The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 243

present, not the future, both here and in the Wherefore halh the land perished, ia it next verse. Will walk; rother, goeth about burned up life the wilderness with none that (see eh. vi. 28). passeth tliroogh 1 Ver. 5.-They have taught their tongue, Ver. 13.-'l'here is no o.nswer, for the wise otc. ; ago.in an intimation of the unnatural• men are ashamed (eh. viii. 9); so Jehovah ness (in the higher sense) of vice (comp. himself takes up his speech. My law which ou eh. ii. 33). I set before them; not in reference to the Ver. 6.-Thine habitation, eto. According publication of the Law on Sinai, but, ae to St. Jerome, this is addressed to the Keil rightly points out, to the oral exhibi- prophet; but it is better to follow the tion of the Torah by the prophets. Neither 'fargum, which mo.kes the clause refer to walked therein; viz. in the Law. (On the the Jewish people, 'fhe connection is (as precise contents of the term here rendered Dr. Payne Smith points out)," Trust no one; "Law," see note on eh. Yiii. 8.) for thou dwellest surrounded by deceit on Ver. 14.-Imagination; rather, stubborn- every side." ness (see on eh. iii. 17). :Baa.lim. The Ver. 7.-I will melt them. It is the same Hebrew h11s "the Baalim; " practically word as that used in Mai. iii. 3 of the eq ui ve.len t to " the idol-goda " (see on eh. "refiner and purifier of silver." Purification, ii. 8). Which their fathers taught them. not destruction, is the object of the judg- "Which" refers to both clause~, i.e. to the ment which is threatened! Strange that obstinacy and the Baal-worahip. roorcy should find place, after the offence of Ver.15.-I will feed them, ... with worm• the criminal has been found so grievous I wood. A figure for the bitter privation ■ But, lest we should expeot too fa vournble of captivity (comp. Lam. iii. 15, "He bath an issue, the prophet adds, in the nnme of filled me with bitterness, he bath made me Jehovah, For how shall I do 1 or rather, drunken with wormwoo,l "). Wormwood and How should I act 1 HO'I.D otherwise shollld I gall-i.e. the poppy (Tristro.m)-file oom· act, The continuation is a lit.tle doubtful. bined again in Deut. xxi:x. 17. The Hebrew has," by reason of the daughter Ver. 16.-I will soatter them also, etc. of my people;" but this can hardly be right. (comp. Dent. xxviii. 64; Lev. xxvi. 33). We naturally expeot something to justify I will send a [the) sword after them. Even the preceding statement. The reading of in the land of their captivity they shall the Septuagint answers to our anticipations ho.ve no rest, A epecio.l prophecy to the by rendering cb·b .,,pou,fnrou 'lf'OJ111pla., 8u-ya.Tpb• so.me effect wo.s addressed to the Jewish >.a.ov µau, and this is oonfirined by the fugitives iu Egypt (cb. xliv. 27). In both parallel po.ssage eh, vii. 12 (comp, oh. xi. 17: cases it is tho unbelievers who are referred :uxii. 32). to; the nation as such was, through its Ver. 8.-(Comp. Pe. Iv. 21.) Aaanarrow Divine <"alling, indestructible. shot out; rather, as a sharpened arrOtD; but Vere. 17-22.-A new scene is introduced. this is based on the margino.l reading, To give an idea. of the greatness of the and is itself a slightly foroed rendering. impending blow, a.II the skilled mourners 'l'he Hebrew text (i.e. the oonsono.nts), o.nd are sent for to raise the cry or lilmento.tion. also the Septuo.gint o.nd Vulgate, have" as But no, this i~ not enou~h. So large will a murderous arrow." be the number or the dca.cl tho.t all the Ver. 10.-This and the next six verses women mu~t take their pnrt in the doleful canto.in a description or the sad fate of the office. The description of the mourning sinfullo.nd nnd people. At first the prophet women is as true tu 1nodom o.s to o.ncient spee.ke as if he so.w it all spreo.d out before life in the Eo.st. "And, indeed," so.ye Dr. him. Then, in the charncter of e. surprised Shaw, a thoughtful trnveller and o.n orn11• epeotator, he inquires how this oame to ment of Oxford in tho <lurk eighteenth p11ss, e.nd receivea the Divine answer, that century, "they perform their pu.rte with it is the doom of self-willed rebellion. The such proper soui;ds, gestures, 11nd com- habitations should rather be pal!turea. The motions, that they ro.rcly fail to work up country, once covered with grazing flocka the assembly into some extr11ordinary pitch and herds, is now so utterly wo.ste tha.t even of thoughtfulness and sorrow" (' Travels the birds co.nnot find subsistence. in llo.rbary and the Levnnt,' 2nd edit., p. Ver. 11.-1 will make, etc. Notico how 242; comp. Amos v. 16; Eccles. xii. 5). the utleranoee of the prophets stand side by Ver. 18.-That our eyes may run down, side with those of Jehovah. A truo prophet eto.; ajuetifico.tion of this artificial system. he.a no persona.I views: so that whether hie 'fhe piercing notes of tho hired mourners revelations ure expressed in the one form or are to relieve the sorrow of the afflicted by tho other mnkee no difference, Dragone ; forcing for it a vout. rather, jackals. Ver. 19.-Forsaken; r11ther, left. Our Ver. 12.-For what the land perilheth. dwellings have cast ua out; rather, Uwy -\. closer rendering would be more forcible : have oaat cwwn OUt' dwelling,. JEREMIAII, B  242 THE DOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [oH. 1x. 1-26.