Jeremiah 22:6

For thus saith the LORD unto the king's house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited. THOU ART GILEAD UNTO ME, AND THE HEAD OF LEBANON - though thou art as beautiful as Gilead, and as majestic in mine eyes (before me) as the summit of Lebanon, yet surely (the Hebrew is a formula of swearing to express certainly [ 'im (H518) lo' (H3808)] - literally, If I do not make thee, etc., believe me not ever hereafter: so "as truly as I live," Numbers 14:28 (in Hebrew, Numbers 14:27); "surely,...

He confirms the preceding declaration, and explains more at large what had been stated sufficiently clear; for the false boasting of the Jews could hardly be restrained, as they still thought that the kingdom in the family of David would be permanent and exempt from any danger of a change. But interpreters differ as to the meaning of the words. I will not repeat their views, nor is it _necessary: _I will only state what seems to me to be the real meaning. All others indeed give a different explanation; but the Prophet, I doubt not, means the same thing as we have observed in Jeremiah 7:12; where he says, “Go to Shiloh, and see what is the state of that place, for the ark of the covenant had a long time dwelt there.” Though, then, they thought that place sacred, yet it was reduced to desolation; and thus it must have become a dreadful spectacle to the whole people. For the same reason n...

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....

Verse Jeremiah 22:6. _THOU ART GILEAD UNTO ME_, AND _THE HEAD OF LEBANON_] Perhaps in allusion, says _Dahler_, to the _oaks_ of _Gilead_, and the _cedars_ of Mount _Lebanon_, of which the palace was constructed. _Lebanon_ was the highest mountain in Israel, and _Gilead_ the richest and most fertile part of the country; and were, therefore, proper emblems of the reigning _family_. Though thou art the richest and most powerful, I, who raised thee up, can bring thee down and make thee a wilderness....

Omit and. “Thou art a Gilead unto me, a summit of Lebanon.” YET SURELY - literally, if not, the form of an oath with the imprecation omitted. For the full form see Numbers 14:23. A WILDERNESS, AND CITIES - Omit and. The meaning is: If the house of David does not hear God’s words, though it be now grand as Lebanon, God will make it a wilderness, even uninhabited cities; the house of David being regarded as equivalent to the kingdom of Judah....

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,...

FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD UNTO THE KING'S HOUSE OF JUDAH,.... That is, to the family of the king of Judah; though it may be rendered, "concerning the house of the king of Judah" z; and so refer to his palace as before: THOU [ART] GILEAD UNTO ME, [AND] THE HEAD OF LEBANON; or, though like to Gilead (which was a very fruitful country) for wealth, riches, and all kind of valuable things; and like to the top of Mount Lebanon a, being set with tall cedars, for stateliness. So the Targum is, "although thou art beloved before me more than the sanctuary, which is high upon the top of the mountains:'' or thou shall be as Gilead, and Mount Lebanon, which belonged to the ten tribes of Israel, and are put for the whole kingdom of Israel, which was wasted by the king of Assyria; and in like condition should the royal palace at Jerusalem be, notwithstanding all its riches and grandeur, and so the cit...

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 ...

HOUSE OF JUDAH. See note on Jeremiah 3:18....