1.
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jeremiah's Fourth Prophecy (see Book comments for Jeremiah).
Moreover. Jeremiah 2 is the first chapter of the roll which was re-written after being burned (Jeremiah 36 ), while Jeremiah 11 is the first of the "many like words" (Jeremiah 36:32 ) added afterwards.
word. See note on Jeremiah 1:1 , Jeremiah 1:4
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
2.
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
Go and cry. Jeremiah continued to retain his connection with Anathoth (Jeremiah 11:21 ; Jeremiah 29:27 ; Jeremiah 32:7 ; Jeremiah 37:12 ), though his mission was to Jerusalem.
saith the LORD. See note on Jeremiah 1:8 .
I remember thee. The expression is used in good part Psalms 98:3 ; Psalms 106:45 ; Psalms 132:1 .Nehemiah 5:19 ; Nehemiah 13:14 , Nehemiah 13:22 , Nehemiah 13:31 ; but in evil part Psalms 79:8 ; Psalms 137:7 . Nehemiah 6:14 ; Nehemiah 13:29 . Probably both senses here: the good on Jehovah's part (Jeremiah 2:3 .Hosea 11:1 ; Hosea 2:19 , Hosea 2:20 . Amos 2:10 ); and the evil on Israel's part, for even in the wilderness Israel was unfaithful (Amos 5:25 , Amos 5:26 . Acts 7:39-43 ).
youth. Compare Ezekiel 16:8 .
when. Compare Jeremiah 2:6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 2:7 ; Deuteronomy 8:2 , Deuteronomy 8:15 , Deuteronomy 8:16 ). Compare Nehemiah 9:12-21 .Isaiah 63:7-14 .
3.
Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
holiness unto the LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:6 ).
the firstfruits, &c, which were consecrated. Ref to Pentateuch (Exodus 23:19 . Deuteronomy 18:4 ; Deuteronomy 26:10 ). App-92 .
devour = devoured.
offend = be held guilty. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 4:13 , Leviticus 4:22 , Leviticus 4:27 ; Leviticus 5:2 , Leviticus 5:3 , Leviticus 5:4 , Leviticus 5:5 , Leviticus 5:17 , Leviticus 5:19 ; Leviticus 6:4 .Numbers 5:6 , Numbers 5:7 ). App-92 .
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a', App-44 . See note on Isaiah 45:7 .
4.
Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
house of Jacob. Occurs only here, and Jeremiah 5:20 , where it is "in the house of Jacob". The only other passage is Amos 3:13 .
the house of Israel. The Massorah ( App-30 ), records that this expression occurs twenty times in Jeremiah (here; Jeremiah 2:26 ; Jeremiah 3:18 , Jeremiah 3:20 ; Jeremiah 5:11 , Jeremiah 5:15 ; Jeremiah 9:26 ; Jeremiah 10:1 ; Jeremiah 11:10 , Jeremiah 11:17 ; Jeremiah 13:11 ; Jeremiah 18:6 , Jeremiah 18:6 ; Jeremiah 23:8 ; Jeremiah 31:27 , Jeremiah 31:31 , Jeremiah 31:33 ; Jeremiah 33:14 , Jeremiah 33:17 ; Jeremiah 48:13 ).
5.
Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
What iniquity. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:4 ). App-92 .
iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 .
fathers. Not merely recently, but of old (Jeremiah 2:7 . Judges 2:10 , &c).
vanity = the vanity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Ad-junct), for vain things: i.e. idols. Compare Jeremiah 10:3-10 , Jeremiah 10:15 ; Jeremiah 14:22 ; Jeremiah 16:19 , Jeremiah 16:20 . Deuteronomy 32:21 . Act 14:15 . 1 Corinthians 8:4 .
become vain? Compare 2 Kings 17:15 . Idolaters always become like the gods they worship. Compare Psalms 115:8 ; Psalms 135:18 .
6.
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
brought us up. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 13:27 ; Numbers 14:7 , Numbers 14:8 . Deuteronomy 6:10 , Deuteronomy 6:11 , Deuteronomy 6:18 ).
led us. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 8:14-16 ; Deuteronomy 32:10 ).
shadow of death = deep darkness.
7.
And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
a plentiful country = a country of garden land. Hebrew the land of a Carmel. Compare Isaiah 33:9 ; Isaiah 35:2 .
8.
