Our Prophet has been hitherto speaking of neighboring nations who had cruelly harassed the chosen people; and it was some consolation when the children of Abraham understood that God undertook their cause and would be the avenger of those wrongs which they had suffered. But this of itself would have... [ Continue Reading ]
He predicts the ruin of Babylon, not in simple words, for nothing seemed then more unreasonable than to announce the things which God at length proved by the effect. As Babylon was then the metropolis of the East, no one could have thought that it would ever be possessed by a foreign power. No one c... [ Continue Reading ]
Let what I have before said be borne in mind, that the Prophet makes use of many words in describing the ruin of Babylon; for it was not enough to predict what was to be; but as weak minds vacillated, it was necessary to add a confirmation. After having then spoken of the power of Babylon and its id... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet now explains more clearly the purpose of God, that in punishing so severely the Chaldeans, his object was to provide for the safety of his Church. For had Jeremiah spoken only of vengeance, the Jews might have still raised an objection and said, “It will not profit us at all, that God sh... [ Continue Reading ]
He explains himself more at large, that they would _ask _those they met _the way_, that _their faces _would be towards _Sion_, that they would also exhort one another to seek God and join themselves to him by a perpetual covenant. The Prophet includes here all the tribes, and says that the Jews and... [ Continue Reading ]
THE, Prophet in the sixth verse compares God’s people to lost sheep: he therefore says, that the Jews _wandered on the mountains _and _went from mountain to hill _He throws the blame on the shepherds, by whom the miserable people had been led astray. Notwithstanding, God does not extenuate the fault... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah goes on with the same subject; for he tells us how miserable was the condition of the people until God looked on them to relieve them from their evils. And this comparison, as I have before said, more fully sets forth the favor of God, because he raised up his people as it were from hell at... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse confirms the exposition which I have given; for God does not now reprove his people, nor does he condemn their sins; but on the contrary, he exhorts them to entertain good hope, though they were overwhelmed with extreme miseries, he then pursues the same subject when he bids them to _flee... [ Continue Reading ]
Here, again, God declares that enemies would come and overthrow the monarchy of Babylon; but what has been before referred to is here more clearly expressed. For he says, first, that he would be the leader of that war — that the Persians and Medes would fight under his authority. _I_, he says (the p... [ Continue Reading ]
Here he mentions the effect of the victory, that he might more fully confirm what he had said; for it is sometimes the case, that they who are conquered flee to their cities. The country is indeed laid waste, but the enemies depart with their spoils. But the Prophet here says, that the whole of Chal... [ Continue Reading ]
God shows here, that though the Chaldeans insolently exulted for a time, yet their joy would not continue; and at the same time he points out the cause of their ruin, even because they dealt so arrogantly with the people of God. He then says in the former clause, _Ye exulted and rejoiced in plunderi... [ Continue Reading ]
WE explained yesterday why the Prophet denounced shame and reproach on the Babylonians, even because they had arrogantly exulted over the children of God. And he says that Babylon would be _the extremity of the Nations. _ The Chaldeans had flourished in power and wealth, and possessed the empire of... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah again repeats that the destruction of Babylon would be an evidence of God’s vengeance, because the Chaldeans had unjustly raged against the Church. But the name of God seems also to have been designedly mentioned, that the faithful might more readily receive this prophecy: for had they thou... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet now turns to address the Medes and Persians, and instigates them, in the name of God, to destroy Babylon. We have already said, why the Prophets assume authority over all nations, even that they might show that God’s power is connected with his word. For men do not easily apprehend the e... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah proceeds in exhorting the Persians and the Medes, not that he had ever spoken to them; but this mode of speaking, as it has been said, availed to confirm the minds of the godly, so that they might feel assured that what had proceeded from the mouth of Jeremiah was not vain. Here, then, he a... [ Continue Reading ]
