_O ye children of Benjamin_, &c. The prophet proceeds in his remonstrances, rebukes, and faithful warnings to the disobedient Jews. A great part of Jerusalem stood in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:28; on which account, and because Jeremiah, being of Anathoth, was of that tribe, and probably lived... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have likened_, &c. There being nothing for _woman_ in the Hebrew text, and the word נוה, here rendered _comely_, frequently signifying a _pasture_, a _sheep-fold_, and _a habitation_, the verse is translated different ways by learned men. Houbigant and several others read it and the next verse th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prepare ye war against her_ The prophet now drops the metaphor, and tells them in plain terms whom he means by the _shepherds_ namely, _warriors._ These seem to be the words of God giving a commission to the Chaldeans, by his prophet, to make war upon Jerusalem. _Arise, and let us go up at noon_, &... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thus hath the Lord of hosts said_ To the Chaldeans: God would have the Jews to know, that they have not so much to do with the Chaldeans as with him; that they are his rod to scourge them for their sins. And thus God is said to hiss for, or hist, those whom he would employ in such work, Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem_, &c. Take warning by the many threatenings and judgments I have denounced against thee; amend thy ways and doings, lest, if thou persist in thy wickedness, I be utterly alienated from thee; and I cast off all bowels of compassion toward thee, and give thee up to rui... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall thoroughly glean_ As if he had said, Come, ye Chaldeans, into my vineyard; collect the vintage; gather even to the very last grapes; _the remnant of Israel as a vine_ The prophet, by this, seems to express, that all the remains of the Israelites, who had escaped when the main body of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_To whom shall I speak and give warning?_ I cannot find out any that will so much as give me a patient hearing, much less will any take warning. I cannot speak with any hope of success. _Behold, their ear is uncircumcised_ A figurative expression, not unfrequent with the prophets, signifying the rej... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore I am full of the fury_ את חמת, _the anger_, or _wrath_, as it should rather have been rendered; _of the Lord_ An expression which is to be understood of that divine justice which is worthy of God, and which inflicts most heavy, and yet most just, punishment on the obstinately wicked, afte... [ Continue Reading ]
_For, from the least of them_, &c. Old and young, rich and poor, high and low, those of all ranks, professions, and employments; _every one is given to covetousness_ Greedy of filthy lucre; and this made them oppressive, for of that evil, as well as others, the love of money is the bitter root. Nay,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stand ye in the ways_, &c. He now turns his speech to the people, and gives them counsel; by a metaphor taken from travellers, who, being in doubt of their way, stand still, and consider, whether the direction, which they have received from some false guide, be right or not. _Ask for the old paths_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore hear, ye nations_ The very heathen are called upon to take notice of these threatenings and denunciations of God's wrath against the Jews, lest they should think that the calamities which were soon to fall upon that people had happened by chance, and not by the appointment of that God who... [ Continue Reading ]
_To what purpose incense from Sheba?_ Sheba was a part of Arabia Felix, and famous for its spices and perfumes, Isaiah 9:6. Here the prophet reproves the hypocrisy of the Jews, who sought to cover their inward corruption by the external shows of religion; which the prophets often declare to be of no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people_ I will suffer such things to be laid in their way as shall be the occasion of their destruction. Or, I will bring calamities upon them, by which they shall fall. _The neighbour and his friend shall perish_ Men of all sorts and conditions. _Beh... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have set thee for a tower_, &c. According to this reading, God speaks here by way of encouragement to the prophet, and tells him he had made him a fortified tower, that he might be safe, notwithstanding all the attempts of the wicked against him. But Lowth, with some others, thinks that “the sens... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are all grievous revolters_ Obstinate and refractory; _walking with slanders_ Making it their business to detract from thee and the other prophets. Blaney translates the clause, _They are all of them the dross of revolters, passing with a fraudulent currency;_ an interpretation for which he as... [ Continue Reading ]