The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 30

EXPOSITION. OHAPTER n. developing and adapting the truths long ago "delivered." The whole group of The second chn.pter forms the introduction prophecies to which oh. ii. belongs contains of a group of discourses (eh. ii.-vi.), which numerous points of contact, in ideas or should be read togethe'l'. It is called by phraseology, wiLh 'the song of Moses (Deut. Ewald (and the position of the prophecy xxxii.). The following have been indi- favours this new) the first oracle which cated :-Cf. ver. 5 with Deut. xxxii. 4; J eremin.h delivered iu public (''oracle" is, vers. 11, 12 with Deut. xxxii. 1, 21 ; ver. 20 in fact, the nen.rest English equivalent to with Deut. xxxii. 15; vers. 26-28 with those two remn.rkable Hebrew synonyms, Deut. xxxii. 6, 18, 37, as:; ver. 31 with massii and ncum-cspecially for the latter). Deut. xxxii. 5 ;, eh. iii. 19 with Deut. xxxii. This would bring it into the thirteenth 6; eh. iv. 22 'and v. 21 with Deut. xxxii. 6; year of the reign of Josiah ( seo c.h. i. 3), eh. v. 7 with Deut. xxxii. 15; eh. v. 14 wi.th though of oourse we cannot be sure Deut. xxxii. 22; eh. v. 28 with Deut. xxxii. that references to e. later period may not 15; eh. vi. 11 with Deut.. xxxii 25; eh. vi. have been inserted afterwards. It is, 15 with Deut. xxxii. 35; eh. vi. 19, 30 with obviously, only a summary of the prophet's Deut, xxxii. 18, 19. spoken words which we have in this most Ver. !.-Moreover; literally, and. The impressive discourse. In ,order to appreciate introductory .formu]Q. agrees with eh. i. 4. it, we must bear in mind the external Wo have e.s it were two parallel prophecies politica.l relations e.nd the internal religious (eh. i. 4, etc., and eh .. ii. 1, etc.); both condition of the kingdom of Judah. These branching out of the original chronological statement in eh. i. 2 (see Introduction). ho.ve been already touched upon in the Ver. 2.-In the ears of Jerusalem. Pre- general introduction. Suffice it to remind sumably J ereminh he.d received his call e.t the reader that Josiah's reformation-in the Ane.thoth (comp. eh. i. 1): I remember thee, strict sense of the word-did not begin till etc. ; rat!Jer, I remember for thy good the the eighteenth year of that king's reign; kindness of thy youth. It is an open ques- tion whether the II kindness" spoken of is and that the state of things we.s e.t this the.t of God towards the people, or of the time complicated by e. dangerous alliance people towards God. The usage of the with that power age.inst whose religion the Hebrew (kMsed) admits of either e.ccepta- teaching of the prophets of Jehovah we.a e. tion; comp. for the first, Ps. v. 7, xxxvi. 5, continual protest (on the Egyptian nllie.nce, and many other pe.ese.ges; for the second, Hos. vi. 4, 6 (in ver. 6 rendering for comp. Ewald, 'History of Israel,' iv. 218). '' meroy," "goodness") e.nd Isa. lvii. 1 The first section of the prophecy is e. (rendering II men of piety"). But the con- genera.I introduction, already full of serious text, which dwells so strongly on the charges age.inst the people (vers. 1-9); in oblivion into which the Divine benefits he.d the second, the special occasion of the dis- been allowed to pass, is decidedly in fo.vour of the first view. How beautiful is this course is declared in t!Je form of a question, condescending language I Jehove.h's past and the sin referred to is rebuked (vers. feelings come back . to him ; at least, so it J0-19); in the third, Judah's inveterate appears to the believer, when God lets the idolatry is denounced, and the disappoint- light of his counteno.nce shine forth age.in 1110nt and ruin to which it led candidly (comp. eh. x;s:xi. 20; Hos. ix. 10). He even condescends to overlook the weakness and pointed ont(vere. 20-28); e.nd in the fourth, inconsistency of the Israel of antiquity. " Lalf in earnest and half in ironical satire" He idealizes it (i.e. Jeremiah is permitted (Ewald), the prophet points the moral of to do so). This is in ho.rmony with other this foolish Egyptian fever which he.s seized prophetic pe.sso.ges (see lee.. i. 26 (" as at the upon rulers and people (vers. 29-37). first"); Hos. xi. I, 3, 4; Ezek. xvi. 6-14). It is always interesting to notice how The figure of the bride recurs constantly (see Hos. ii. 19, 20; Isa. !iv, 4, 5; Ezek. xvi. 8). later inspired writers hasten to do honour Thine espoUBals; rather, thy bridal state. to their predecessors. Originality is not When thon wentest after me (comp. Deut. an objeot with the prophets, but re.ther the viii. 2, "all the way whioh Jehovah thy JB, n. 1-37.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMlAH. 23