1.
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jeremiah's Seventh prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).
word. Singular, indicating this as a special prophecy.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
2.
Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
the words. Plural, indicating the many utterances of "this covenant".
this covenant. The old covenant of Exodus had been specially renewed by Judah in Jeremiah's days, under Josiah, in his eighteenth year (2 Kings 23:1-3 ).
Judah. Emphasized by repeated reference here. Compare verses: Jeremiah 11:2 , Jeremiah 11:6 , Jeremiah 11:9 , Jeremiah 2:10 , Jeremiah 2:12 , Jeremiah 2:13 , Jeremiah 2:17 .
3.
And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
the LORD God of Israel. This title occurs in Jeremiah fourteen times (Jeremiah 11:3 ; Jeremiah 13:12 ; Jeremiah 21:4 ; Jeremiah 23:2 ; Jeremiah 24:5 ; Jeremiah 25:15 ; Jeremiah 30:2 ; Jeremiah 32:36 ; Jeremiah 33:4 ; Jeremiah 34:2 , Jeremiah 34:13 ; Jeremiah 37:7 ; Jeremiah 42:9 ; Jeremiah 45:2 ).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim.
Israel. Still used of Judah as representing the whole nation. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .
Cursed be the man, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 27:26 ).
4.
Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
in the day. See App-18 .
from the iron furnace. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:20 ).
Obey = Hear, with Beth (= B) = Listen or attend to.
Obey My voice. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:26 ). App-92 .
them: i.e. "the words" of Jeremiah 11:3 .
I will be your God. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:3-12 ).
5.
That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
the oath which I have sworn. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:12 ).
a land flowing with milk and honey. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:8 , Exodus 3:17 ; Exodus 13:5 ; Exodus 33:3 .Leviticus 20:24 .Numbers 13:27 ; Numbers 14:8 ; Numbers 16:13 , Numbers 16:14 .Deuteronomy 6:3 ; Deuteronomy 11:9 ; Deuteronomy 26:9 , Deuteronomy 26:15 ; Deuteronomy 27:3 ; Deuteronomy 31:20 ). Outside the Pent, it is found only in Joshua 5:6 . Joshua 11:4 ; Jos 32:22 ; and Ezekiel 20:6 , Ezekiel 20:15 ; Ezekiel 25:4 ). App-92 .
So be it, O LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 27:15-26 : the same word). App-92 .
6.
Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
in the cities, &c. Compare Jeremiah 2:28 , and Jeremiah 11:13 .
7.
For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
rising early, &c. See note on Jeremiah 7:13 .
8.
Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
imagination = stubbornness.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
9.
And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10.
They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
iniquities. Hebrew. 'avah . App-44 .
went = are gone.
the house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4 .
the house of Judah. See note on Jeremiah 3:18 .
11.
Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
12.
Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
go, and cry, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:37 , Deuteronomy 32:38 ).
trouble. Same word as evil (verses: Jeremiah 11:8 , Jeremiah 11:15 , Jeremiah 11:17 ). So in Jeremiah 11:14 .
13.
For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
shameful thing. Hebrew "shame": put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the idol which was the cause of the shame. Compare Jeremiah 3:24 .
14.
Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
pray not, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex, Jeremiah 32:10 ). Compare Jeremiah 7:16 ; Jeremiah 14:11 . App-92 .
for. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "in the time of", as in Jeremiah 11:12 .
15.
What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
the holy flesh: i.e. the sacrifices. Compare Jeremiah 7:21 .Haggai 2:12 . Septuagint reads, "shall vows (or litanies) and holy flesh", &c.
is passed from thee? = taketh away from thee [thy wickedness]? or, removeth thy evil (i.e. calamity)?
then thou rejoicest : i.e. if such false worship will remove thy calamity, then thou mayest rejoice; but this was impossible.
16.
The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
olive tree. The symbol of Israel's religious privileges. See note on Judges 9:8-12 .
17.
For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 . 1 Samuel 1:3 .
done = wrought.
18.
And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
hath given = gave. Jeremiah a type of Messiah. See App-85 .
know = knew.
19.
But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
like a lamb. See App-85 .
saying. Note the Figure of speech. Ellipsis ( App-6 ), as frequently with this verb. See notes on Psa_109::5 ; Psalms 109:6 ; Psalms 144:12 , &c.
the tree with the fruit thereof. Hebrew "the dish in his food". Figure of speech Hypallage ( App-6 ), for the food in his dish.
from the land of the living. Jeremiah a type of Christ. See Isaiah 53:8 and App-85 .
20.
But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
triest the reins and the heart. Compare Jeremiah 11:20 ; Jeremiah 17:10 ; Jeremiah 20:12 . Found elsewhere only in Psalms 7:9 ; Psalms 26:2 . See App-85 .
21.
Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:
of = concerning.
men. Hebrew. Plural of 'enosh. App-14 .
seek = are seeking.
thy life = thy soul. Hebrew. nephesh.
hand. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "hands".
22.
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:
punish = visit upon.
23.
And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .
the year of their visitation. See note on Jeremiah 8:12 .