_THE UTTER REJECTION AND MANIFOLD JUDGMENTS OF THE JEWS. JEREMIAH, COMPLAINING OF THEIR MALICE, RECEIVETH A PROMISE FOR HIMSELF, AND A THREATENING FOR THEM: HE PRAYETH, AND RECEIVETH A GRACIOUS PROMISE._ _Before Christ 601._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE LORD, &C.— This is the answer of the Lord to the fervent prayers of Jeremiah in the last chapter: "If Moses and Samuel," saith he, "could revive, and unite in their intercessions for this people, those two men, my faithful servants, heretofore so prevalent with me, could not change my... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL FAN THEM— The simile is taken from a man who stands in the gate of his threshing-floor, to separate with his fan the chaff from the wheat; God denouncing that he would cast the people of Judah out of his hand, as the wind scattereth abroad and disperseth the chaff.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE BROUGHT UPON THEM, AGAINST THE MOTHER OF THE YOUNG MEN, &C.— Houbigant renders this verse in the future, thus, _Their widows shall be increased to me above the land of the sea; and upon the mothers, and upon the young men, will I bring down him who spoileth the southern country: I will oppres... [ Continue Reading ]
HER SUN IS GONE DOWN, &C.— See Amos 8:9. Isaiah 59:9. The expression is extremely strong, and denotes a sudden _change_ from the highest prosperity to the lowest distress.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU HAST BORNE ME A MAN OF STRIFE— The prophet here complains of the opposition he met with from his countrymen for speaking unwelcome truths, which had occasioned him as much uneasiness, as if he had engaged in the most invidious of all occupations, and the most likely to engender strife, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THY REMNANT— _Verily I will give thee a happy deliverance._ Or, _I will bring thee to better things._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL IRON BREAK THE NORTHERN IRON— Houbigant renders the verse, _I will raise up iron from the north, iron and brass;_ which seems to give the best interpretation of this difficult verse. Others understand it in a different manner, thus: The Lord, to comfort Jeremiah, promises him in the 11th verse... [ Continue Reading ]
THY WORDS WERE FOUND— _Thy words were pure and clean, and I have eaten them: thy words were my delight, and my heart is refreshed on this account, because I am called,_ &c. Houbigant. Jeremiah here declares in what manner he engaged and acquitted himself in his office of prophet. "From the moment th... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU BE ALTOGETHER, &C.— _Wilt thou be altogether unto me as the lying of waters that are not sure?_ Our translation certainly conveys too harsh an idea, nor is there any reason for it; for the passage may very well be rendered differently. Houbigant renders it, _Why is my life unto me as water... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU RETURN, &C.— Houbigant reads, _If thou wilt sit still, I will give thee a certain seat: yea, thou shalt stand before me. "_Thou shalt not be of the number of those who shall be carried away captive." But the passage seems better explained by the parallel one, Zechariah 3:7. It seems the inte... [ Continue Reading ]