1

Pashur, the governor,

A. M. cir. 3397.
B. C. cir. 607.

OI. XLIII. 2.
Tarquinii Prisci,
R. Roman.,
cir. annum 10.

CHAP. XX.

smites the prophet.

all the host A. M. cir, 3397:

u have poured

11 And shalt say unto them, incense unto
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; of heaven, and "have poured
"Even so will I break this peo- out drink-offerings unto other
ple and this city, as one breaketh gods.
a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole
again and they shall bury them in Tophet,
till there be no place to bury.

Verse 11. Even so will I break this people and this city] The breaking of the bottle was the symbolical representation of the destruction of the city and of the state. That cannot be made whole again] This seems to refer rather to the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, than to what was done by the Chaldeans. Jerusalem was healed after 70 years: but nearly 1800 years have elapsed since Jerusalem was taken and destroyed by the Romans; and it was then so broken, that it could not be made whole again.

B. C. cir. 607.

O1. XLIII. 2. Tarquinii Prisci,

R. Roman., cir. annum 10.

14 Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD's house, and said to all the people,

15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

W

CHAPTER XX.

Jeremiah, on account of his prophesying evil concerning Judah and Jerusalem, is beaten and imprisoned by Pashur, chief governor of the temple, 1, 2. On the following day the prophet is released, who denounces the awful judgments of God which should fall upon the governor and all his house, as well as upon the whole land of Judah, in the approaching Babylonish captivity, 3-6. Jeremiah then bitterly complains of the reproaches continually heaped upon him by his enemies; and, in his haste, resolves to speak no more in the name of Jehovah; but the word of the Lord is in his heart as a burning flame, so that he is not able to förbear, 7-10. The prophet professes his trust in God, whom he praises for his late deliverance, 11-13. The remaining vcrsés, which appear to be out of their place, contain Jeremiah's regret that he was ever born to a life of so much sorrow and trouble, 14-18. This complaint resembles that of Job; only it is milder, and more dolorous. This excites our pity, that our horror. Both are highly poetical, and embellished with every circumstance that can heighten the colouring. But such circumstances are not always to be too literally understood or explained. We must often make allowances for the strong figures of easterri poetry.

A. M.

B. C. 607.

OI. XLIII. 2.
Tarquinii Prisci,
R. Roman.,
cir. annum 10.

4. Cir. 3307 NOW Pashur the son of Im-
mur the priest, who was
also chief governor in the house
of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah
prophesied these things.

3 And it came to pass on the morrow, that 2 Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the

a1 Chronicles, chap. xxiv. 14.

NOTES ON CHAP. XX.
Verse 1. Pashur-chief governor] Pashur was
probably one of the chief priests of the twenty-four
classes.

Verse 2. Put him in the stocks] Probably such a place near the gate as we term the lock-up, the coalhole; or it may mean a sort of dungeon.

Verse 3. The Lord hath not called thy name Pashurj

JEREMIAH.

Then said Jeremiah 8 For since I spake, I cried A. M. cir. 3397.
out, I cried violence and spoil;
because the word of the LORD
was made a reproach unto me,
and a derision, daily.

-Security on all sides. This name thou hast had, but sense here as in Gen. ix. 27: God shall enlarge (pernot by Divine appointment. suade, margin) Japheth; and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem.

Zedekiah wishes to

CHAP. XXI.

inquire of the Lord. A. M. cir. 3398. for the hath delivered the soul | the LORD overthrew, and repent- A. M. cir. 3398. of the poor from the hand of evil ed not: and let him whear the doers.

B. C. cir. 606. Ol. XLIII. 3. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., cir. annum 11.

14" Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein mother my bare me be blessed.

15 Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born. unto thee; making him very glad.

cry in the morning, and the
shouting at noontide;

B. C. cir. 606 OI. XLIII. 3. Tarquinii Prisoi, R. Roman., cir. annum 11.

17 Because he slew me not from the womb or that my mother might have been my grave and her womb to be always great with me. 18 y Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my

16 And let that man be as the cities which days should be consumed with shame ?

Psa. xxxv. 9, 10; cix. 30, 31.- Job iii. 3; chap. xv. 10.

Gen. xix. 25.

W

Chap. xviii. 22.

Job iii. 10, 11. -y Job iii. 20.- .z Lam, iii. 1.

in the strong God, delivered from all his fears, and Transpositions in this prophet are frequent; therefore enabled to go on comfortably with his work.

