Jeremiah 22:5

But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation. I SWEAR BY MYSELF - (; ). God swears, because it seemed to them incredible that the family of I SWEAR BY MYSELF - (; ). God swears, because it seemed to them incredible that the family of David should be cast off. THIS HOUSE - the king's, where Jeremiah spake ()....

We explained yesterday the declaration of the Prophet, — that the kingdom would again be restored by the Lord, if the king and his servants and the whole people repented. He now introduces a commination, — that if they heard not, it was all over with the palace and the city. But the word house, or palace is often repeated; for though the defenses of the city gave courage to the people, yet what made them especially proud was the confidence they felt that the kingdom had been promised to be for ever. Hence, they thought, that the royal dignity could not possibly fall as long as the sun and moon continued in the heavens. (Psalms 89:38.) This false confidence is what the Prophet now meets, and he says, _If ye will not hear these words, _etc. He changes the number: he had said before _this word, _ את הדבר הזה _, at edeber eze; _but he now says _these words_,...

1-9 The king of Judah is spoken to, as sitting upon the throne of David, the man after God's own heart. Let him follow his example, that he may have the benefit of the promises made to him. The way to preserve a government, is to do the duty of it. But sin will be the ruin of the houses of princes, as well as of meaner men. And who can contend with destroyers of God's preparing? God destroys neither persons, cities, nor nations, except for sin; even in this world he often makes it plain for what crimes he sends punishment; and it will be clear at the day of judgement....

EXPOSITION Jeremiah 22:1 and Jeremiah 23:1, are connected together by similarity of subject. The temporal and spiritual leaders of the people, who are mainly responsible for the national catastrophe, receive their merited castigation. Jeremiah 23:1 of Jeremiah 23:1; properly speaking, belong to Jeremiah 22:1.; thus we get a well-rounded discourse on the conduct of the kings, with four symmetrical parts or strophes—Jeremiah 22:1,...

BUT IF YE WILL NOT HEAR THESE WORDS,.... Will give no attention, and yield no obedience to them: I SWEAR BY MYSELF, SAITH THE LORD; and by a greater he cannot swear; and that is the reason why he swears by himself, Hebrews 6:13; and as, when he swears to a promise, it shows the immutability of it, the certainty of its performance, and that it is irreversible, and never repented of, nor revoked; so it is when he swears to a threatening. The Targum is, "by my word I swear:'' THAT THIS HOUSE SHALL BECOME A DESOLATION; meaning not the temple, nor the city, but the king's palace....

CONCERNING THE KINGS OF JUDAH (22:1-23:8) CHAPTER 22 _ 1. The message in the house of the king of Judah (Jeremiah 22:1) _ 2. Touching Shallum, the King of Judah (Jeremiah 22:11) 3. Concerning Jehoiakim and his fate (Jeremiah 22:13) 4. Concerning Coniah and his fate (Jeremiah 22:20) Jeremiah 22:1. What a figure Jeremiah was as he stood, obedient to the divine command, before the royal palace to deliver his God-given message! The door of mercy still is open. Let them execute judgmen

JEREMIAH 22:1 TO JEREMIAH 23:8. This section contains several distinct Jeremianic prophecies, relating to contemporary kings of Judah; they have been editorially collected, probably with some expansion. JEREMIAH 22:1. INTRODUCTION. The prophet is sent down to the palace (lower than the Temple, and on the S.) to declare judgment and justice as the condition of permanence in the royal line. He bewails in a dirge (Jeremiah 22:6 f.) the fall of the royal house, which is like that of well-wooded districts (Gilead, Lebanon) delivered over to the axe. The cause is the disloyalty of the city to Yahweh ...

SAITH THE LORD. [is] Jehovah's oracle....

_I swear by myself_ For comment on this as the most solemn and binding form of oath, see Hebrews 6:13-18. The form is repeated in Jeremiah 49:13, and occurs besides in Genesis 22:16; Isaiah 45:23, and a cognate expression is found Jeremiah 51:14; Amos 6:8....

B. General Remarks Regarding the Royal House Jeremiah 22:1-9 TRANSLATION (1) Thus says the LORD: Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak there this word, (2) And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits upon the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates. (3) Thus says the LORD: Execute justice and righteousness and deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor. And do not oppress or do violence to the stranger, orphan or widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. (4) For if you completely comply with this commandment, then kings sitting in David's stead shall pass through the gates of this house riding in chariots and on horses, he and his servants and his people. (5) But if you do not hearken to these words, I swear by Myself (oracle of the LORD) that this house shall become a desolation. (6)