Jeremiah 34 - Introduction
Jeremiah 34:1-22. Incidents in connexion with the siege... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah 34:1-22. Incidents in connexion with the siege... [ Continue Reading ]
The narrative portion of the work which we may ascribe to Baruch here recommences after a partial suspension. As Jeremiah was still at liberty (Jeremiah 34:6), his utterance must have preceded the temporary raising of the siege owing to the threatened approach of the Egyptian army (See on Jeremiah 3... [ Continue Reading ]
Prophecy of the burning of the city and the captivity of Zedekiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon_ Cp. Jeremiah 32:4. There is no reason to doubt, with Du., that the blinding of Zedekiah, as related in Jeremiah 52:11; 2 Kings 25:7, after his interview with Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (Jeremiah 39:6 f.), is historical. See Ezekiel 12:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Du. challenges the statement in these _vv_. as not in consonance with the troublous ending of Zedekiah's life in exile. If the text be sound, "in peace" can only mean a natural death, as opposed to one by violence or by the executioner's sword. But there is likelihood in Co."s view that some words m... [ Continue Reading ]
_shall they make a burning_ Apparently some honorific burning of spices as an accompaniment of burial. See 2 Chronicles 16:14; 2 Chronicles 21:19. _Ah lord!_ See on Jeremiah 22:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
_all … that were left_ The LXX give some support to the probability that this part of the _v_. is an interpolation, seeing that "all" resolves itself into two only. _Lachish_ now _Tell el-Ḥesy_, about 35 miles S.W. of Jerusalem. Azekah has not been identified, but it was probably about 15 miles S.W... [ Continue Reading ]
Condemnation of the perjury involved in the treatment of the Hebrew slaves The subsection may be summarized as follows. (i) Jeremiah 34:8. Zedekiah induces the people solemnly to bind themselves to release their slaves. They do so, but presently cancel their agreement. (ii) Jeremiah 34:12. Jeremiah... [ Continue Reading ]
_had made a covenant_ According to Exodus 21:2 [E] a Hebrew male slave was to be set free after six years" service, and by Deuteronomy 15:12 this was extended to female slaves. The conscience-quickening power of impending danger, in meeting which the slaves, if enfranchised, would be more ready to c... [ Continue Reading ]
_serve himself of them_ The poverty, arising out of the devastation wrought by repeated wars, must have brought about a large amount of servitude, as was the case e.g. in later times. See Nehemiah 5:5, and on Jeremiah 30:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
The MT. is somewhat awkward, and the LXX (preferred by Co. and Du.) clearer and briefer. But we cannot accept the latter with entire confidence.... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. summary to the subsection.... [ Continue Reading ]
_At the end of seven years_ As _we_should say _of six_(so LXX) _years_. In Hebrew counting of this kind both the first and the last items were reckoned in. So the jubilee was in strictness the forty-ninth (the seventh Sabbatical) not the fiftieth year. Compare the rite of circumcision administered o... [ Continue Reading ]
_at their pleasure_ lit. _according to their soul_. See on Jeremiah 22:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I proclaim unto you a liberty_ The people, hitherto God's servants, and secure in that service, shall be cast oft by Him, and shall accordingly, being no longer under His protection as their Owner, become subject to the perils which follow. _tossed to and fro_ better, as mg. _a terror unto_. See o... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. summary to section.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when they cut the calf in twain_ This rendering, which simplifies the construction, is obtained from the literal Heb. as given in mg. by transposing two words of the clause in the original. See Genesis 15:10 for a ceremony of this kind as attendant upon a covenant. Its significance is probably that... [ Continue Reading ]