1.
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .
your. One MS. (Harley, 5720, British Museum), quotes other MSS. as reading "their" (vol, 240b). So in two early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate.
2.
Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
children = sons.
groves = Asherim (plural) See App-42 .
the green trees. Some codices, with Aram, and Syriac, read "by every green tree".
upon. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, and Syriac, read "and upon".
3.
O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.
mountain in the field. Figure of speech Periphrasis , put for Jerusalem. Compare "rock of the plain" (Jeremiah 21:13 ).
I will give. By Figure of speech Hyperbaton , these words come at the end of the sentence, to call attention to them.
for sin = in sin: i.e. as a punishment for sin.
4.
And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
kindled a fire. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:22 ). Compare Jeremiah 15:14 .
burn. Compare Isaiah 33:14 .
for ever. Hebrew. 'olam. See App-150 .
5.
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Cursed, &c. Note the Alternation above.
the man = strong man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .
trusteth = conndeth. Heb batah. App-69 .
6.
For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
in. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this word "in" in the text.
7.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
hope = confidence. Hebrew. batah, as in the preceding line. Not the same word as in verses: Jeremiah 17:13 , Jeremiah 17:17 .
8.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
as a tree. Reference to an earlier book (Psalms 1:1-3 ).
river = stream. Hebrew. yubal , from yabal , to flow.
9.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
deceitful = crooked. Referring to the old nature of the natural man. desperately wicked = sick unto death = it [is] sick unto death: i.e. it [is] incurable.
who can know it? Figure of speech Erotesis , for emphasis.
10.
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
I the LORD. Quoted in Romans 8:27 . Revelation 2:23 .
heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the mind, or intellect.
reins. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the thoughts, or affections.
even to give = giving. But some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint reads, "to give", or "that He may give", and Vulgate, "who gives".
man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
ways. Hebrew text reads "way" (singular); but some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Hebrew text margin, read "ways" (plural)
and. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this "and" in the text.
fruit of his doings. Compare Jeremiah 6:19 ; Jeremiah 32:19 .
11.
As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
days = day. But some codices, with one early printed edition, read "days", as Authorized Version. Compare Luke 12:20 .
12.
A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
13.
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
the Hope of Israel. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for Jehovah, in Whom Israel hoped.
14.
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Thou art my praise. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 10:21 ).
15.
Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
Where . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
16.
As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
woeful. Same word as "desperately wicked" (in Jeremiah 17:9 ) = incurable.
right. Omit.
17.
Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
Be not a terror. Compare Jeremiah 1:17 .
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
18.
Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
double. Compare Jeremiah 16:18 , and see note on Isaiah 40:2 .
19.
Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
the gate, &c. Probably the main entrance to the Courts of the Temple. See plan, App-68 .
20.
And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
21.
Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
yourselves = your souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
bear no burden. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:8 ; Exodus 23:12 ; Exodus 31:13 ). Compare Nehemiah 13:15-19 .
22.
Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
as = according as.
23.
But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
obeyed = hearkened.
24.
And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
25.
Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.
horses. Some codices read "their horses".
men. Hebrew. 'Ish .
26.
And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.
the plain. Called Shephelah = Philistia, between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea.
mountains = the central land.
the south = the Negeb. See notes on Genesis 12:9 ; Genesis 13:1 .Deuteronomy 1:7 . Psalms 126:4 .
bringing burnt offerings, &c. Reference to Pentateuch Leviticus 1:1 , Leviticus 1:2 , &c.
meat = meal. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 2:1 ). App-92 .
incense = frankincense.
27.
But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
kindle a fire, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:22 ), App-92 . Compare Jeremiah 21:14 .Lamentations 4:11 .