Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Thus. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "For thus". the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Where . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
the bill = this bill.
divorcement. Found only here, and in Jeremiah 3:8 outside the Pentateuch. See Deuteronomy 24:1 , Deuteronomy 24:3 . See App-92 .
whom: or, wherewith.
put away. . . sold. Note the Introversion of these words in this verse.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
sold . . . put away. Note the Introversion.
Wherfore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
when I came. Messiah speaks.
no man. See John 1:11 . Compare Jeremiah 5:1 .Acts 13:46 ; Acts 18:6 ; Acts 28:28 .
Is My hand shortened . . . ? Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 11:23 ). Compare Isaiah 59:1 . See App-92 .
redeem. Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 13:13 .
I dry up the sea. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:21 ). App-92 .
rivers. Plural of majesty: i.e. the great river, the Jordan. Reference to Pentateuch (Joshua 4:7 , Joshua 4:18 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 107:33 .
their fish stinketh. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 7:18 , Exodus 7:21 ).
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
that I should know, &c. He spake none other words than those given Him by the Father. Compare the seven times this was asserted by Messiah (John 7:16 ; John 8:28 , John 8:46 , John 8:47 ; John 12:49 ; John 14:10 , John 14:24 ; John 17:8 ).
wakeneth = [continually] wakeneth.
to hear as the learned = to hearken as do the instructed.
learned = taught.
The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
not rebellious = not perverse or refractory.
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
I gave, &c. Fulfilled in Matthew 26:67 ; Matthew 27:26 .
For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
set My face like a flint. Note the fulfilment. His death was not an event which happened. He "accomplished" it Himself (Luke 9:31 ), and, after saying this, "He steadfastly set His face", as above, "like a flint". He laid down His life Himself: but not till His hour (the right hour) had come (John 10:15-18 ).
He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
who. ? Figure of speech Erotesis .
who is Mine adversary? = who can convict Me? Literally who owneth My sentence?
Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
condemn Me = prove Me lawless.
Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Who, &c. These are the words of the prophet in view of Messiah's reception.
trust in = confide in. Hebrew. batah . App-69 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
that kindle a fire = that are incendiaries; not the ordinary word for lighting a fire. Only in Deuteronomy 32:2 (the first occurrence). Jeremiah 15:14 ; Jeremiah 17:4 . Jer 64:2 .
compass = gird. See note on Isaiah 8:9 .
sparks = fiery darts.
walk. This is Divine irony ( App-6 ).
your = your own.
