Jeremiah 6:25

Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. He addresses "the daughter of Zion" (Jeremiah 6:23); caution to the citizens of Jerusalem not to expose themselves to the enemy by going outside of the city walls. SWORD OF THE ENEMY - literally, there is a sword to the enemy; the enemy hath a sword. WALLOW THYSELF IN ASHES - (Micah 1:10, "Roll thyself in the dust"). As they usually in mourning only "cast ashes on the head," wallowing in them means something more-namely, so entirely to cover oneself with ashes as to be like one who had rolled in them (Ezekiel 27:30). A...

He confirms the previous verse. For the Jews, as it has been said, regarded all threatenings as nothing: it was hence necessary that they should be taught, not by words only, but be constrained to fear, by having the scene set before their eyes, that being thus constrained they might at least entertain some fear on account of the nearness of God’s vengeance. The Prophet then denounces war, and speaks as though they were already besieged, _Go ye not forth_, he says, _into the field_, etc., _for the terror of the enemy _and _fear is on every side; _(184) not that the Chaldeans were already laying waste Judea, or that they had even departed from their own country. But we have briefly explained the design of the Prophet: he intended thus vehemently to deal with a hardened and obstinate people, that they might know that he spoke seriously to them, and that his threatenings would not be evanes...

18-30 God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they provoke God. The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show themselves. Saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise: sinners must mourn for fear of God's judgments, though they see them only in the threatenings. They are the worst of revolters, and are all corrupters. Sinners soon become tempters. They are compared to ore supposed to have good metal in it, but which proves all dross. Nothing will prevail to part between them and their sins. Reprobate silver shall they be called, useless and worthless. When warnings, corrections, rebukes, and all means of grace, leave men unrenewed, they will be left, as...

FOR THE SWORD OF THE ENEMY - literally, “for to the enemy a sword; i. e., for the enemy is armed,” he has a commission from God to execute judgment. See Jeremiah 12:12; Isaiah 10:5, and Psalms 17:13 note. FEAR IS ON EVERY SIDE - Magor-Missabib, Jeremiah’s watchword (compare Jeremiah 20:3, Jeremiah 20:10). The “and” before it should be omitted....

EXPOSITION A prophecy, in five stanzas or strophes, vividly describing the judgment and its causes, and enforcing the necessity of repentance. JEREMIAH 6:1 Arrival of a hostile army from the north, and summons to flee from the doomed city. JEREMIAH 6:1 O YE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN. The political rank of Jerusalem, as the capital of the kingdom of Judah, makes it difficult to realize that Jerusalem was not locally a city of Judah at all. It belonged, strictly speaking, to the tribe of Benjamin, a tribe whose insignificance, in comparison with Judah, seems to have led to the adoption of a form of expression not literally accurate (see Psa 128:1-6 :68). The true state of the ease is evident from an examination of the two par

GO NOT FORTH INTO THE FIELD,.... Either for pleasure, or for business; to take a walk in it for the air, or to till it, plough, sow, or reap; but keep within the city and its walls, there being danger: NOR WALK BY THE WAY; in the high road from Jerusalem, to any town or village near it: FOR THE SWORD OF THE ENEMY: or, "because there is a sword for the enemy" b; or, "the enemy has a sword"; and that drawn; the enemy is in the field, and in the ways, and there is no escaping him: AND FEAR IS ON EVERY SIDE; all round the city, being encompassed by the Assyrian army: or, the enemy's sword "is fear on every side" c; causes fear in all parts round the city. The Targum is, "because the sword of the enemy kills those who are gathered round about;'' or on every side. b כי חרב לאיוב "quoniam gladius est inimico", Munster, Vatablus, Junius Tremellius "quia (ibi) gladius (qui) hosti", Schmi

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The call to the children of Benjamin (Jeremiah 6:1) _ 2. Corruption and the deserved judgment (Jeremiah 6:9) 3. The prophet addressed (Jeremiah 6:27) Jeremiah 6:1. The children of Benjamin are exhorted to flee for safety on account of the evil from the north. There were probably among the Benjamites God-fearing men. Those who heeded the call fled and escaped. It is a warning message which follows: “Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, let my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.” But they heeded it not....

THE FOE FROM THE NORTH is again described (_cf._ Jeremiah 5:15) in his advance against Jerusalem (Jeremiah 6:22). Its inhabitants utter their dismay (wax feeble, Jeremiah 6:24; Heb. are slack). The prophet warns of the danger without (Jeremiah 6:25), and bids the (individualised) people mourn (Amos 8:10; Zechariah 12:10) for the coming disaster. Jeremiah 6:22

FEAR IS ON EVERY SIDE. terror is round about. Compare Jeremiah 20:3; Jeremiah 20:10; Jeremiah 46:5; Jeremiah 49:29; Lamentations 2:22....

The last of the four divisions. See introd. note to the ch....