---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Jeremiah 14"
description: "CHAPTER 14   :-. PROPHECIES ON THE
OCCASION OF A DROUGHT
SENT IN JUDGMENT
ON JUDEA. 1. Literally, \"That which
was the word of Jehovah to Jeremiah concerni"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/jeremiah/14"
---

CHAPTER 14

. PROPHECIES ON THE
OCCASION OF A DROUGHT
SENT IN JUDGMENT
ON JUDEA.

**1.** Literally, "That which
was the word of Jehovah to Jeremiah concerning the dearth"
**drought**—literally, the
"withholdings," namely, of rain ([Deuteronomy 11:17](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/11/17);
[2 Chronicles 7:13](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/7/13)). This word should be
used especially of the withholding of *rain* because rain is in
those regions of all things the one chiefly needed ([2 Chronicles 7:13](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/7/13), *Margin*).

**2. gates**—*The place of
public concourse* in each city looks sad, as being no longer
frequented ([Isaiah 3:26](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/26); [Isaiah 24:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/24/4)).
**black**—that is, they
mourn (blackness being indicative of sorrow), ([Isaiah 24:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/24/4)).
**unto the ground**—bowing
towards it.
**cry**—of distress
([1 Samuel 5:12](../../../kjv/1-samuel/5/12); [Isaiah 24:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/24/11)).

**3. little ones**—rather, "their
inferiors," that is, domestics.
**pits**—cisterns for
collecting rain water, often met with in the *East* where there
are no springs.
**covered . . . heads**—
([2 Samuel 15:30](../../../kjv/2-samuel/15/30)). A sign of
humiliation and mourning.

**5.** The brute creation is reduced
to the utmost extremity for the want of food. The "hind,"
famed for her affection to her young, abandons them.

**6. wild asses**—They repair to
"the high places" most exposed to the winds, which they
"snuff in" to relieve their thirst.
**dragons**—jackals
[HENDERSON].
**eyes**—which are usually
most keen in detecting grass or water from the "heights,"
so much so that the traveller guesses from their presence that there
must be herbage and water near; but now "their eyes fail."
Rather the reference is to the great boas and python serpents which
raise a large portion of their body up in a vertical column ten or
twelve feet high, to survey the neighborhood above the surrounding
bushes, while with open jaws they drink in the air. These giant
serpents originated the widely spread notions which typified the
deluge and all destructive agents under the form of a dragon or
monster serpent; hence, the dragon temples always near water, in
Asia, Africa, and Britain; for example, at Abury, in Wiltshire; a
symbol of the ark is often associated with the dragon as the
preserver from the waters [KITTO,
*Biblical Cyclopædia*].

**7. do thou it**—what we beg of
Thee; interpose to remove the drought. Jeremiah pleads in the name of
his nation ([Psalms 109:21](../../../kjv/psalms/109/21)). So
"work for us," absolutely used ([Psalms 109:21](../../../kjv/psalms/109/21)).
**for thy name's sake**—"for
*our* backslidings are so many" that we cannot urge Thee
for the sake of *our* doings, but for the glory of *Thy*
name; lest, if Thou give us not aid, it should be said it was owing
to Thy want of power ([Joshua 7:9](../../../kjv/joshua/7/9);
[Psalms 79:9](../../../kjv/psalms/79/9); [Psalms 106:8](../../../kjv/psalms/106/8);
[Isaiah 48:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/48/9); [Ezekiel 20:44](../../../kjv/ezekiel/20/44)).
The same appeal to God's mercy, "for *His* name's sake,"
as our only hope, since *our* sin precludes trust in ourselves,
occurs in [Psalms 25:11](../../../kjv/psalms/25/11).

**8.** The reference is, not to the
faith of *Israel* which had almost ceased, but to the promise
and everlasting covenant of *God.* None but the true Israel make
God their "hope." ().
**turneth aside to tarry**—The
*traveller* cares little for the land he tarries but a night in;
but Thou hast promised to *dwell* always in the midst of Thy
people ([2 Chronicles 33:7](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/33/7); [2 Chronicles 33:8](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/33/8)).
MAURER translates,
"spreadeth," namely, his tent.

**9. astonied**—like a "mighty
man," at other times able to help (), but now *stunned* by a sudden calamity so as to
disappoint the hopes drawn from him.
**art in the midst of us**—
([Exodus 29:45](../../../kjv/exodus/29/45); [Exodus 29:46](../../../kjv/exodus/29/46);
[Leviticus 26:11](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/11); [Leviticus 26:12](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/12)).
**called by thy name**—
([Daniel 9:18](../../../kjv/daniel/9/18); [Daniel 9:19](../../../kjv/daniel/9/19))
as Thine own peculiar people ([Daniel 9:19](../../../kjv/daniel/9/19)).

