CHAPTER VI _Jeremiah, in the spirit of prophecy, seeing the Chaldeans on_ _their march, bids his people set up the usual signals of_ _distress, and spread the general alarm to betake themselves to_ _flight_, 1. _Then, by a beautiful allusion to the custom of shepherds moving_ _their flocks to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:3. _THE SHEPHERDS WITH THEIR FLOCKS_] The chiefs and their battalions. The invading army is about to spoil and waste all the fertile fields round about the city, while engaged in the siege.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:4. _PREPARE YE WAR AGAINST HER_] The words of the invaders exciting each other to the assault, and impatient lest any time should be lost; lest the besieged should have time to strengthen themselves, or get in supplies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:5. _ARISE, AND LET US GO BY NIGHT_] Since we have lost the day, let us not lose the night; but, taking advantage of the darkness, let us make a powerful assault while they are under the impression of terror.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:6. _HEW YE DOWN TREES_] To form machines. _AND CAST A MOUNT_] That may overlook the city, on which to place our engines. _THIS_ IS _THE CITY TO BE VISITED_] We are sure of success, for their God will deliver it into our hands, for it is full of oppression, and he has consigned it... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:7. _AS A FOUNTAIN CASTETH OUT HER WATERS_] The inhabitants are incessant in their acts of iniquity; they do nothing but sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:8. _BE THOU INSTRUCTED_] Still there is respite: if they would even now return unto the Lord with all their heart, the advancing Chaldeans would be arrested on their march and turned back.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:9. _THEY SHALL THOROUGHLY GLEAN THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL AS A_ _VINE: TURN BACK THINE HAND_] The Chaldeans are here exhorted to _turn back_ and glean up the remnant of the inhabitants that were left after the capture of Jerusalem; for even that remnant did not profit by the Divine judg... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:10. _THE WORD OF THE LORD IS UNTO THEM A REPROACH_] It is an object of _derision_; they _despise it_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:11. _I AM FULL OF THE FURY OF THE LORD_] God has given me a dreadful revelation of the judgments he intends to inflict: my soul is burdened with this prophecy. I have endeavoured to suppress it; but I must pour it forth upon the _children_, on the _young people_, on _husbands_ and _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:14. _THEY HAVE HEALED ALSO THE HURT_ OF THE DAUGHTER _OF MY_ _PEOPLE SLIGHTLY_] _Of the daughter_ is not in the text, and is here improperly added: it is, however, in some MSS. _PEACE, PEACE_] Ye shall have _prosperity_ - when there was none, and when God had determined that there... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:16. _THUS SAITH THE LORD, STAND YE IN THE WAYS, AND SEE_] Let us observe the metaphor. A _traveller_ is going to a particular city; he comes to a place where the road divides into several paths, he is afraid of going astray; he stops short, - endeavours to find out the right path:... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:17. _I SET WATCHMEN_] I have sent prophets to warn you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:20. _INCENSE FROWN SHEBA_] Sheba was in Arabia, famous for the best incense. It was situated towards the southern extremity of the peninsula of Arabia; and was, in respect of Judea, _a far_ _country_. _AND THE SWEET CANE FROM A FAR COUNTRY_] The _calamus aromaticus_, which, when dr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:23. _THEY SHALL LAY HOLD ON BOW AND SPEAR_] Still pointing out the Chaldeans: or according to _Dahler_, the _Scythians_, who had before their invasion of Palestine overrun many parts of Asia, and had spread consternation wherever their name was heard.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 6:27. _I HAVE SET THEE FOR A TOWER AND A FORTRESS_] Dr. _Blayney_ translates, _I have appointed thee to make an assay among_ _my people_. The words refer to the _office of an assayer of silver_ _and gold_; and the _manner of assaying_ here intended is by the _cupel_, a flat broad iro... [ Continue Reading ]