name, state,... [ Continue Reading ]
Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. Ver. 4. _Take ye heed every one of his neighbour._] Since there is scarce any to be trusted. The poets tell us, that when Pallas had taught... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, [and] weary themselves to commit iniquity._ Ver. 5. _They have taught their tongues to speak lies._] They are artists at it, and can tack one lie to another very handsomely. Ps... [ Continue Reading ]
Thine habitation [is] in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. Ver. 6. _Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit,_] _i.e., _ Of deceitful persons, who have honey in their tongues, but gall in their hearts; _Aliud in labris, aliud in fibris._ Another in the va... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Ver. 7. _Behold, I will melt them and try them._] I will cast them into the fiery crucible of sharp affliction. A metaphor from metallaries. See Jeremiah 6:29 . _ For h... [ Continue Reading ]
Their tongue [is as] an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: [one] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. Ver. 8. _Their tongue is as an arrow shot out._] It is both a bow Jer 9:3 and a shaft, and that a slaughtering shaft, as some copies have it here; _... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall I not visit them for these [things]? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Ver. 9. _Shall I not visit them?_] See on Jeremiah 5:9 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through [them]; neither can [men] hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone. Ver.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will make Jerusalem heaps, [and] a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Ver. 11. _And I will make Jerusalem heaps._] So small a distance is there, saith Seneca, between a great city and none. The world is as full of mutation as of motion. _ And... [ Continue Reading ]
Who [is] the wise man, that may understand this? and [who is he] to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth [and] is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through? Ver. 12. _Who is the wise man, that he may understand this?_] This who and... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;_ Ver. 13. _And the Lord saith._] Or, Therefore the Lord saith, _q.d., _ Because neither yourselves know, nor have any else to tell you, the true cause of your calami... [ Continue Reading ]
But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Ver. 14. _But have walked after the imagination of their own heart._] Than the which they could not have chosen a worse guide, since it is evil, "only evil," and "continually" so. Gen 6:5 _S... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, [even] this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. Ver. 15. _Behold, I will feed them with wormwood,_] _i.e., _ With bitter afflictions. _Et haec poena inobedientiae fidei respondet._ And this... [ Continue Reading ]
I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them. Ver. 16. _And I will scatter them also among the heathen._] As had been forethreatened. Deuteronomy 28:15,68 Lev 26:14-39 But men will not belie... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning [women], that they may come: Ver. 17. _Consider ye._] _Intelligentes estote._ Is not your hard heartedness such as that ye need such a help to do that wherein you should be forward a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters._ Ver. 18. _And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us._] Of this vanity or affectation God approveth not, as neither he did of the Olympic games, of usury,... [ Continue Reading ]
For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast [us] out. Ver. 19. _For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled!_] _a_ _Quis tragoediam aptius et magis graphice depinge... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation. Ver. 20. _Yet hear the word of the Lord, O ye women._] For souls have no sexes, and ye are likely to have your share as deep as any i... [ Continue Reading ]
For death is come up into our windows, [and] is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, [and] the young men from the streets. Ver. 21. _For death is come up into our windows,_] _i.e., _ The killing Chaldees break in upon us at any place of entrance, doors or windows. Joe 2:9... [ Continue Reading ]
Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather [them]. Ver. 22. _Speak, Thus saith the Lord._] Heb., Speak, it is the Lord's saying; and therefore thou mayest be bold to speak it. So 1 Thess... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: Ver. 23. _Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,_] _q.d., _ You bear yourselves bold upon your wisdom, wealth, strength, and other such se... [ Continue Reading ]
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD. Ver. 24. _But let him that glorieth, glory in this._] And yet not in this ei... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all [them which are] circumcised with the uncircumcised; Ver. 25. _That I will punish all them, &c._] Promiscuously and impartially. _ That are circumcised._] Some read it, The circumcised in uncircumcision. Unregenerate Israel, notwithstan... [ Continue Reading ]
Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all [that are] in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all [these] nations [are] uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel [are] uncircumcised in the heart. Ver. 26. _That are in the utmost corners._] Heb., _Prae... [ Continue Reading ]