Jeremiah 4 - Introduction
The conclusion of both sides of the prophecy; to Israel, Jeremiah 4:1; to Judah, Jeremiah 4:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
The conclusion of both sides of the prophecy; to Israel, Jeremiah 4:1; to Judah, Jeremiah 4:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
RETURN - The repentance of Israel described in Jeremiah 3:21 was a hope, and not a reality. The return, literally, would be their restoration to their land; spiritually, their abandoning their sins. Jeremiah 4:1 should be translated as follows: If thou wouldst return, O Israel, saith Yahweh. Unto... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE MEN - To each man “of Judah.” They are summoned individually to repentance. BREAK UP - literally, Fallow for you a fallow ground, i. e., do not sow the seeds of repentance in unfit soil, but just as the farmer prepares the ground, by clearing it of weeds, and exposing it to the sun and air,... [ Continue Reading ]
See the Deuteronomy 10:16 note. Nature, such as it is in itself, unconsecrated to God, is to be removed from our inner selves, that a new and spiritual nature may take its place. LEST MY FURY ... - God is long-suffering, but unless this change take place, the time of judgment must at length come to... [ Continue Reading ]
Rather, Make proclamation “in Judah, and in Jerusalem” bid them hear, “and say, Blow the trumpet” throughout “the land:” cry aloud “and say etc.” The prophecy begins with a loud alarm of war. The verse sets forth well, in its numerous commands, the excitement and confusion of such a time.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STANDARD - A flag or signal, to which the people were to rally.RETIRE, STAY NOT - Rather, gather your goods together: linger not; “for I” (emphatic, Yahweh) am bringing at this very time etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rather, A “lion”... a “destroyer” of nations: a metaphor descriptive of the impending calamity. A lion is just rousing himself from his lair, but no common one. It is destroyer, not of men, but of nations. IS ON HIS WAY - literally, “has broken up his encampment.” Jeremiah uses a military term stri... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT TURNED ... - As long as their sins are unrepented of, so long must their punishment continue.... [ Continue Reading ]
AH, LORD GOD! - Alas! my Lord Yahweh: an expression of disapproval on Jeremiah’s part. Jeremiah had constantly to struggle against the misgivings of his own melancholy nature, but he never let them prevent him from doing his duty. See the introduction of Jeremiah. YE SHALL HAVE PEACE - These words... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME - See Jeremiah 4:7. Though the revelation of the certainty of Judah’s ruin wrings from Jeremiah a cry of despair, yet it is but for a moment; he immediately returns to the delivery of God’s message. A DRY WIND - literally, A clear wind. The Samum is probably meant, a dry parching east... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, as in the margin; i. e., a wind more full, more impetuous than those winds which serve for fanning and cleansing the grain. UNTO ME - Rather, for me: to perform my will.... [ Continue Reading ]
His troops move on in large masses like dark threatening clouds Joel 2:2. WOE UNTO US! FOR WE ARE SPOILED - Jeremiah’s own cry of grief.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY VAIN THOUGHTS - “Thy” iniquitous “thoughts.” “Aven,” the word used here, is especially applied to the sin of idolatry: thus Bethel is generally called Bethaven by Hosea (Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:8, ...), because instead of being the house of God, El, it was the house of an iniquity, Aven, the golden... [ Continue Reading ]
DAN - The border-town of Palestine on the north Deuteronomy 34:1. MOUNT EPHRAIM - The northern boundary of Judaea itself. The invading army presses on so rapidly, that scarcely have the news arrived of its appearance at Dan, before fresh messengers announce that it has traversed the whole length of... [ Continue Reading ]
Proclaim ye to the pagan, “Behold!” Cry aloud concerning “Jerusalem, that watchers” are on their way “from a far country: and” will “give out their voice against the cities of Judah.” The pagan are summoned to witness the chastisement of Jerusalem, that they may take warning thereby. By “watchers” a... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah compares the tents of the besiegers on guard round Jerusalem to the booths erected by shepherds or farmers for the protection of their flocks or produce.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY WICKEDNESS - This siege is thy wickedness, i. e., in its results; or better, this is thy wretchedness, this army and thy approaching ruin is thy misery. BECAUSE - “For.” To feel that one’s misery is the result of one’s own doings adds bitterness to the anguish, and makes it reach, penetrate to... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse is best translated as a series of ejaculations, in which the people express their grief at the ravages committed by the enemy: “My bowels! My bowels!” I writhe in pain! The walls of my heart! “My heart” moans for me! I cannot keep silence! For “thou hast heard, O my soul,” the trumpet’... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTRUCTION ... - Or, breaking upon breaking Jeremiah 4:6. The news of one breaking, one violent calamity, follows close upon another. MY CURTAINS - The curtains of the tent, put here for the tents themselves. tents were the ordinary habitations of the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STANDARD - See Jeremiah 4:6. The alarm caused by the invasion is graphically described. The people are dispersed over the land following their usual pursuits, when tidings come of the enemy’s approach. The only chance of escape is a hasty flight. Flags stream from the hills to mark the safest ro... [ Continue Reading ]
In four verses each beginning with “I beheld,” the prophet sees in vision the desolate condition of Judaea during the Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah 4:23 WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID - Desolate and void (see Genesis 1:2 note). The land has returned to a state of chaos (marginal reference note). AND THE... [ Continue Reading ]
DESOLATE - a waste. One of the most striking points of prophecy is, that however severe. may be the judgment pronounced against Judah, there is always the reservation, that the ruin shall not be complete Jeremiah 3:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ... - Because of this doom upon Judah. I HAVE PURPOSED IT - The Septuagint arrangement restores the parallelism: For I have spoken, and will not repent, I have purposed, and will not turn back from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WHOLE CITY ... - Rather, Every city is fleeing. All the inhabitants of the tokens flee to Jerusalem for protection, or seek refuge in the woods and rocks. THE HORSEMEN AND BOWMEN - The cavalry Jeremiah 4:13 and bowmen formed the chief strength of the Assyrian armies. THEY SHALL GO - They have... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate, And thou, O plundered one, what effectest thou, that “thou clothest thyself with” scarlet, that “thou deckest” thyself “with ornaments of gold,” that thou enlargest thine eyes with antimony (2 Kings 9:30 note)? “In vain” dost thou beautify thyself; “thy lovers” despise” thee, they” seek “... [ Continue Reading ]
For a cry have I heard as of one writhing in vain: Anguish as of one that bringeth forth her first-born: The cry of the daughter of Zion. She gasps for breath: she stretches out her palms: Woe is me! for my soul faints before the murderers.... [ Continue Reading ]