The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 85

minaf.ion), but is not absolutely necessary, must supply the other term of the nnti- for the present is not the only passage in thesis from the context : "As they ho.ve which Jeremiah, under the influence of sinned against me, so will I also now hold bLrong emotion, charges Jehovah with a court of justioe upon them" (soe on "deceit" (see eh. xx. 7, a synonymous word ah. i. 16). is used; and comp. 1 Kings xxii. 23), nnd Ver. 13.-He shall oome up as olouds, etc. the words, "Ye shall have peace," mny be It is needless to nnme the subject; who can moant to summarize the cheering promises it be but the host of J ehovnh's warlike in- iu eh. iii. 14-1S. Jeremiah may (it is not etrumeu ts ? (For tho first figure, comp. incorrect to conjecture) have supposed the Ezek. xxxviii. 16; for the second, Isa. v. 28; fulfilment of his prophecy to be nearer than lxvi. 15 ; and for the third, Hab. i. 8; Deut. it really was (comp. 1 Pet. i. 11); hence his xxviii. 49.) Woe u.uto us! etc. The cry ,lisappointmctt, and hence his strong lan- of lamentation of the Jews (comp. ver. 20; guage. So St. Jerome, "Quia supra dixe- eh. ix. 18). rat, In illo tempore vocabunt Jerusalem Ver. 14.-Thy vain thoughts. The phrase rnlium Dei, etc., et uunc dicit, Peribit cor specially belongs to sins against one's rcgis, turbatur prophet& et in se Deum putat neighbour-suoh sins a.a are described in csso mentit:nn; nee intelligit, illud multa eh. vii. 5-9 (Keil). "Vain" should rather post tempora repromissum, hoe autem vicino be "wicked" (immoral); the root-meaning futurum temporo." To suppose, with Keil, of the noun is "a breath" (the symbol of that Jeremiah refers the prophecies of the material or moral emptiness). " false prophets" to God as their ultimate Ver. 15.-For a voioe deolareth, etc. Author, seems inconsiotent with Jeremiah's There is no time to lose, for already news own statements in eh. xiv. 14 (comp. eh. v. of the foe has arrived. He is now a.t Dan, 13). Moreover, we hn ve parallels elsewhere in the northern frontier-town, o.nd is heard the prophets, as well as in the Book of Job, of almost as soon in the hill-country of for the use of language with regard to Provi- Ephraim. clence which a calmer judgment would con- Ver. 16.-Me.ke ye mention, eto. This rlcmn. A notable instance is Isa. !xiii 17, verse contains a. call to the neighbouring "·here the Jewish Church, through its nations to take notice of an event which mouthpiece the prophet, throws the respon- nearly concerns them all. True, it is only sibility of its errors upon Jehovah. De- the investment of Jerusalem which can as pressed by melancholy, they give wny for yet be reported, but there can hardly be a the moment to those human " thoughts" doubt of the issue, and the cnpture of the which are not as "My thoughts." They principal fortress will at once be followed by folt the "burden of the mystery." lJnto the that of the other fortified "cities of Judah." coul; i.e. unto the life. Age.inst in the second clause should ro.ther Ver. 11.-Shall it be said to this people; be oonceming. (For the use of "behold " i.e. words like these may be used with before an imperative, comp. Ps. cxxxiv. I.) reference to this people. A dry wind, etc. ; Watohers; i.e. besiegers (comp. ver.17), who literally, a clear wind (but the notions of like the panther lie in wait for every one dryness and heat are closely connected with who comes out of the city, to kill him (eh. tho.t of heat; comp. Isa. xviii. 4). The v. 6 ; comp. eh. vi. 25). prophet doubtless means the east wind, Ver. 17.-As keepers of a field. The which is very violent in Palestine, and, of prophet compares the tents, or perhaps the course, quite unsuitable for the winnowing booths (1 Kings xx. 12, 16), of the besieging process. High pla.ces should rather be bare o.rmy to the booths of the guardinns of the hills. Toward; or (is) the way of. So Hitzig, crops (Isa. i. 8; Job xxvii. 18). ~upposing the conduct of the Jews to be Ver. 18.-This is thy wiokednees; i.e. the likened to a wind which brings no blessing, effect of thy wickedness. (For the following Lut only drought and desolation. words. comp. eh. ii. 19; iv. 10.) Beas.use; Ver. 12.-Even a fnll wind from those rather, truly. places. The passage is obscure, but this is a. Ver. 19.-My bowels. It is doubted Yery possible rendering. "Full," equivalent whether the speaker in vers. 19-21 is the to " violent; " "those (places)," equivalent prophet or the whole nation. Ver. 19 re- to the bare hills spoken of in vcr. 11. Keil minds us of Isa, xv. 5; xvi.11 nnd xxi. 8, 4, and Payne Smith, however, render, "a ful- and would be quite in ho.rmony with the ler wind than those," i.e. a more violent elegiao tone of our prophet elsewhere ; the wind than those which serve for winnowing Targum too already regards the passage ns tho corn; while Hitzig (see on ver. 11) sup- an exclamation of the prophet. On the poses "from those" to menu the persons other hnncl, the phrase" my tents" (ver. 20) described in ver. 11 as "the daughter of my certo.inly implies that the people, or tho people." lJnto me; or perhaps for me, at my pious section of the people, is tho spealccr. beck and call. Now aleo will I, etc. We Both views mny perhaps be united. Tlie ea. Iv. 1-31.] 'l'HE BOOK OF 'J.'Hg PROPHET JEREi\lIAll. IH