**10.** Jehovah's reply to the
prayer ([Jeremiah 14:7-9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/14/7-9);
[Jeremiah 2:23-25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/23-25)).
**Thus**—*So greatly.*
**loved**— ([Jeremiah 2:23-24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/23-24)).
**not refrained . . . feet**—They
did not obey God's command; "withhold thy foot" ([Jeremiah 2:23-24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/23-24)), namely, from following after idols.
**remember . . . iniquity**—
([Hosea 8:13](../../../kjv/hosea/8/13); [Hosea 9:9](../../../kjv/hosea/9/9)).
Their sin is so great, God must punish them.

**11.** ([Jeremiah 7:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/16);
[Exodus 32:10](../../../kjv/exodus/32/10)).

**12. not hear**—because their
prayers are hypocritical: their hearts are still idolatrous. God
never refuses to hear *real* prayer ([Jeremiah 7:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/21);
[Jeremiah 7:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/22); [Proverbs 1:28](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/28);
[Isaiah 1:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/15); [Isaiah 58:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/58/3)).
**sword . . . famine . . .
pestilence**—the three sorest judgments at once; any one of which
would be enough for their ruin ([2 Samuel 24:12](../../../kjv/2-samuel/24/12);
[2 Samuel 24:13](../../../kjv/2-samuel/24/13)).

**13.** Jeremiah urges that much of
the guilt of the people is due to the false prophets' influence.
**assured peace**—solid and
lasting peace. Literally, "peace of truth" ().

**14.** ().

**15.** ([Jeremiah 5:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/12);
[Jeremiah 5:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/13)).
**By sword and famine . . .
consumed**—retribution in kind both to the false prophets and to
their hearers ([Jeremiah 14:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/14/16)).

**16. none to bury**— ().
**pour their wickedness**—that
is, the punishment incurred by their wickedness ().

**17.** ([Jeremiah 9:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/9/1);
[Lamentations 1:16](../../../kjv/lamentations/1/16)). Jeremiah is desired to
weep ceaselessly for the calamities coming on his nation (called a
"virgin," as being heretofore never under foreign yoke),
([Isaiah 23:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/4)).

**18. go about**—that is, shall
have to migrate into a land of exile. HORSLEY
translates, "go *trafficking* about the land (see , *Margin;* [2 Corinthians 4:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/4/2);
[2 Peter 2:3](../../../kjv/2-peter/2/3)), and take no knowledge"
(that is, pay no regard to the miseries before their eyes) ([Isaiah 1:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/3);
[Isaiah 58:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/58/3)). If the literal sense
of the *Hebrew* verb be retained, I would with *English
Version* understand the words as referring to the exile to
Babylon; thus, "the prophet and the priest shall have to go to a
strange land to *practise their religious traffic* ([Isaiah 56:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/11);
[Ezekiel 34:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/2); [Ezekiel 34:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/3);
[Micah 3:11](../../../kjv/micah/3/11)).

**19.** The people plead with God,
Jeremiah being forbidden to do so.
**no healing**— ().
**peace . . . no good**—
([Jeremiah 8:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/8/15)).

**20.** ().

**21. us**—"the throne of Thy
glory" may be the object of "abhor not" ("reject
not"); or "Zion" ().
**throne of thy
glory**—Jerusalem, or, *the temple,* called God's
"footstool" and "habitation" ([1 Chronicles 28:2](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/28/2);
[Psalms 132:5](../../../kjv/psalms/132/5)).
**thy covenant**— ([Psalms 106:45](../../../kjv/psalms/106/45);
[Daniel 9:19](../../../kjv/daniel/9/19)).

**22. vanities**—idols ().
**rain**— ([Zechariah 10:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/10/1);
[Zechariah 10:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/10/2)).
**heavens**—namely, of
themselves without God ([Matthew 5:45](../../../kjv/matthew/5/45);
[Acts 14:17](../../../kjv/acts/14/17)); they are not the
First Cause, and ought not to be deified, as they were by the
heathen. The disjunctive "or" favors CALVIN'S
explanation: "Not even the heavens themselves can give rain,
much less can the idol vanities."
**art not thou he**—namely,
who canst give rain?

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