The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
they that handle the law. The law therefore well known, and the priests known as the custodians of it. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:11 .Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 ).
pastors = shepherds. Used of kings and other leaders of the People. Compare Jeremiah 17:16 ; Jeremiah 23:1-8 .
transgressed = revolted. Hebrew. pasha' . App-44 .
do not profit. Figure of speech Tapeinosis , for emphasis = lead to ruin.
9.
Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
plead = argue, contend.
children's children = sons' sons.
10.
For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
isles = coastlands, or maritime countries.
Chittim. See note on Numbers 24:24 .
Kedar. In Arabia. Two names used to represent west and east outlanders.
11.
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
their glory = His glory. This is one of the emendations of the Sopherim ( App-33 ), by which the Hebrew kebodi ("My glory") was changed to kebodo ("His glory"), out of a mistaken idea of reverence.
12.
Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
Be astonished. Figure of speech Apostrophe .
very desolate = dried up, or, devoid of clouds and vapours.
13.
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
fountain = a well dug out, but having living water.
cisterns = a hewn cistern, holding only what it receives.
can hold no water = cannot hold the waters.
14.
Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
servant? . . . slave? They were treated as such by Assyria, and afterward by Egypt.
spoiled = become a spoil.
15.
The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16.
Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
Noph = Memphis, the capital of Lower Egypt, south of Cairo. Compare Jeremiah 41:1 .Isaiah 19:13 .
Tahapanes. The Greek Daphnae, on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. Compare Jeremiah 43:7 , Jeremiah 43:11 .
17.
Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
He led thee. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:12 ).
18.
And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
the way of Egypt. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 17:16 ).
Sihor: i.e. the Nile.
the river: i.e. the Euphrates.
19.
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
is not in thee = should not have pertained to thee.
20.
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
I will not transgress. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:8 ).
transgress. Hebrew. 'abar. A Homonym. Here = serve; else where = transgress. Not the same word as in verses: Jer 8:29 .
high hill . . . green tree. The places where the Asherah was worshipped. App-42 .
21.
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
noble vine = choice, or precious vine.
strange = foreign.
22.
For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
nitre: i.e. a mineral alkali. In Palestine a compound of soap.
sope = soap.
marked = graven.
23.
How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
I have not gone. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one in margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read, "and I have not gone", &c.
Baalim = lords. Used here for false gods generally, including Moloch. Compare Jeremiah 7:31 ; Jeremiah 19:5 ; where Moloch is called Baal.
traversing = entangling.
24.
A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
her pleasure = her soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
25.
Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
26.
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
their kings. Showing that Judah was still in the Land, but in Jehoiakim's reign.
their princes. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "and their princes", perfecting the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , emphasizing all classes.
27.
Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
stone. Here feminine, to agree with mother.
28.
But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
where . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:37 , Deuteronomy 32:38 ). App-92 .
for, &c. Figure of speech Epitrope.
Judah. Compare Jeremiah 11:13 .
29.
Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
30.
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
devoured your prophets. See 1 Kings 18:4 , 1 Kings 18:13 ; 2Ki 21:16 . 2 Chronicles 24:21 . Compare Matthew 23:37 . Luke 11:47 . Acts 7:51 , Acts 7:52 .
31.
O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
generation. Once a chosen generation (Psalms 22:30 ; Psalms 24:6 ; Psalms 112:2 .Isaiah 53:8; Isaiah 53:8 ); now a perverse generation (Jeremiah 7:29 . Deuteronomy 32:5 .Psalms 78:8; Psalms 78:8 ). Compare Matthew 3:7 ; Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 12:34 , Matthew 12:39 , Matthew 12:41-45 ; Matthew 16:4 ; Matthew 17:17 .
a land of darkness: or, Is the land the darkness of Jah?
32.
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33.
Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
love. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the object loved. Compare Jeremiah 2:23 .
ones. Here "wicked" is Feminine = wicked women.
34.
Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
blood. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject), for the guilt of bloodshedding.
souls . Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
poor = helpless. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
it: i.e. the guilt (of bloodshedding) on the "poor innocents".
these: i.e. these [thy skirts] which evidence it. Note the Figure of speech Ellipsis , in this verse. Compare Jeremiah 22:17 .
35.
Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
plead = enter into judgment with.
sinned. Hebrew. chata . App-44 .
36.
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
as = according as.
37.
Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
thine hands upon thine head. The Eastern custom of expressing grief. Compare 2 Samuel 13:19 .