the nnlion thnt Lave not henrkenecl," etc. the "high places" (Hebrew f,rimolh)-here 'l'rnth; rnthcr, good faith (ns eh. v. 1). Is probnbly artificial mounds to erect lhc :tltars cut off from their month; i.e. their oaths to upon, and on "the Topheth," sec C0 m. Jehornh are false oaths (eh. v. 2). men tary on 1 Kings). In the valley of tr. e Vera. 2!J-34.-Tophct, tho greatest of son of Hinnom. Hilzig anrl others woul.l all abominations; tho beginning of the take Hinnom as a noun meaning "gronn- Divine retribution. ing" (Rashi, the great Jewish commentator. Ver. 29. - Cut off thine hair. The had alrea<ly proposed this view), which is "daughter of Zion," i.e. the community of at first sight very plausible. But this name Jerusalem, is addressed; this appears from of the valley is already found in the descrip- the verb being in the feminine. It is o. tion of the boundaries of Judah and Benja- choice expression which the prophet em- min in Josh. xv. 8; xviii. 16. To burn their ploys-litero.Ily, shear off thy crown (i.e. sons, etc. (On the worship of l\Ioloch thy chief ornament). The e.ct was to be o. (Saturn), see on Lev. xviii. 21, and comp. eign of mourning (see Job i. 20; Micah i. Ezek. xvi. 20, 21, from which it appears that 16). Some think there ie aleo o. reference the children were first slain before being to the vow of the Nazarite (the word for "caused to pass through the fire.") "crown" being here ne'zer, which is also Ver. 32.-The valley of slaughter; with the word rendered in Authorized Version, reference to the great slaughter reserve<l " separation," i.e. " consecration," in the for the unbelieving Jews. The scene of Jaw of the Nazarite (Numb. vi.). But their sin shall be that of their punishment. neither in this context nor anywhere else Till there be no plaoe; rather, for ioant of have wo any support for the application of room (elsewhere). the term "Nazarite" to the people of Israel. Ver. 83.-A.nd the oarce.ses, etc.; almost On high plaoes; rather, on (the) bare hills verbally identical with Dent. xxviii. 26. (see on eh. iii. 21). The generation of his Ver. 34.-The land shall be desolate; wrath; i.e. on which hie wrath is to be rather, shall become a ioaste. The curse poured out (comp. Isa. x. 6). denounced upon the disobedient people in Ver. 30.-They have set their abominations, Lev. xxvi. 31, 33 (for another parallel etc.; alluding, doubtless, to the alto.re which between this chapter o.nd Lev. xxvi., see Mo.no.sseh built "for o.11 the host of heaven ver. 23). In both passages the word for in the two courts of the house of Jehovah," "waste" is 1,hoTbali, which, as Dr. Payno and especially to the imnge of the Co.- Smith remarks, is " used only of places no.onitish goddess Asherah, which he set which, having once been inhabited, havo up in the temple itself (2 Kings xxi. 5, 7). then fallen into ruin." Hebrew is rich in Ver. 81.-The high plaoes of Tophet; synonyms for the ideo. of" desolation." rather, the high places of th8 Topheth-(on
HOMILETICS. V<1rs. 1-7.-Preaching repentance. I. THE OCCASION, It was in the gate of the temple, where the crowd of worshippers would pass, and at the time of their going up to worship. 1. In a public place, (1) tho.t men might not have to seek the preacher, but rather ho sought by him; nnd (2) that all might hear, for truth, warnings ofjudgmcnt, nud gospels of deliverance are for all. 2. At the entrance to the place of worship, because (I) worship should be associated with instruction; (2) many people who observe religious ordinances need to be convinced of their sin and urged to repentance 11s much as the "publicans and sinners;" and (3) we must repent of sin before we can be accepted by God; so Jeremiah was to prench to the people as they went in to the temple, not as they co.me out. II. THE ACCUSATION. The Jews are not accused of O!,urch sins, neglecting religious ordiu::mces, etc. Their sins wero against common momlity. 1. '!'hough men ma.y be very observant of religious ordinances they may yet bo guilty of the gross,,st wicked- ness (ver. 6). 2. God is most concerned with our conduct in daily life. Here is tho true life, the life which occupies the larger part of our time, engages most of our energies, gives freest scope for good or evil. III. 'l'HE EXHORTATION. Practical amendment is sought. 1. There must be an amending. Repentance is not merely sorrow for the past; it is a change of desire and effort for the future. 2. This must be practical. 'l'he Jews aro to amend their" ways." 'l'rue repentance is more a matter of conduct than of emotion. It must bring forth fruits (Matt. iii. 8). 3. This must bo definite. Particular sins are specified as to be 188 'IIlE BOOK OF 'l'IIE l'ROPRE'l' JEREMIAII. [ea. vu. 1-31.