Hitherto the general tone of Jeremiah's prophecies has been gloomy. Any gleams of brightness that have from time to time appeared (e.g. Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 16:14 f., Jeremiah 23:3), even if we may assume them to have come from the prophet's own mouth, have borne but a very small proportion to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Introduction to the section. The standpoint (see above) is that of one writing after the final catastrophe (b.c. 586), but this fact is of course by no means inconsistent with Jeremiah's authorship. Moreover, the words of comfort that follow harmonize with his commission "to build and to plant" (Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
_turn again the captivity_ See on Jeremiah 29:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_We have heard … of peace_ Jehovah is quoting the words of consternation which He hears the people uttering; but more probably the words "Thus saith the Lord" are the insertion of a scribe, and it is really the people who are speaking. _of fear, and not of peace_ mg. (better) there is _fear, and no... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. note to section. For a parallel in the character of the description in Jeremiah 30:5, Dr. compares Isaiah 13:6-15 (the overthrow of Babylon) followed by Isaiah 14:1 f. (the deliverance of Israel); also Isaiah 24:14-15; Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 25:1-5.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Men_do not suffer the pangs of child-bearing. Why then do all shew signs of pain and terror? Cp. Isaiah 13:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that day_ The expression "the day of the Lord," in an eschatological sense, is found first in Amos (Jeremiah 5:18), and is adopted by later prophets. Its meaning is developed in two directions according to the teaching which the individual prophet desires to convey. Jehovah, they taught, will some... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy neck … thy bands_ rather (with LXX) the 3rd person in both cases. It is a description of Israel's future deliverance, not an address to him. Dr. suggests that the scribe who substituted "thy" may have had Isaiah 10:27 in his mind. _bands_ The Heb. is the word so rendered in the text of Jeremia... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Lord their God, and David their king_ For the whole expression as uniting Jehovah and the Messiah, cp. Hosea 3:5, and for the Messiah spoken of elsewhere also under the name David, Ezekiel 34:23 f., Ezekiel 37:24 f.... [ Continue Reading ]
_from afar_ from thy distant land of exile. _none shall make him afraid_ Cp. Isaiah 17:2 (flocks lying undisturbed).... [ Continue Reading ]
These _vv_. occur again in Jeremiah 46:27 f. They are found there, but not here, in LXX. It is not improbable that they existed separately and were inserted later in both places independently. Jeremiah 30:10 bears a strong resemblance to 2 Isaiah (e.g. Isaiah 43:5 ff.).... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will correct thee with Judgement_ See on Jeremiah 10:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy hurt is incurable_ lit. _It is ill with thy hurt_. Similar words are applied by the prophet to himself in Jeremiah 15:18. The pronouns in the _v_. are fem. as referring to the _nation_, as in Jeremiah 22:20 and often elsewhere. For the whole _v_. cp. Lamentations 2:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
These _vv_. are either Jeremiah's own (so Du.) or a close imitation of his style.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the same _v_. the people of God appears both as defendant in a suit at law, and as one suffering from a wound which cannot be staunched. _There is none to plead thy cause_ Thine enemies at present are having it all their own way, as they arraign thee for thy sins before the bar of God's justice.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy lovers_ See on Jeremiah 22:20. _for the greatness, etc_.] mg. _multitude_. Probably the latter part of the _v_. has been accidentally introduced from Jeremiah 30:15, where it suits the context better.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore_ Because thou hast undergone thy portion of suffering and it is plain that none other than Myself can deliver thee. For the general sense cp. Isaiah 14:2; Isaiah 51:22 f. Co. points out that the logical force of the word is not evident. Why should the sins of Judah be the reason for their... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will restore health unto thee_ better, _I will bring new flesh upon thee_. See on Jeremiah 8:22, also Jeremiah 33:6. _Zion_ The LXX, reading the end of the word somewhat differently, render _prey_. This Co. prefers. The enemy, he would explain, consider Zion and her sons as a free hunting ground... [ Continue Reading ]
_turn again the captivity_ See on Jeremiah 29:14. _upon her own heap_ meaning the hill on which she had previously stood, on her old site. A hill was the usual position of the Eastern cities (Matthew 5:14), as helping to protect them alike from sudden attack and from inundation. Hence the frequency... [ Continue Reading ]
_small_ contemptible.... [ Continue Reading ]
_as aforetime_ as in the times of David and Solomon, the golden age of the Jewish kingdom. _congregation_ the people collectively, but considered from the ecclesiastical point of view, and thus an expression suggestive of a post-exilic date. _before me_ under my care. Cp. Genesis 17:18; Psalms 102... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews shall again be placed under a Prince of their own. This Prince shall draw near to God without a go-between, in other words he shall be Priest as well as King. _their prince_ lit. _his_(Jacob's) _mighty one_. _that hath had boldness to approach_ rather, as mg. THAT HATH BEEN SURETY FOR HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
This and the following _v_. are nearly identical with Jeremiah 23:19-20 (see notes there), where judgement is pronounced upon the false prophets. Co. (not so Du.) doubts their genuineness here as well as there, both for metrical reasons, and because the thought they contain is one which has not met... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. summary to this section.... [ Continue Reading ]