Verse 13. Sing unto the Lord] He was so completely delivered from all fear, that although he remained in the same circumstances, yet he exults in the Divine protection, and does not fear the face of any adversary. Verse 14. Cursed be the day wherein I was born] If we take these words literally, and suppose them to be in their proper place, they are utterly inconsistent with that state of confidence in which he exulted a few minutes before. If they are the language of Jeremiah, they must have been spoken on a prior occasion, when probably he had given way to a passionate hastiness. They might well comport with the state he was in ver. 9. I really believe these verses have got out of their proper place, which I conjecture to be between the eighth and ninth verses. There they will come in very properly; and might have been a part of his complaint in those moments when he had purposed to flee from God as did Jonah, and prophesy no more in his name.

place these five verses after the eighth, and let the
chapter end with the thirteenth, and the whole will form
a piece of exquisite poetry; where the state of despair,
and the hasty resolutions he had formed while under its
influence, and the state of confidence to which he was
raised by the succouring influence of God, will appear
to be both illustrative of each other, and are touched
with a delicacy and fervour which even a cold heart
must admire. See Job iii. 3, and the notes there. The
two passages are very similar.

Verse 15. A man child is born]
a knabe child.-Old MS. Bible.
English word for man or servant;
Wiclif, Rev. xii. 5.

Borun is to thee This is the old and is so used by

Verse 16. And let him hear the cry] Let him be in continual alarms.

Verse 18. Wherefore came I forth] It would have been well had I never been born, as I have neither com fort in my life, nor comfort in my work.

CHAPTER XXI.

Nebuchadnezzar being come up against Jerusalem, Zedekiah sends Pashur and Zephaniah to the prophet to request him to intercede with God in behalf of his people, 1, 2. But he is declared to be against Jerusalem, and the whole land of Judah; and the only mitigation of their punishment must proceed from their surrendering to the king of Babylon, 3-10. Prophecy concerning the house of the king of Judah, 11, 12. Notwithstanding the amazing fortifications round about Jerusalem, in which the people vainly trust, the Lord will most assuredly visit them for their iniquities; the city shall be taken by the Chaldeans, 13, 14. AMC ir 3415. THE word which came unto chiah, and Zephaniah the son Jeremiah from the LORD, of Maaseiah the priest, saying,

A. M. cir.

OL. XLVII. 4. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman.,

cir. annum 28.

when king Zedekiah sent unto 2 Inquire, I him a Pashur the son of MelChap. xxxviii. 1.2 Kings xxv. 18; chap. xxix. 25; xxxvii. 3. NOTES ON CHAP. XXI.

с

the LORD for us;

pray thee, of
(for Nebuchad-

c Chap. xxxvii. 3, 7.

Verse 1. The word which came unto Jeremiah] The chapters in the remaining parts of this prophecy seem strangely interchanged. This subject has been mentioned in the introduction, and some tables given; and to these the critical reader is requested to refer. The discourse here was delivered about the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah. This chapter, observes Dr. Blayney, contains the first of those prophecies which were delivered by Jeremiah, subsequent to the revolt

of Zedekiah, and the breaking out of the war thereupon; and which are continued on to the taking of Jerusalem, related in chap. xxix., in the following or, der:-ch. xxi., xxxiv., xxxvii., xxxii., xxxiii., xxxviii., xxxix.

Pashur the son of Melchiah] There can be little doubt that this Pashur was a different person from him who was called the son of Immur in the preceding chapter.

Verse 2. Inquire, I pray thee] See whether God

rezzar king of Babylon maketh
war against us; if so be that the
LORD will deal with us according
to all his wondrous works, that
from us.

he may go up

house of Judah.

8 And unto this people thou A. M. cir. 3415. shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before the way of life, and the way of death.

you

B. C. cir. 589. Ol. XLVII. 4. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., eir, annum 28.

9 He that abideth in this city shall die by 3 Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall the sword, and by the famine, and by the ye say to Zedekiah:

4 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against. the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.

d

5 And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. 6 And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.

pestilence but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey. 10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: mit shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall a burn it with fire.

11 And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD; 12 O house of David, thus saith the LORD; • Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

t

s

7 And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, 13 Behold, I am against thee, O inand the people, and such as are left in this habitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, city from the pestilence, from the sword, and saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchad-down against us? or who shall enter into our rezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

habitations?

u

14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and wit shall devour all things round about it.

intends to deliver us into or out of the hand of the in the present instance. This is explained in the next Chaldeans.