He still addresses the Medes and the Persians, and bids them _cut _off from _Babylon _both the _sowers _and the _reapers; _but by stating a part for the whole he includes also all others. Husbandmen in a manner preserve the life of men, as other arts and occupations are not capable of doing so. Were... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet more clearly shows what he had briefly referred to, even that God was thus incensed against the Babylonians, because he had undertaken the cause of the people whom he had chosen. Then Jeremiah’s design was to show to the faithful, that though God severely chastised them for a time,... [ Continue Reading ]
What I have said may hence with more certainty be inferred — that the similitude which God employed was intended for this end, that having assumed the person of one in sorrow, he might represent as it were to their eyes his sympathy, he then shows that he would be the avenger of the cruelty which th... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah pursues here the same subject, and sustains the minds of the faithful in their miseries, lest they should wholly despond. It is then the same as though he stretched forth his hand to the shipwrecked, or gave support to those lying down as it were lifeless; for exile to God’s children was no... [ Continue Reading ]
As I have already said, the Prophet now shows the primary cause why God purposed to deal so kindly and mercifully with his people, even because he would remit their sins. And doubtless whatever is said of the remission of sins is cold and unmeaning, except we be first convinced that God is reconcile... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet here undertakes the office of a herald, and animates the Persians and the Medes to make war with Babylon. This prophecy indeed never came to these nations, but we have stated why the Prophets proclaimed war and addressed at one time heathen nations, at another time the Jews — now one peo... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet continues the same style of speaking, for he says that there would be _the voice _or the sound _of battle _Could he rouse up the Medes and the Persians? not indeed by his own power, but here he exalts the efficacy of his doctrine; as though he had said, that the vengeance he denounced on... [ Continue Reading ]
Here, in the first place, Jeremiah asks in astonishment how it happened that _the hammer of the whole earth was broken, _when it had before broken all nations. God afterwards gives an answer, even because “I am he who have taken Babylon.” The question availed to rouse the people to a greater attenti... [ Continue Reading ]
He then immediately answers in the person of God, _I have ensnared thee, and therefore thou Babylon art taken _Here God declares, that though it could not be possible that Babylon and its empire should fall through human means, yet its destruction was in his hand. _Thou, _he says, _art taken, _even... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet here expresses more clearly what he bad touched upon, even that this war would not be that of the Persians, but of God himself. He then says, that God had _opened his treasure, _even because he has various and manifold ways and means, which cannot be comprehended by men, when he resolves... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet again addresses the Persians and the Medes, and encourages them to come against Babylon. We stated yesterday that the prophets are went to speak with authority, because they sustained the person of God; and we mentioned how necessary this mode of speaking was, for the world does not ackn... [ Continue Reading ]
He goes on with the same subject; he bids the Persians and the Medes to slay every strong man in Chaldea; for by _bullocks _he no doubt means by a metaphor all those who excelled in strength, or in power, or in wealth. The sum of what he says is, that the vengeance of which he now speaks, would not... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet again shows, that God in punishing Babylon, would give a sure proof of his favor towards his Church. For this prophecy would have been uninteresting to the faithful, did they not know that God would be an enemy to that great monarchy, because he had undertaken the care of their safety. T... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet adopts various modes of speaking, and not without reason, because he had to thunder rather than to speak; and then as he spoke of a thing incredible, there was need of no common confirmation; the faithful also, almost pining away in their miseries, could hardly entertain any hope. This i... [ Continue Reading ]
