Ver. 1. The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord.] To him it came, but to be imparted to other prophets, say some; priests of Anathoth, say others, (Jeremiah 11:2) which might be the reason why they were so enraged against him, and sought his life, (Jeremiah 11:18,19) as the Popish priests did Mancinel’s, Savonarola’s, and other faithful preachers’, for exciting them to do their duties.
Ver. 2. Hear ye the words—and speak ye.] Ye priests, whose ordinary office it is to teach Jacob God’s judgments, and Israel his law. (Deuteronomy 33:10)
Ver. 3. And say thou unto them.] Thou, Jeremiah, whether the rest will join with thee or not. Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant.] It is probable that Jeremiah, when he said thus, held the book in his hand, viz., the book of Deuteronomy, which the Rabbis call Sepher Tochechoth, because of the many increpations and curses therein contained.
Ver. 4. From the iron furnace.] Where iron is melted, and a fierce fire required. Obey my voice.] See Jeremiah 7:23.
Ver. 5. A land flowing with milk and honey.] With plenty of dainties. The city of Aleppo is so called by the Turks, of alep, milk; for if the via lactea milky way, it would be found there, saith one. So be it, O Lord.] Amen, fiat, fiat. Oh that there were a heart in this people to obey thy voice! and oh that thou wouldst still continue them in this good land! &c. Our hearts should be stretched out after our amen, and we should be swallowed up in God, say the Rabbis.
Ver. 6. Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.] Else ye hear to no purpose; as the salamander liveth in the fire, and is not made hot by the fire; as the Ethiopian goeth black into the bath, and as black he cometh forth.
Ver. 7. Rising early,] i.e., Endeavouring earnestly. See Jeremiah 5:8.
Ver. 8. Yet they obeyed not.] See Jeremiah 7:24. Therefore I will bring.] Heb., And I brought upon them.
Ver. 9. A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah.] A combination in sinful courses, this is not unity but conspiracy. See Ezekiel 22:25 Ho 6:9. Such is the unity of the Antichristian crew. (Revelation 17:13) The Turks have as little dissension in their religion as any, yet are a rabble of rebels conspiring against Heaven.
Ver. 10. They are turned away to the iniquities of their forefathers.] Showing themselves herein to be a race of rebels, as good at resisting the Holy Ghost as ever their fathers were, and are therefore justly chargeable with their iniquities, which needeth not.
Ver. 11. Which they shall not be able to escape.] To avert, avoid, or abide. I will not hearken unto them.] See Proverbs 1:28 Zec 7:13 [See Trapp on “Pr 1:28”] [See Trapp on “Zec 7:13”]
Ver. 12. Then shall the cities of Judah…go and cry unto the gods.] Or, Let them go and cry unto them— q.d., let them for me. This is one of those bitter answers that God giveth to wicked suitors. (Ezekiel 14:3-5 Judges 10:14) Or, if he give them better at any time, it is in wrath, and for a mischief to them.
Ver. 13. For according to the number of thy cities.] See Jeremiah 2:28. And according to the number of thy streets.] See Ezekiel 16:31.
Ver. 14. Therefore pray not thou for this people.] See on Jeremiah 7:16. When they cry unto me for their trouble.] It is not the cry of the spirit for grace, but of the flesh only for ease; it is but the fruit of sinful self-love. In thee indeed it proceedeth from a better principle, but I am at a point.
Ver. 15. What hath my beloved to do in mine house?] i.e., Mine once beloved people, which had the liberty of mine house, and was welcome thither, but is now discarded and discovenanted, as if a husband should say to his adulterous wife, What maketh this strumpet in my bed, since she hath so many paramours? And the holy flesh.] The sacrifice sanctified by the altar. Is passed from thee.] Shall be wholly taken away from you, together with the temple. When thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.] Thou revellest in thine impurities and sensualities, as dreading no danger, but slighting all admonition. Vatab.
Ver. 16. The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree.] Green all the year long, fair and fruitful; this was thy prosperous and flourishing condition, but now thy best days are over; for, With the noise of a great tumult.] Barritu militari; the battle cry of soldiers, such as soldiers make when they storm a city.
Ver. 17. For the evil of the house of Israel.] That “evil” by a specialty, that land desolating sin of idolatry.
Ver. 18. And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it,] i.e., Of the treacherous plot of my countrymen of Anathoth against me, who should never have dreamt of any such danger; Deus pro suis excubat. God keeps watch for his own.
Ver. 19. But I was like a lamb or an ox.] Harmless and blameless, busied in my function, and not in the least suspecting any such evil design against me. “I send you forth as lambs among wolves,” saith Christ, (Matthew 10:16) who, himself being the Lamb of God, was slain from the beginning of the world; his servants also are slain all the day long, and counted as sheep to the slaughter. (Romans 8:36) Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof.] Let us poison his food, so the Chaldee senseth it, Ponamus tignum taxi in sorbitiunculam. Others, Let us destroy the prophet and his prophecies together: others, Let us make an end of him either by sword or by famine, as the punishment threatened (Jeremiah 11:22) pointeth us to. That his name may be no more remembered.] Sic veritas odium peperit. So the Papists have given order that wheresoever Calvin’s name is found, it shall be blotted out; and by a most malicious anagram they have turned Calvin into Lucian. One of them recently took a long journey to Rome only to have his name changed from Calvin to some other, and that out of devilish hatred of that most learned and holy man, “ Ipsa a quo virtus virtutem discere posset. ”
Ver. 20. But, O Lord of hosts.] Thou who art potentissimus et liberrimus, a most powerful and free agent. That triest the reins and the heart.] And so knowest with what mind I make this complaint and request. Let me see thy vengeance upon them.] A prophetic imprecation guided by God’s Spirit, and not lightly to be imitated. So the Church prayed against Julian the apostate, whom they knew to be a desperate enemy, and to have committed that sin unto death. So perhaps had these men of Anathoth.
Ver. 21. Of the men of Anathoth that seek thy life.] Where shall a man find worse friends than at home? A prophet is nowhere so little set by as in his own country. (Matthew 13:57) Probatissimuset optimus quisque peregre vivit, saith Ennius, in Cicero. Saying, Prophesy not in the name of the Lord.] A desperate speech, proceeding from a height of hatred, and coasting upon the unpardonable sin. Epist. Famil., lib. vii. cap. 6.
Ver. 22. Behold, I will punish them.] Sic tandem bona causa triumphat. The visible vengeance of God followeth close at the heels of the persecutors of his faithful messengers.
Ver. 23. And there shall be no remnant.] Behold the severity of God: their bloody design was to destroy Jeremiah’s stock and fruit, stalk and grain together. (Jeremiah 11:19) God meteth unto them the self-same measure, leaveth them not a remnant. This is not ordinary justice. (Jeremiah 4:27 Isaiah 1:9 10:20-22) A remnant shall be left, saith he; here not so. Let Rome, that shambles of the saints and prophets, especially look to it; God is now coming to make inquisition for blood, &c.