Verse 4. I will turn back the weapons] Every attempt you make to repel the Chaldeans shall be unsuccessful.

verse.

Verse 10. He shall burn it with fire.] What a heavy message to all; and especially to them who had any fear of God, or reverence for the temple and its sacred

I will assemble them into the midst of this city.] I services! will deliver the city into their hands.

Verse 6. They shall die of a great pestilence.] The sword may appear to be that of man, though I have given the Chaldeans their commission; but the pestilence shall appear to be the immediate act of GOD.

Verse 12. Execute judgment in the morning] Probably the time for dispensing judgment was the morning, when the people were going to their work; but the words may mean, Do justice promptly, do not delay. Let justice be administered as soon as required.

Verse 13. O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain] Dr. Blayney translates: "O thou inhabitant of the levelled hollow of a rock." With all his explana

Verse 7. Nebuchadrezzar] This name is spelt as above in twenty-six places of this book; and in ten places it is spelt Nebuchadnezzar, which is the common orthography. The difference is only a resh for a nun;tion I cannot see the good sense of this translation. Jebut the MSS. are various on this point. It is the same rusalem itself, though partly on two hills, was also experson who is intended by both names; and here all the tended in the valley; and Zion, the city of David, was Versions, except the Arabic, which omits the name, have properly a rock, strongly fortified both by nature and art; it in the usual form. and by its ancient possessors, the Jebusites, was deemed impregnable.

Verse 8. Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.] Meaning escape or destruction

Who shall come down against us?] Probably the

1

i

The prophet's message

CHAP. XXII.

to the king of Judah. words of those courtiers who had persuaded Zedekiah | to every part of the circumference, and so consume the to rebel against the king of Babylon. whole.

Verse 14. I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof]

The beginning of the thirth-fourth chapter should

I will send destruction into its centre, that shall spread | follow here. See the arrangement on ver. 1

CHAPTER XXII.

This section of prophecy, extending to the end of the eighth verse of the next chapter, is addressed to the king of Judah and his people. It enjoins on them the practice of justice and equity, as they would hope to prosper, 1-4; but threatens them, in case of disobedience, with utter destruction, 5–9. The captivity of Shallum, the son of Josiah, is declared to be irreversible, 10–12; and the miserable and unlamented end of Jeconiah, contemptuously called Coniah, is foretold, 13-19. His family is threatened with the like captivity, and his seed declared to be for ever excluded from the throne, 20-30.

Chap. xvii. 20.- Chap. xxi. 12.- - See ver. 17.

Ch.

b Chap. xxi. 14.- Deut. xxix. 24, 25; 1 Kings ix. 8, 9. xvii. 25. Heb. for David upon his throne.—f Heb. vi. 13, 17. 2 Kings xxii. 17; 2 Chron. xxxiv. 25.- -12 Kings xxii. 20. Isa. xxxvii. 24.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXII.
Verse 1. Go down to the house of the king of Judah,
and speak there this word] This is supposed by Dah-
ler to have been published in the first year of the reign
of Zedekiah.

- Ver. 11.

Verse 7. They shall cut down thy choice cedars] The destruction of the country is expressed under the symbol of the destruction of a fine forest; a multitude of fellers come against it, each with his axe; and, there being no resistance, every tree is soon felled to the

pared, np kiddashti, I have sanctified-consecrated, to this work. They have their commission from me.'

Verse 8. Many nations shall pass] These words seem borrowed from Deut. xxix. 22, &c.

Verse 2. O king of Judah—thou, and thy servants] | earth. "These destroyers," God says, "I have preHis ministers are here addressed, as chiefly governing the nation; and who had counselled Zedekiah to rebel. Verse 6. Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon] Perhaps in allusion, says Dahler, to the oaks of Gilead, and the cedars of Mount Lebanon, of which the palace was constructed. Lebanon was the highest mountain in Israel, and Gilead the richest and most fertile part of the country; and were, therefore, proper emblems of the reigning family. Though thou art the richest and most powerful, I, who raised thee up, can bring thee down and make thee a wilderness.

Verse 10. Weep ye not for the dead] Josiah, dead in consequence of the wound he had received at Megiddo, in a battle with Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt; but he died in peace with God.

But weep sore for him that goeth away] Namely, Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, called below Shallum, whom Pharaoh-necho had carried captive into Egypt,