CHAPTER XI _The prophet proclaims the tenor of God's covenant with the Jews_ _of old_, 1-5; _and then reproves them for their hereditary disobedience_, 6-19. _In consequence of this the Almighty is introduced, declaring he_ _will show them no pity_, 11-13; _forbidding Jeremiah to intercede_, 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:2. _HEAR YE THE WORDS OF THIS COVENANT_] It is possible that the prophet caused the words of the covenant made with their fathers in the desert (Exodus 24:4-2) to be read to them on this occasion; or, at least, the _blessings and the cursings_ which Moses caused to be pronounced to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:3. _CURSED_ BE _THE MAN THAT OBEYETH NOT_] After the reading, the prophet appears to _sum up_ the things contained in what was read to them; as if he had said, "Ye hear what the Lord saith unto you: remember, the sum of it is this: The man is cursed who obeyeth not; and he is bless... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:5. _SO BE IT, O LORD_] Let thy promises be fulfilled; and let the incorrigible beware of thy threatenings!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:6. _PROCLAIM ALL THESE WORDS_] Let the same covenant, with the blessings and cursings, be read in every city of Judah, and in all the streets of Jerusalem, that all the people may know their duty, their privileges, and their danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:9. _A CONSPIRACY IS FOUND_] They were all _fratres conjurati_, sworn brothers, determined to cast off the Divine yoke, and no longer to have God to reign over them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:10. _THEY ARE TURNED BACK TO THE INIQUITIES OF THEIR_ _FOREFATHERS_] A great reformation had taken place under the reign of Josiah, and the public worship of idols had been abolished, and most of the high places destroyed; but under the reign of his son and his successors, they had... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:12. _GO, AND CRY UNTO THE GODS_] See Jeremiah 2:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:14. _THEREFORE PRAY NOT THOU FOR THIS PEOPLE_] I am determined to give them up into the hands of their enemies; I will neither hear thy intercession, nor regard their prayers. Their measure is _full_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:15. _WHAT HATH MY BELOVED TO DO IN MINE HOUSE_] This has been supposed to refer to _Abraham, Moses_, or such eminent servants of God, whose intercession was very powerful. Were even they to appear as intercessors, their prayer should not be regarded. Others think that this is an _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:16. _THE LORD CALLED THY NAME, A GREEN OLIVE TREE_] That is, he made thee like a green olive-fair, flourishing, and fruitful; but thou art degenerated, and God hath given the Chaldeans permission to burn thee up.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:18. _THE LORD HATH GIVEN ME KNOWLEDGE_ OF IT] The men of Anathoth had conspired against his life, because he reproved them for their sins, and denounced the judgments of God against them. Of this God had given him a secret warning, that he might be on his guard.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:19. _I_ WAS _LIKE A LAMB_ OR _AN OX_] _Dahler_ translates, "I was like a fattened lamb that is led to the slaughter." _Blayney_, "I was like a tame lamb that is led to slaughter." The word אלוף _alluph_, which we translate _ox_, is taken by both as an _adjective_, qualifying the n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:20. _LET ME SEE THY VENGEANCE ON THEM_] Rather, _I shall see_ (אראה ereh) _thy punishment indicted on them_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:22. _BEHOLD, I WILL PUNISH THEM_] And the punishment is, _Their young men shall die by the sword_ of the Chaldeans; and _their sons and daughters shall die by the famine_ that shall come on the land through the desolations occasioned by the Chaldean army.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 11:23. _THE YEAR OF THEIR VISITATION._] This punishment shall come in that year in which I shall visit their iniquities upon them.... [ Continue Reading ]