Jeremiah 1:1-3. Title The Title is a composite one: Jeremiah 1:2 probably was intended simply to date the prophet's call, while Jeremiah 1:3 was added later to indicate that his activity was continued during subsequent reigns (though some of his utterances were delivered after the breaking up of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jeremiah_ For the meaning of the name, see Intr. ch. 1 § 2 (_a_). _the son of Hilkiah_ The small number of proper names among the Jews made it necessary to add the father's name for purposes of distinction. Compare the Welsh custom ap-Thomas, ap-Richard, etc. If we were to render it by _Ben-Hilkia... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the days of, etc_.] See introductory note. _in the thirteenth year of his reign c._b.c. 626. The period included in these two verses is one of 40 years, viz. the latter part of Josiah's reign = 18 years; that of Jehoahaz = 3 months; that of Jehoiakim = 11 years; that of Jehoiachin = 3 months; t... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the fifth month_ See ch. Jeremiah 52:12 ff. The city had been captured in the preceding month (2 Kings 25:4; 2 Kings 25:8-10).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the word, etc_.] This preface to the Book forms at once Jeremiah's plea and his support, the credentials of his mission to which he might refer the people when hostile and himself in seasons of despondency. We have in this section the declaration of God's purpose concerning him (Jeremiah 1:5);... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet's call and its nature... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah's call The passage will fall into four sections. (i) Jeremiah 1:4. The prophet's call and its nature. (ii) Jeremiah 1:11. The symbol of the almond tree, shewing that Jehovah is wakeful to perform his word. (iii) Jeremiah 1:13. That of the caldron, indicating a threatened invasion of Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
_I knew thee_ meaning not mere acquaintance, but choice as a consequence of knowledge. The parallelism of contrast, frequent in the poetical books of the Bible, shews this to be the sense of the word in Psalms 1:6, "The Lord _knoweth_the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish";... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah shews that the prophetic office was not one of his own seeking. _Ah_ Rather, ALAS! The word in the Hebrew expresses not so much an entreaty that things should be arranged otherwise, as a lament that they are as they are; cp. Joshua 7:7; 2 Kings 3:10. Jeremiah's position is thus different fr... [ Continue Reading ]
Here again there is brought out the contrast between Moses and Jeremiah. The former had offered one objection after another (Exodus 3:11; Exodus 3:13; Exodus 4:1; Exodus 4:10; Exodus 4:13), and consequently (Jeremiah 4:14) "the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses." But in Jeremiah's case enc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be not afraid_ Jeremiah had pleaded his youth, but, as the Lord saw, another cause for his shrinking from the task was his natural timidity.... [ Continue Reading ]
_touched_ CAUSED IT TO TOUCH. An outward symbol of the gift of eloquence, which was being then and there bestowed. The same part of the verb (with a causative force) is used in the corresponding passage of Isaiah (Isaiah 6:7). On the other hand, in Daniel (Daniel 10:16), where the object was merely... [ Continue Reading ]
_set thee_ given thee authority to speak as My representative. It is the same word as that rendered "made governor" in Jeremiah 40:5; Jeremiah 40:7, and "made overseer" in Genesis 39:4-5. _over the nations_ So Amos (Jeremiah 1:3 to Jeremiah 2:3) had prophesied concerning non-Jewish kingdoms. _to pl... [ Continue Reading ]
_I see a rod of an almond tree_ The almond tree in Palestine has been compared to the snowdrop with us, as giving one of the first signs of approaching spring. Dr Tristram (_Nat. Hist. of the Bible_) tells us that at Bethany in the month of January he gathered the blossoms in full bloom. They appear... [ Continue Reading ]
The symbol of the almond tree It is often supposed that the almond tree and the boiling caldron were seen by the prophet in vision. But it is quite possible that it was an actual almond tree to which Jeremiah's attention was directed. If so, we may see the prophet musing on the moral deadness and n... [ Continue Reading ]
In 2 Chronicles 6:41-42 the words of the Psalm are quoted at the close of Solomon's prayer at the Dedication of the Temple, and some commentators suppose that in Psalms 132:8 ff. the Psalmist carries us on into the Solomonic period; but it is simpler and more natural to suppose that he is still desc... [ Continue Reading ]
_I watch over_ The Hebrew word recurs in Jeremiah 5:6; Jeremiah 31:28; Jeremiah 44:27. Here the sense is, The Lord is rousing Himself. The period of trial is rapidly approaching its end, and the punishment so long delayed is about to be at last inflicted.... [ Continue Reading ]
The symbol of the caldron 13. _a seething caldron_ An ordinary sight in daily life conveys a message to the prophet. In this second symbol the character of the future in store for the nation is more clearly brought out. The word _sîr_, here rendered caldron, denotes a large vessel, as it could be u... [ Continue Reading ]
_evil_ THE EVIL the evil which was to be expected, foretold by all the prophets as the result of national sin. _shall break forth_ SHALL BE OPENED, SHALL DISCLOSE ITSELF. But it is best by a slight change in the Hebrew to render _shall be blown_(as in Jeremiah 1:13), i.e. kindled.... [ Continue Reading ]
_all the families of the kingdoms_ Probably we should read (with LXX) _all the kingdoms_, "families" in that case being in the first instance an explanatory gloss, afterwards taken into the text. _they shall set every one his throne_ The chiefs of the invading army, having captured the city, will ta... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will utter my judgements against them_ lit., I WILL SPEAK MY JUDGEMENTS WITH THEM. An almost identical phrase in the Hebrew occurs again in this book, when Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah "gave judgement upon Zedekiah," mg. "spake judgements with him" (Jeremiah 39:5); cp. Jeremiah 4:12. _touching all t... [ Continue Reading ]
Words of encouragement 17. _Thou therefore gird up thy loins_ obviously metaphorical. Prepare for energetic action or strenuous conflict. The lower part of the flowing Eastern robe was gathered up in preparation for (i) a journey (Exodus 12:11; 2 Kings 4:29; 2 Kings 9:1), (ii) a race (1 Kings 18:46... [ Continue Reading ]
_a defenced city, and an iron pillar; and brasen walls_ Jeremiah was to be fortified by divine strength against the attacks which he would have to confront throughout his prophetic life. The assaults would be severe, and hence the force of the figures under which he is described. Jeremiah would need... [ Continue Reading ]
_they shall not prevail against thee_ When we compare portions of the subsequent history of Jeremiah, we find that in point of fact the prophet was from time to time at the mercy of his foes. The sense therefore here is _shall not finally prevail_. Before the prophet's death his cause should be vind... [ Continue Reading ]