Jeremiah 14 - Introduction
_THE GRIEVOUS FAMINE CAUSETH JEREMIAH TO PRAY. THE LORD WILL NOT BE ENTREATED FOR THE PEOPLE. LYING PROPHETS ARE NO EXCUSE FOR THEM. JEREMIAH IS MOVED TO COMPLAIN FOR THEM._ _Before Christ 601._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GRIEVOUS FAMINE CAUSETH JEREMIAH TO PRAY. THE LORD WILL NOT BE ENTREATED FOR THE PEOPLE. LYING PROPHETS ARE NO EXCUSE FOR THEM. JEREMIAH IS MOVED TO COMPLAIN FOR THEM._ _Before Christ 601._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD OF THE LORD—CONCERNING THE DEARTH— _The drought._ Taylor observes, that the Chapter s of this prophet, from 3: to 21: lie in regular order as to time. There is a date, chap. Jeremiah 3:6. _In the days of Josiah,_ without mentioning the year of his reign, which, however, shews that that chap... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAH MOURNETH— The prophet represents Jerusalem as a mother who has lost her children, and who is oppressed with grief. The _gates_ are put for the city. Instead of, _Its gates languish,_ &c. Houbigant reads, _Its crops fall down and grow black upon the earth._... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE ONES TO THE WATERS, &C.— _Their younger ones for water. Jeremiah 14:6. The wild asses,_ &c.] _The wild asses stood upon the cliffs._ These animals are said to stand on the high places or cliffs, because in that situation the current of air is stronger and cooler than in lower places: and for... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THOU IT FOR THY NAME'S SAKE— _Do thou act with a regard to thine own name._ That is, deal not with us according to our deserving, but so as not to give occasion to strangers to speak evil of thy name, to question thy power, wisdom, or goodness. So God says, Ezekiel 22:31 that amidst the various p... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A STRANGER IN THE LAND— _Strangers_ are supposed to ransack and plunder a land of its riches; and a _wayfaring-man,_ or _traveller,_ to have little or no regard for it. The prophet's meaning therefore is, that the Lord seemed to have as little regard for Judah, as a hostile stranger, who would en... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY SHOULDEST THOU BE AS A MAN ASTONISHED— _Why shouldest thou be as a man void of counsel?_ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD UNTO, &C.— _Thus saith the Lord concerning this people. They altogether love to wander,_ &c. Houbigant. God here returns an answer to the complaints and expostulations of the prophet, and tells him, that the miseries of the people are owing to themselves; ever turbulent and unqui... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHET AND THE PRIEST GO ABOUT, &C.— Jeremiah is here manifestly describing what he saw when he entered the city; namely, men sick and worn out with famine; and among these even the _priests_ and the _prophets,_ panting on the ground, half dead, and not able to distinguish anybody. See Psalms 3... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT ABHOR, &C.— _Do not reject, for thy name's sake,—do not,_ &c. By the _throne of God's glory,_ is here principally to be understood the temple; and Jeremiah beseeches God not to give up that sacred structure, with the holy city, to be profaned by infidelity; the place which he had chosen for h... [ Continue Reading ]