his right hand (a most valued jewel), yet Jehoiachln's reign is given with more would-or rather, will-he pluok him thenoe; precise e.oouraoy in 2 Ohronioles thu.n in 2 i.e. depose him from his high dignity. The Kings. It is true that the king's wives are Mme figure is used in Ha.g. ii. 23, "I will mentioned in 2 Kings xxiv. 15. But that take thee, 0 Zerubbabel, and make thee as he had wives may, according to Hitzig, a signet;" and Ezek. xxviii. 12, where there have been inferred by the late compiler of is a well-attested reading," Thou (0 King Kings from the passage before us ; or the of Tyre) art a deftly made signet-ring." "wives" may have been those of Jchoiachin's (For the fulfilment of the prediction in this predecessor (comp. 2 Sam. xvi. 21). Grars ver;;e, see 2 Kings x:idv. 12, 15; eh. xxiv. oonj ecture is, perhaps, the safest view of the 1; xxix. 2.) case, whether we accept the number eighteen Ver. 26.-Cast thee out. The Hebrew is or the number eight; it is that the "seed" stronger-" hurl thee" (comp. Isa. x.xii. 17, 'Bpoken of wu.s born to J ehoiachin in his Hebrew). And thy mother; i.e. the queen- captivity, and is reckoned to him by mother Nehushta (comp. eh. xxix. 2; 2 anticipation. It should be mentioned, how- Kings xxiv. 8). She seems to have been ever, that the Septuagint omits "he and his particularly influential (see introduction to seed" altogether. . eh. xiii.). Ver. 29.-0 earth, earth, earth. The Ver. 28.-Is this man Coniah, etc.? The repetition is for solemnity's sake (comp. ob. prophet's hnma.n feelings a.re stirred; he vii. 4). cannot withhold his sympathy from the sad Ver. 30.-Write ye this ma.n ohildless; fate of his king. What I he exclaims; is it ,.e. enter him in the register of the citizens possible ihat this Coniah is treated as a (comp. Isa. iv. 3) as oue who has no heirs. piece of ill-wrought pottery ware (comp. eh. He may hu.ve children, but none of them xviii. 4), and" hurled" into a strange land? shall succeed to his place in the community. He and his seed. These words have caused This is all thu.t the passage meu.ns ; there is some difficulty, owing to the youth of no discrepancy with history: how should Jehoiachln. According to 2 Kings xxiv. 8 there be, when Jeremiu.h himself has he was only eighteen when he we.s carried mentioned the posterity of Jehoia.ohin (ver. captive, while 2 Chron. mvi. 9 IIlll.kes him 28 and the latter part of this verse)? Yet still younger, only eight (Josiah's age on the Septuagint thought it necessary to his accession). Hitzig thinks the latter avoid the appearance of such a discrepancy number is to be preferred; his chief reasons by rendering, not "childless," but "one a.re the promiuenee given to the queen- proscribed" (<1t1tf,pv1t-ro11). wother, llDd the fact that the length of
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-5.-0ourt preaching. Jeremiah has been preaching in the valley of Hinnom, in the temple courts and in the streets of Jerusalem; now he is called to enter the king's palace with a message from God. The preacher must not wait for his audience to run after him, but he must create it. He must make his work public, not hiding it in modesty, but bringing it to bear on the widest possible field. He must not be content to maintain his unopposed ministry in the Church, but must boldly carry out his mission in the world. Religion is not a concern for religious people alone; people who will not come to church may he supposed to need it more than those who manifest their interest in it by attendance at regular services. If the court is irreligious there is the more need for the prophet to go into its midst. L THE HIGHEST RANK BHOULJ) NOT DE EXEMPT FROM THE MOST FAITHFUL PREAOBING. The Hebrew prophets were remarkable for their clear and bold utterances before kings -often at the peril of their lives (e.g. Amos vii. 10-13). Christ expects his servants to be equally faithful and fearless (Acts ix. 15). When court preachers descend to become court flatterers they arc doing their utmost to ruin their patrons. Kings may not often need to be addressed in the style of John Knox, in his sermons before Mary Queen of Scots; but they certainly should not be treated only to the drawing-room delicacies of Atterbury. The fastidiousness which makes strong words about unplea- sant subjects seem in " bad form" in fashionable congregations is really a sign of sacrificing truth and right to mean pleasantness. Kings are men, and have human failings and sins. Rank confers power for evil as well as for good. '!'he privileges and talents of a high position involve such great responsibilities, that the noglect or abuse cu. x:im.1-30.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 403