Jeremiah 23 - Introduction
_HE PROPHESIETH A RESTORATION OF THE SCATTERED FLOCK. CHRIST SHALL RULE AND SAVE THEM. AGAINST FALSE PROPHETS, AND MOCKERS OF THE TRUE PROPHETS._ _Before Christ 598._... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE PROPHESIETH A RESTORATION OF THE SCATTERED FLOCK. CHRIST SHALL RULE AND SAVE THEM. AGAINST FALSE PROPHETS, AND MOCKERS OF THE TRUE PROPHETS._ _Before Christ 598._... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE BE UNTO THE PASTORS, &C.— _To the kings_ and _officers_ of the princes, who abused their authority by oppressing the poor. This is a sequel to the preceding discourse, principally addressed to the princes of Judah, the sons and successors of Josiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, &C.— After having foretold the return of the Jews from captivity, the prophet here delivers a lively prediction of the Messiah, of whom the Jews themselves interpret this passage. After the captivity, when the kingdom of David failed, Zechariah (Zechariah 3:8.) taught them to... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS DAYS JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED— This prophesy is in part fulfilled in all true believers,—the mystical _Israel,_ but will receive its utmost completion when the Jewish nation shall be restored; a blessing foretold by most of the ancient prophets, who generally joined Judah and Israel together, as... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, BEHOLD, &C.— See ch. Jeremiah 16:14. "One proverb shall give way to another, when the greater deliverance shall put the less out of remembrance. This wonderful work of God, in restoring the Jewish nation after their dispersion in every part of the world, will so far exceed the miracles wh... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE HEART WITHIN ME, &C.— We have here a new discourse against the false _prophets,_ with whom afterwards the _priests_ are joined: Jeremiah declares that, upon a view of the evils with which they are threatened, he is in trouble and agitation like that of a man who has lost his reason in wine; Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BECAUSE OFF SWEARING— Houbigant renders this, _Whose course is to evil, whose strength is to iniquity; therefore the land mourneth, and the pastures of the desart are dried up._ See his note. Others read, _Before the face of the curse the land mourneth._ Full of corrupted and idolatrous men, of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL BE DRIVEN ON— _Shall go astray,_ or _be bewildered._... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SEEN FOLLY— Jeremiah draws a contrast between the sins of the prophets of Samaria, and of Jerusalem, and pronounces those of the latter to be more enormous, because the former seduced the people by prophesying in the name of Baal; whereas the prophets of Israel pronounced their false prophesi... [ Continue Reading ]
_JEREMIAH 23:18_.— _For who hath stood in,_ &c.] _But who hath been present,_ &c. These are the words of Jeremiah to the false prophets, "Who of you, O false prophets, can boast of having really entered into the secrets of the Almighty? I will shew you very much the contrary. His fury shall burst fo... [ Continue Reading ]
AM I A GOD AT HAND, &C.— This verse is well explained by the next: "Do you think that I regard heavenly things only, and not those of the earth?—on the contrary, I fill both heaven and earth; each of them alike subject to my providence and care.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG, &C.— _How long shall there be among my people prophets who prophesy false things, and proclaim the deceits of their own heart?_... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHET THAT HATH A DREAM— "Let him propose his dream to those who are truly inspired, that they may judge whether the dream is from God, and that they may not give out simple dreams and vain imaginations for true prophesies, mixing the chaff with the wheat, and confounding true revelation with... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT STEAL MY WORDS, &C.— _Who hide my word, every one,_ &c. Houbigant; who also renders the latter part of the next verse, _Who make their tongues soft, and utter smooth words._ See Psalms 50:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS THE BURDEN— See Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 13:22. As the scoffers and infidels make a derision of this term, they are forbidden to mention it any more as ambiguous; and, instead of inquiring, _What is the burden of the Lord?_ they are commanded to say, _What hath the Lord answered?_ &c. See Jeremia... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY MAN'S WORD SHALL BE HIS BURDEN— "Every one of you shall feel the weight of my vengeance, for the insolent discourse which you have pronounced. Your discourse shall be your burden, and the cause of your chastisements." Houbigant understands these verses somewhat differently; he renders the 35th... [ Continue Reading ]
_JEREMIAH 23:39_. I_, EVEN I, WILL UTTERLY FORGET YOU_— _I, even I, will bear you away like a burden, and I will throw out of my sight both you and the city which I gave to you and to your fathers._ Houbigant. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prophet's message is a roll full of woes against a wicked nation, u... [ Continue Reading ]