---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 380 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/380/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 380. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/380/"
---

# Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

*Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown*

The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation.

## 380. Jeremiah · 4 of 56

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/380/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/380/#p-N

[¶0] forgotten me--([Jr 13:25]; [Ho 8:14]).

[¶1] 33. Why trimmest--Maurer translates, "How skilfully thou dost prepare thy way," &c. But see [2Ki 9:30]. "Trimmest" best suits the image of one decking herself as a harlot.

[¶2] way--course of life.

[¶3] therefore--accordingly. Or else, "nay, thou hast even," &c.

[¶4] also ... wicked ones--even the wicked harlots, that is, (laying aside the metaphor) even the Gentiles who are wicked, thou teachest to be still more so [Grotius].

[¶5] 34. Also--not only art thou polluted with idolatry, but also with the guilt of shedding innocent blood [Maurer]. Rosenmuller not so well translates, "even in thy skirts," &c.; that is, there is no part of thee (not even thy skirts) that is not stained with innocent blood ([Jr 19:4]; [2Ki 21:16]; [Psa 106:38]). See as to innocent blood shed, not as here in honor of idols, but of prophets for having reproved them ([Jr 2:30]; [Jr 26:20-23]).

[¶6] souls--that is, persons.

[¶7] search--I did not need to "search deep" to find proof of thy guilt; for it was "upon all these" thy skirts. Not in deep caverns didst thou perpetrate these atrocities, but openly in the vale of Hinnom and within the precincts of the temple.

[¶8] 35. ([Jr 2:23], 29).

[¶9] 36. gaddest--runnest to and fro, now seeking help from Assyria ([2Ch 28:16-21]), now from Egypt ([Jr 37:7], ; [Is 30:3]).

[¶10] 37. him--Egypt.

[¶11] hands upon ... head--expressive of mourning ([2Sa 13:19]).

[¶12] in them--in those stays in which thou trustest.

### Chapter 3

### Jr 3:1-25. God's Mercy notwithstanding Judah's Vileness

[¶15] Contrary to all precedent in the case of adultery, Jehovah offers a return to Judah, the spiritual adulteress ([Jr 3:1-5]). A new portion of the book, ending with the sixth chapter. Judah worse than Israel; yet both shall be restored in the last days ([Jr 3:6-25]).

[¶16] 1. They say--rather, as Hebrew, "saying," in agreement with "the Lord"; [Jr 2:37] of last chapter [Maurer]. Or, it is equivalent to, "Suppose this case." Some copyist may have omitted, "The word of the Lord came to me," saying.

[¶17] shall he return unto her--will he take her back? It was unlawful to do so ([De 24:1-4]).

[¶18] shall not--Should not the land be polluted if this were done?

[¶19] yet return--([Jr 3:22]; [Jr 4:1]; [Zec 1:3]; compare [Eze 16:51], 58, 60). "Nevertheless," &c. (see on [Is 50:1]).

[¶20] 2. high places--the scene of idolatries which were spiritual adulteries.

[¶21] In ... ways ... sat for them--watching for lovers like a prostitute ([Ge 38:14], ; [Pr 7:12]; ; [Eze 16:24], ), and like an Arab who lies in wait for travellers. The Arabs of the desert, east and south of Palestine, are still notorious as robbers.

[¶22] 3. no latter rain--essential to the crops in Palestine; withheld in judgment ([Le 26:19]; compare [Joe 2:23]).

[¶23] whore's forehead--([Jr 8:12]; [Eze 3:8]).

[¶24] 4. from this time--not referring, as Michaelis thinks, to the reformation begun the year before, that is, the twelfth of Josiah; it means--now at once, now at last.

[¶25] me--contrasted with the "stock" whom they had heretofore called on as "father" ([Jr 2:27]; [Lu 15:18]).

[¶26] thou art--rather, "thou wast."

[¶27] guide of ... youth--that is, husband ([Jr 2:2]; [Pr 2:17]; [Ho 2:7], ). Husband and father are the two most endearing of ties.

[¶28] 5. he--"thou," the second person, had preceded. The change to the third person implies a putting away of God to a greater distance from them; instead of repenting and forsaking their idols, they merely deprecate the continuance of their punishment. [Jr 3:12] and [Psa 103:9], answer their question in the event of their penitence.

[¶29] spoken and--rather (God's reply to them), "Thou hast spoken (thus), and yet (all the while) thou hast done evil," &c.

[¶30] as thou couldest--with all thy might; with incorrigible persistency [Calvin].

[¶31] 6. Jr 3:6-6:30, is a new discourse, delivered in Josiah's reign. It consists of two parts, the former extending to [Jr 4:3], in which he warns Judah from the example of Israel's doom, and yet promises Israel final restoration; the latter a threat of Babylonian invasion; as Nabopolassar founded the Babylonian empire, 625 B.C., the seventeenth of Josiah, this prophecy is perhaps not earlier than that date ([Jr 4:5], &c.; [Jr 5:14], &c.; [Jr 6:1], &c.; [Jr 22:1-30]); and probably not later than the second thorough reformation in the eighteenth year of the same reign.

[¶32] backsliding--literally, "apostasy"; not merely apostate, but apostasy itself, the essence of it ([Jr 3:14], ).

[¶33] 7. I said--([2Ki 17:13]).

[¶34] sister--([Eze 16:46]; , ).

[¶35] 8. I saw that, though (whereas) it was for this very reason (namely), because backsliding (apostate) Israel had committed adultery I had put her away ([2Ki 17:6], ), and given her a bill of divorce, yet Judah, &c. ([Eze 23:11], &c.).

[¶36] bill of divorce--literally, "a writing of cuttings off." The plural implies the completeness of the severance. The use of this metaphor here, as in the former discourse ([Jr 3:1]), implies a close connection between the discourses. The epithets are characteristic; Israel "apostate" (as the Hebrew for "backsliding" is better rendered); Judah, not as yet utterly apostate, but treacherous or faithless.

[¶37] also--herself also, like Israel.

[¶38] 9. it--Some take this verse of Judah, to whom the end of [Jr 3:8] refers. But [Jr 3:10] puts Judah in contrast to Israel in this verse. "Yet for all this," referring to the sad example of Israel; if [Jr 3:9] referred to Judah, "she" would have been written in [Jr 3:10], not "Judah." Translate, "It (the putting away of Israel) had come to pass through ... whoredom; and (that is, for) she (Israel) had defiled the land" &c. [Maurer]. English Version, however, may be explained to refer to Israel.

[¶39] lightness--"infamy." [Ewald]. Maurer not so well takes it from the Hebrew root, "voice," "fame."

[¶40] 10. yet--notwithstanding the lesson given in Israel's case of the fatal results of apostasy.

[¶41] not ... whole heart--The reformation in the eighteenth year of Josiah was not thorough on the part of the people, for at his death they relapsed into idolatry ([2Ch 34:33]; [Ho 7:14]).

[¶42] 11. justified herself--has been made to appear almost just (that is, comparatively innocent) by the surpassing guilt of Judah, who adds hypocrisy and treachery to her sin; and who had the example of Israel to warn her, but in vain (compare [Eze 16:51]; ).

[¶43] more than--in comparison with.

[¶44] 12. Go--not actually; but turn and proclaim towards the north (Media and Assyria, where the ten tribes were located by Tiglath-pileser and Shalmaneser, [2Ki 15:29]; ; , ).