1.
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
Jeremiah's First prophecy (see Book comments for Jeremiah).
words: or, prophecies (verses: Jeremiah 1:4 , Jeremiah 1:9 , Jeremiah 1:1 , Jeremiah 2:4 , &c.) Compare Jeremiah 36:1 , Jeremiah 36:2 ; but better "words", as the historic portions are also Jehovah's words. Compare Amos 1:1 . Jeremiah. Hebrew. y'irm e yahu = whom Jehovah raises up, or launches forth.
Hilkiah. Not the high priest of that name, who was of the line of Eleazar (1 Chronicles 6:4 , 1 Chronicles 6:13 ); whereas Anathoth belonged to that of Ithamar (1 Chronicles 24:3 , 1 Chronicles 24:6 ). Compare 2 Chronicles 34 .
of the priests. Beside Jeremiah, Nathan (1 Kings 4:6 ), Ezekiel (Jeremiah 1:3 ), and probably Zechariah (Jeremiah 1:1 ) were of priestly origin.
Anathoth. Now 'Anata, three miles north-east of Jerusalem. Jeremiah was persecuted there before he prophesied in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 11:21 ; Jeremiah 12:6 ). This prepared him for later conflicts (Compare Jeremiah 12:5 , Jeremiah 12:6 ).
2.
To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
the word of the LORD came. It is remarkable that, in the four longer prophets, this formula is almost entirely confined to the two who were priests (Jeremiah and Ezekiel). See App-82 . Compare Genesis 15:1 . 1Sa 9:27 ; 1 Samuel 15:10 . 2 Samuel 7:4 ; 2Sa 24:11 . 1 Kings 12:22 . 1 Chronicles 17:3 ; 1Ch 22:8 . 2 Chronicles 11:2 ; 2 Chronicles 12:7 . Ezekiel 1:3 ; Ezekiel 14:12 .Hosea 1:1 .Joel 1:1 , &c.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Josiah. Three kings named here and in Jeremiah 1:3 . Two others not named here (Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin), who reigned only three months each (2 Kings 23:31 ; 2 Kings 24:8 ).
thirteenth year. A year after Josiah began his reformation (2 Chronicles 34:3 ). (618 B.C. See App-50 .) Sixty-six years after Isaiah ended. For the chronology of Jeremiah, see App-77 and App-83 . From 2 Chronicles 34:22 . Jeremiah was probably still at Anathoth.
3.
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
It came also in the days. See note on Genesis 14:1 .
the fifth month. The month that Jerusalem was destroyed (Jeremiah 52:12 ; 2 Kings 25:3 , 2 Kings 25:8 ). After that, Jeremiah continued in the Land (Jeremiah 40:1 ; Jeremiah 42:7 ); and, later, in Egypt (chs Jer 43:44 ).
4.
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Then: i.e. in the thirteenth year of Josiah.
word. Singular, because referring to this special prophecy.
5.
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
I knew. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for choosing. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 33:12 , Exodus 33:17 ). App-92 .
sanctified thee = set thee apart, or, hallowed thee. See note on Exodus 3:5 , and compare John Baptist (Luke 1:15-17 ); Paul (Galatians 1:15 , Galatians 1:16 ); Samson (Judges 13:3 ).
the nations. This distinguishes Jeremiah from some of the other prophets, and shows that the legend of his martyrdom is only legend.
6.
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. See App-4 .
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
I cannot speak, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 4:10 ). App-92 . This is true of all God's messengers.
a child. Hebrew. na'ar, a youth. Probably about Josiah's age; for he began to reign at 8 years of age, and 8+13 would make him 21. But this refers more to inefficiency than to age.
7.
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
whatsoever I command, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 22:20 ). App-92 .
8.
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Be not afraid, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:12 ; Deuteronomy 31:6 ). App-92 . Compare Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:6 ); Paul (Acts 26:17 ).
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
9.
Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
hand . . . touched. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia . Compare Isaiah (Isaiah 6:6 , Isaiah 6:7 ); Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:8 , Ezekiel 2:9 ); Daniel (Can. Jeremiah 10:16 ).
I have put My words, &c. This is inspiration. See Deuteronomy 18:18 . Compare Acts 1:16 . David's "mouth", but not David's "words".
10.
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
set thee = not only appointed, but installed.
to root out = to declare that nations should be rooted out, &c. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject). Note also the Figure of speech Polyonymia, for emphasis.
and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, &c. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , and see note above.
build, and to plant = to declare that others (Israel and Judah) should be restored. Compare Ezekiel 17:22-24 . A prophecy still future.
11.
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Jeremiah's Second Prophecy (see Book comments for Jeremiah).
Moreover = And. Another commission introducing two visions.
a rod = a staff for striking. Hebrew. makkel, as in Jeremiah 48:17 and Genesis 30:37-41 .
a rod of an almond tree. Denotes an almond tree staff, corresponding with a vigilant watchman.
an almond tree. Hebrew. shaked = a watcher, or an early waker, because it is the first of the trees to wake from its winter sleep, and is thus what the cock is among birds.
12.
Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
I will hasten . . . it = I am watching. Forming the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), "an almond tree ( shaked) . . . I am watching ( shoked) ", thus emphasizing the certainty.
13.
And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
Jeremiah's Third Prophecy (see Book comments for Jeremiah).
second time. In order to complete the sense by explaining that it was the fulfilment of the word of judgment that was to be watched over.
a seething pot = a boiling cauldron. Hebrew a pot blown upon: i.e. brought to boiling by blowing the fire.
toward the north = from the north: i.e. turned towards the prophet, who saw it from the south. The enemy of which it spoke, though situated on the east, would come round the desert and advance from the north, through Dan, the usual route from Assyria. See Jeremiah 1:14 .
14.
Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
an evil = the calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . See note on Isaiah 45:7 .
15.
For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
all. Frequently put (as here) by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), App-6 , for the principal or greater part.
set, &c. Where the kings of Judah had sat to judge and rule. Fulfilled in Jeremiah 39:3 , for here the setting is hostile.
16.
And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
them: i.e. the people of Judah.
wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
forsaken Me. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:20 ). App-92 .
burned incense. Hebrew. katar. See App-43 . This includes the burnt offering and parts of the gift offering.
works. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "work" (singular)
17.
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
gird up, &c. See note on 1 Kings 18:46 .
be not dismayed. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), in the alternate words and lines of C (p. 1016): C g | 17-. Be not dismayed ( tehath ). h | -17-. At their faces ( mippeneyhem ). g | -17-. Lest I confound thee ( ahiteka ). h | -17. Before them ( liphneyhem ). This may be Englished: "Be not abashed. . Lest I abash thee".
18.
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
made thee = give thee [as].
brasen walls. Some codices, with two early printed editions (one in margin), Targum, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "a wall of bronze" (singular)
against. Note the Figure of speech Anaphora , by which "against" is repeated seven times, in order to emphasize the fact that as man's thoughts and ways are the opposite of Jehovah's (Isaiah 55:8 ), it is impossible for a prophet who is Jehovah's spokesman to be other than "against" man. See App-49 .
the kings of Judah. See Jeremiah 36 .
the princes. See Jeremiah 37 and Jeremiah 38 .
the priests. See Jeremiah 20 and Jeremiah 26 .
the People. See Jeremiah 34:19 ; Jeremiah 37:2 ; Jeremiah 44:21 ; Jeremiah 52:6 .
19.
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.