_Run ye to and fro_, &c. In this chapter, which seems to be a continuation of the preceding discourse, God justifies the severity of the judgments denounced in the foregoing chapter. The expressions are strong, but not to be taken strictly in the letter, signifying only the extreme degeneracy of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And though they say, The Lord liveth_, &c. Though, when they swear, they use the common form of an oath, and say, _The Lord liveth_, or, _as the Lord liveth_, or, _by the living God. Surely_, or rather, _nevertheless, they swear falsely_ That is, either, 1st, They are not sincere in the profession... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth_ Dost thou not approve of truth and faithfulness? And dost thou not search men's hearts, and clearly discern their real dispositions from their hypocritical pretences? _Thou hast stricken them_ With one affliction after another; _but they have not grieved_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore a lion_, &c. Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean army are here pointed at under the metaphor of beasts of prey, of three kinds: being powerful, courageous, and violent as a _lion;_ rapacious, greedy, and devouring as a _wolf;_ and swift, lively, and active as a _leopard._ The word ערבוה, rend... [ Continue Reading ]
_How shall I pardon thee for this?_ How canst thou expect that the holy God, the righteous Governor and Judge of the world, should connive at, or bear with, such iniquitous conduct in his intelligent and accountable creatures. He appeals to themselves, whether they can think it consistent with his j... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go ye up upon her walls_, &c. Ye Babylonians, go, execute my vengeance on them; _and destroy_ I commission you not only to take the city, but to make havoc of its inhabitants. _But make not a full end_ Leave a remnant. Thus he sets bounds to the destroying sword, beyond which it must not go. _Take... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore, thus saith the Lord God of hosts_ The prophet now, in the name of God, answers the blasphemous speeches of these infidels, ascribing to Jehovah that power and supremacy which were calculated to give his words the greater influence. _Because you speak this word_ because these scoffers exp... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things?_ Those that fall under the severity of God's judgments are apt to think so favourably of themselves, as to wonder why they should be singled out for examples of the divine vengeance, and of terror to others. And particularly... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear this, O foolish people_ Ignorant and imprudent, as blind to your interest as to your duty; _and without understanding_ Hebrew, ואין לב, _and there is no heart_, or _without heart_, stupid and regardless of all counsel, wisdom, and common sense. _Which have eyes and see not_, &c. Wilfully blind... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear ye not me? saith the Lord_ He ascribes their stupidity and foolishness to their want of the fear of God. As if he had said, If you would but call to mind God's almighty power, and your own weakness, and keep an awe of him upon your minds, you would be more observant of his commands, and be afr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your iniquities have turned away these things_ See note on Jeremiah 3:3. _For among my people are found wicked men_ I need not search for such among the heathen nations, for they are easily found among them that are called by my name. _They lay wait_, &c. They use all the arts of fraud and cunning,... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wonderful and horrible thing is committed_ So stupendous a crime, that it is beyond the apprehension of man to conceive, much more to express, its greatness; and so abominable, that a man ought even to loathe the thoughts of it. What this is, we have in the next verse; _in the land_ That is, this... [ Continue Reading ]