He confirms the same thing, and shows that the destruction of Babylon would be such, that everything valuable would be destroyed. _Fall, _he says, _shall her strong men in the streets; _which is worse than if he had said, “They shall fall in battle.” Babylon was so taken that all her armed men were... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah, in order more fully to confirm what he had said, again introduces God as the speaker. And we have stated how necessary this was, because he could have hardly gained credit otherwise to his prophecy; but when he introduced God, he removed every doubt. _Behold, _he says, _I am against thee,... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet continues the same subject: as then he had announced in God’s name that the time of visitation would come when God would rise up against the Chaldeans, he now adds, _stumble shall the proud, and fall _The verb כשל, _cashel, _means also to fall; but as it is added, ונפל _, vanuphel, and f... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Prophet returns again to his former subject — that God, in destroying the Babylonian monarchy, would have a regard to his chosen people. But the comparison made here is very important; for in the first place, the Prophet refers to an occasion of diffidence and even of despair, which might have c... [ Continue Reading ]
But he immediately after removes this ground of despair, and says, _Their redeemer is strong _He then sets this _strong, _ חזק, _chesek, _in opposition to the verb used before, _“prevailed” _or ruled, החזיקו בם, _echesiku beem, _“prevailed” or domineered “over them_, _” so that they were stronger. B... [ Continue Reading ]
THE Prophet proceeds with the same subject, and employs the same manner of speaking. He denounces war on the Chaldeans as a celestial herald; and then that what he says might have more force and power, he sets the Persians and the Medes before us in the act of assailing and destroying Babylon. He th... [ Continue Reading ]
He repeats the same thing, but in other words; and in the first clause he mentions diviners whom he before called wise men; and he calls them now by their true and proper name; for בדים _, bedim, _mean mendacious men as well as falsehoods. He then calls those now impostors to whom he conceded before... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet, indeed, changes the gender of the pronouns, and seems to refer to the king; but there is no ambiguity in the meaning, he then declares that the horses as well as the chariots would perish; for the sword would consume all the things used in war. And at the beginning he generally declared... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the same word is used in a different sense: he had often before used the word חרב, _chereb, _“sword;” but now by changing only a point, he uses it in the sense of waste, or drought. (74) But as he mentions waters, the Prophet, no doubt, means drought; nor was it without reason that he mentioned... [ Continue Reading ]
_The birds of the forest with the beasts of the forest, _are rendered by some, “the satyrs with the fairies;” but איים, _aiim, _as well as ציים, _tsiim, _are, on the contrary, birds or beasts of the forest. Some render איים, _aiim, _“cats ” I hold no controversy as to these words — let there be a fr... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse confirms and explains the previous verse. But that the design of the Prophet may be more evident, we must remember what Jude in his epistle (Jude 1:7) says, that the destruction of Sodom is as it were a mirror in which we behold God’s vengeance on all the ungodly. God overthrew Sodom; but... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet again shows whence destruction was to come on the Babylonians. He does not indeed mention Cyrus, as Isaiah does (Isaiah 44:28), nor does he mention the Persians; but he evidently points out the Medes, when he says that a _people _would _come from the north _He adds, _a great nation and m... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah again speaks especially of armor, to intimate that the Babylonians would not be able to sustain the assault of their enemies. He then says that they would be armed with the _bow _and the _shield_; (78) and adds, that they would be _cruel. _It is certain that the Persians were very bloody; f... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet means by these words, that as soon as the report of war reached the Chaldeans, they would be so disheartened through fear as to become like a conquered people. As they had subjected to themselves many nations, they had acquired the name of being a warlike people; but the Prophet declares... [ Continue Reading ]
We have explained nearly the same words in the last chapter; for the Prophet not only used the same similitude respecting the Humans, but also added all the words which are found here; nay, the Prophet brings forward nothing new to the end of the chapter, but only repeats what we have seen before. H... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet confirms his previous doctrine, and uses an oath, for he had already spoken sufficiently at large of the destruction of Babylon, and his words might seem otherwise superfluous, because the subject had been explained with abundant clearness. But he introduces God here as making an oath, f... [ Continue Reading ]
This is to anticipate an objection; for many might have said, “How can it be, that Babylon should thus fall, on whose monarchy so many and so wide countries are dependent?” As, then, such an event appearing so unreasonable, might occur to them, the Prophet meets the objection, and answers by way of... [ Continue Reading ]