CHAPTER XIV _This chapter begins with foretelling a drought that should_ _greatly distress the land of Judea, the effects of which are_ _described in a most pathetic manner_, 1-6. _The prophet then, in the people's name, makes a confession of_ _sins, and supplication for pardon_, 7-9. _But God... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:2. _THE GATES THEREOF LANGUISH_] The _gates_ being the places of public resort, they are put here for the _people_. _THEY ARE BLACK UNTO THE GROUND_] Covered from head to foot with a black garment, the emblem of sorrow and calamity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:3. _THEIR NOBLES HAVE SENT THEIR LITTLE ONES_] So general was this calamity, that the servants no longer attended to their lords, but every one was interested alone for himself; and the _nobles_ of the land were obliged to employ their _own children_ to scour the land, to see if an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:4. _THE GROUND IS CHAPT_] The cracks in the earth before the descent of the rains are in some places a cubit wide, and deep enough to receive the greater part of a human body.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:6. _SNUFFED UP THE WIND LIKE DRAGONS_] תנים _tannim_ here probably means the _hippopotamus_, who, after feeding under the water, is obliged to come to the surface in order to take in fresh draughts of air; or it may mean the _wild asses_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:7. _O LORD, THOUGH OUR INIQUITIES TESTIFY AGAINST US_] We deeply acknowledge that we have sinned, and deserve nothing but death. Yet _act for thy name's sake_-work in our behalf, that we perish not.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:8. _O THE HOPE OF ISRAEL_] O thou who art the only object of the _hope_ of this people. _THE SAVIOUR THEREOF IN TIME OF TROUBLE_] Who hast never yet abandoned them that seek thee. _WHY SHOULDEST THOU BE AS A STRANGER IN THE LAND_] As one who has no interest in the prosperity and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:9. _YET THOU, O LORD_, ART _IN THE MIDST OF US_] Thy ark, temple, and sacred rites, are all here; and thou thyself, who art every where present, art here also: but alas! thou dost not _reveal_ thyself as the Father of mercies, who forgivest iniquity, transgression, and sin. _WE AR... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:10. _THUS HAVE THEY LOVED TO WANDER_] And the measure of your iniquity being now full, ye must be punished.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:11. _PRAY NOT FOR THIS PEOPLE_] They are ripe for destruction, intercede not for them. O, how dreadful is the state of that people in reference to whom the Lord says to his ministers, _Pray not for them_; or, what amounts nearly to a prohibition, withholds from his ministers the sp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:13. _AH, LORD GOD! BEHOLD, THE PROPHETS SAY UNTO THEM_] True, Lord, they are exceedingly wicked; but the false prophets have deceived them; this is some mitigation of their offense. This plea God does not admit; and why? the people believed them, without having any proof of their D... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:14. _THE PROPHETS PROPHESY LIES_] They say they have _visions_, but they have them by _divination_, and they are false. The people should know their character, and avoid them; but they love to have it so, and will not be undeceived.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:15. _BY SWORD AND FAMINE SHALL THOSE PROPHETS BE CONSUMED._] Jeremiah had told Jehoiakim that, if he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, he should be overthrown, and the land wasted by _sword_ and _famine_: the false prophets said there shall be neither _sword_ nor _famine_, but _peac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:16. _AND THE PEOPLE - SHALL BE CAST OUT_] They shall be destroyed, because they preferred _their lying words to my truth_, proclaimed by thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:17. _FOR THE VIRGIN DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE IS BROKEN_] _First_, the land was sadly distressed by _Pharaoh-necho_, king of Egypt. _Secondly_, it was laid under a heavy tribute by _Nebuchadnezzar_. And, _thirdly_, it was nearly desolated by a _famine_ afterwards. In a few years all th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:18. _IF I GO FORTH INTO THE FIELD, THEN BEHOLD THE SLAIN_ _WITH THE SWORD_] Every place presents frightful spectacles; the wounded, the dying, the starving, and the slain; none to bury the dead, none to commiserate the dying, none to bring either relief or consolation. Even the _pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:19. _WE LOOKED FOR PEACE_] We expected prosperity when Josiah purged the land of idolatry. _AND_ THERE IS _NO GOOD_] For we have relapsed into our former ways.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:20. _WE ACKNOWLEDGE, O LORD, OUR WICKEDNESS_] This the prophet did in behalf of the people; but, alas! they did not join him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:21. _DO NOT DISGRACE THE THRONE OF THY GLORY_] The temple. Let not this sacred place be profaned by impious and sacrilegious hands. _BREAK NOT THY COVENANT_] See Exodus 24:7-2; Exodus 19:5. _They_ had already broken the covenant, and they wish God to fulfil his part. They ceased t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 14:22. _ARE THERE_ ANY _AMONG THE VANITIES OF THE GENTILES_] Probably the dearth was now coming, as there had been a long want of rain. It was the prerogative of the true God to give rain and send showers at the prayers of his people. _THEREFORE WE WILL WAIT UPON THEE_] If thou do no... [ Continue Reading ]