Jeremiah 31:5

Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. THOU SHALT YET PLANT VINES UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF SAMARIA - the metropolis of the ten tribes, here equivalent to Israel. The mountainous nature of their country suited the growth of the vine. THE PLANTERS SHALL ... EAT THEM AS COMMON - literally, shall profane - i:e., shall put to common use. For the first three years after planting, the vine was "not to be eaten of;" on the fourth year the fruit was to be "holy, to praise the Lord withal;" on the fifth year the fruit was to be eaten of as common, no longer restricted to holy use (: cf. ; , margin.) Thus the...

The verb חלל, _chelal, _means to profane, but it means also to apply to common use. The expression is taken from the Law; for it was not lawful to eat of the fruit of the vine until after the fourth year; for its uncircumcision as it were remained in the vine, so that its fruit was unclean. Then its first-fruits were offered to God; afterwards every one enjoyed his vintage. (Leviticus 19:23) But at the same time Jeremiah had respect to the curses which we read of elsewhere, “Thou shalt plant a vineyard, and others shall eat its fruit.” (Deuteronomy 28:30) What did he then mean by these words? even that the country would, for a time, be so deserted, that there would be no vines on the richest and the most fertile mountains. The mountains of Samaria were rich in vines; and when vines on these were cut down, there

1-9 God assures his people that he will again take them into covenant relation to himself. When brought very low, and difficulties appear, it is good to remember that it has been so with the church formerly. But it is hard under present frowns to take comfort from former smiles; yet it is the happiness of those who, through grace, are interested in the love of God, that it is an everlasting love, from everlasting in the counsels, to everlasting in the continuance. Those whom God loves with this love, he will draw to himself, by the influences of his Spirit upon their souls. When praising God for what he has done, we must call upon him for the favours his church needs and expects. When the Lord calls, we must not plead that we cannot come; for he that calls us, will help us, will strengthen us. The goodness of God shall lead them to repentance. And they shall weep for sin with more bitte...

Verse Jeremiah 31:5. _THOU SHALT YET PLANT VINES UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF_ _SAMARIA_] This was the regal city of the Israelites, as _Jerusalem_ was of the Jews. _SHALL EAT_ THEM _AS COMMON THINGS._] By the law of Moses no man was permitted to eat of the fruit of his vineyard till the fifth year after planting. For the first _three_ years it was considered uncircumcised, unclean, not fit to be eaten; in the _fourth_ year it was _holy to the Lord_, the fruit belonged to Him; in the _fifth_ year he might use it for himself, Leviticus 19:23-3. But in the time here mentioned the fruit should be considered _common_-lawful at all times to be eaten....

SHALL EAT THEM AS COMMON THINGS - Rather, shall eat the fruit. Literally, as in the margin. For three years the fruit of a newly-planted tree was not to be touched, that of the fourth year was consecrated to God, but on the fifth year it was profane, i. e., unconsecrated, and so might be applied to the owner’s use Leviticus 19:23....

EXPOSITION JEREMIAH 31:1 The promise of Jeremiah 30:22 is expressly declared to apply to both sections of the nation. Jehovah thus solemnly declares his purpose of mercy, and dwells with special Madness on the happy future of Ephraim. JEREMIAH 31:2 THE PEOPLE which were LEFT OF THE SWORD, etc.; literally, _the people of those left of the sword. _The expression clearly implies that the Jews at the time spoken of had escaped, or were about to escape, in some great battle or some other kind of slaughter. Hence the finding grace in the wilderness cannot refer to the sequel of the passage through the Red Sea, an

THOU SHALT YET PLANT VINES UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF SAMARIA,.... Mountains are proper places for vines, and which generally produce the best wine; but vines are not to be understood merely literally, or as only expressive of the outward peace, plenty, and prosperity of Samaria, with other places given to the Jews, as Josephus k observes they were by the Demetrii; which they might improve by planting vines, c. but figuratively of the planting of Gospel churches there, comparable to vines, Song of Solomon 2:13 which was done in the first times of the Gospel; see John 4:29; and which was a pledge of what will be done in those parts hereafter in the latter day: THE PLANTERS SHALL PLANT, AND SHALL EAT [THEM] AS COMMON THINGS; the fruit of the vines planted by them. The allusion is to the

Jeremiah 31:1. _At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people._ During the Israelites' banishment to Babylon, God's covenant with them had been as it were in abeyance, but in this promise of their restoration he brings it to the front again, and he gives a peculiarly gracious turn to it: «I will be the God of all the families of Israel.» What a mercy it is to have a family God, and to have our whole family in Christ! Brethren, you have a family Bible, and you have, I hope, a family altar; may your whole family belong to God! Jeremiah 31:2. _Thus saith the LORD, the people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest._ Pharaoh tried to kill

CHAPTER 31 _ 1. The home-going of the nation (Jeremiah 31:1) _ 2. The joy of salvation (Jeremiah 31:10) 3. The preceding tribulation, sorrow and repentance (Jeremiah 31:15) 4. Assurance (Jeremiah 31:22) 5. The new covenant (Jeremiah 31:27) 6. The everlasting nation (Jeremiah 31:35) Jeremiah 31

This prophecy of the restoration of the northern kingdom may belong, like ch. 3, to Jeremiah's early period. The northern Israelites shall be gathered from exile (the wilderness). Yahweh will appear from Zion (Jeremiah 31:3, _mg._ 1 ;_ cf._ Jeremiah 51:50), declaring His enduring love (Hosea 11:4), and will restore general happiness; in the security of tenure the vineyards (which require time for their development) will be replanted, and their keepers (watchmen, Jeremiah 31:6) will call man to Zion (thus marking the union of the _two_ kingdoms)....