The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 55

ebo hnd beon Dlllrriod to another. The Jews language to [Jehovah] for new favour and ho.d broken o. still more ea.creel tie, not once abatement of the old sufferings, [but] she only, but repeatedly; they worshipped "gods immediately fell a.gain into her sin, and many and lords many; " so that they had carried it ont with cool determination." no longer nny claim on Jehovah in virtue Ver. 6.-The Lord said also llllto me, etc. of his "covenant" with bis people. Shall It has been suggested (eee on ver. 1) that •he return, etc.? rather, Ought he to return 1 this introductory clause belongs rather to The force of the term is potential (comp. ver. I. Some sort of introduction, however, Authorized Version of Gen.xxxiv. 7, "which seeme co.lled for; Ewald supposes a shorter thing ought not to be done"). Shall not form, ench as " And the Lord said further in the next clause is rather would not. unto me." The view is not improbable, for Yet return e.ga.in to me. So Peshito, Tar- although there is evidently a break between gum, Vulga.te, a.nd the view ma.yseem to be ver. 5 and ver. 6, there are points of contact confirmed by the invitations in vers. 12, 14, enough between vers. 1-5 a.nd the follow- 22. But a.a it is obviously inconsistent with ing discourse to prove that they represent the o.rgument of the verse, and a.s the verb the same prophetic period (comp. ver. 10 ma.y equally well be the infinitive or the im- with ver. 3, vers. 8, 9 with ver. 1, ver. 12 perative, most recent commentators render, with ver. 5, ver. 19 with ver. 4). :Ba.okaliding "And tbinkest thou to return to me?" (liter- Israel; literally, apostacy Lrael. Usually ally, and returning to me! implying tho.t a change or modification of a. name is a. sign the very idea. is inconceivable), Probably of honour; here, however, it marks the dis- Jeremiah wo.s aware that many of the Jews grace of the bearer. Israel is apoeto.cy per- were dissatisfied with the religious condi- sonified (comp. vera. 14, 22). She is gone tion of the nation (comp. ver. 4). up; rather, her wont hath been to go up. Ver. 2.-Lift up thine eyes, etc. No Ver. 7.-And I said after she ha.d done, superficial reformation can be called "re- etc. ; rather, and I said, ..dfter she hath done turning to Jehovah." The prophet, therefore, all these things, she will return unto me. And holds up the mirror to the sinful practices her treaoherous sister. Observe the distinc- which a. sincere repentance must extinguish. tion between the two sisters. Israel J,o.,l The high pls.ces; rather, the bare hills (comp. openly broken the political and religious on eh. ii. 20). In the ways hast thou sat connection with Jehovo.h (Hos. viii. 4); for them. By the roadside (comp. Gen. Judah nominally retained both, but her xxxviii. 14; Prov. vii. 12). As the Arabian heart wa.s towo.rde the false gods (comp. in the wilderness, So early wa.s the reputa- the allegory in Ezek. xxiii., which is evi- tion of the Bedouin already won (comp. dently founded upon our passo.ge). Judg. vi.). Jerome ad lac. remarks, ""Qum Ver. 8.-And I ea.w, when for all the gene latrociniis dedita. usque hodie incursat oauses, etc.; rather, and I sato that even terminos Pa.lmstinm." because apostate Israel had, elc. Bnt this is Ver. 4.-Wilt thou not, etc.? ra.tbor, Truly exceedingly strange in this connection. The from this time thoo calleat unto me (literally, preceding words seem lo compel us either Dost thou not, etc.? a common wa.y of giving (with the Vulgale) to omit "and I so.w" an energetic assurance). The prophet ad- o.ltogether, or (with Ewa.Id) to reud the first mits thea.ppurentreviva.l of faith in Jehovo.b letter of the verb differently, o.nd render which o.ttended the compulsory reformation "and she so.w," tllking up the stntement of under Josiuh, but denies that it was more ver. 7 (" so.w; yea, sho Bllw," etc.). The than apparent (comp, ver. 10). The guide of latter view is favoured by o. phro.se in ver.10 my youth; rather, the Cll'11fpanion ( the familiar (see note below). The some corruption of a.ssooia.te); so in Prov. ii. 17. Comp. oh. ii. 2, the text (which is pa.lmogra.phico.lly o.n and especially Isa.. liv. 6;· "a.nd a. wife of easy one) occurs probo.bly in Ezek. xxiii. youth" ( i.e. married in youth), "that she 13. The error must, however, be o.· very should be rejected [bow incredible a ancient one, for the Septuagint already bus thing I]" «al ,Tliov. Ver. 5.-Will he reserve1 rather, Will he Ver. 9.-Through the lightness of hor retain, etc.? It is a. continuation of the whoredom; i.e. through the slight impor- supposed address ef Juclo.h. To the end 1 tance which ehe attached to hor whoredom. rather, everlastingly? :Behold, thou ha.at So o.ppa.reutly the o.ncient veraions. Tho spoken, etc. ; rather, Behold, thou ha,t only sense, however, which the word kol spoken it, but hast done these evil things, ove1· hne in Hebrew is not " lightneBs," but and hast prevailed (i.e. sucreeded). 'fhe "sound," " voice," and porho.ps "rumour" snbsto.nce of the two verses (4 and 5) is (Gen. xiv. 16). Hence it is more strictly woll given by Ewa.Id: "Unhappily her accuro.to to render " through the cry," etc. power truly to retum hne been exhausted, (comp. Gen. iv. 10; xix. 13), or "through os not long a.go ufter fresh signs of the the fa.me," etc. (o.s Authorized Version, Divine displeo.suro sho proy<'cl in bco.utift1I margin). Ilut neither of lhcs~ seems quitu ,P,;l\EMIAI[, ~  50 THE BOOK OF '.l'HE Pl~Ol'IIKl' JEB,gMIAH. [en. m. 1-:215.