---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 382 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/382/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 382. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/382/"
---

# 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.

## 382. Jeremiah · 6 of 56

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/382/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/382/#p-N

[¶0] 7. lion--Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans ([Jr 2:15]; ; [Da 7:14]).

[¶1] his thicket--lair; Babylon.

[¶2] destroyer of the Gentiles--rather, "the nations" ([Jr 25:9]).

[¶3] 8. Nothing is left to the Jews but to bewail their desperate condition.

[¶4] anger ... not turned back--([Is 9:12], 17, 21).

[¶5] 9. heart--The wisdom of the most leading men will be utterly at a loss to devise means of relief.

[¶6] 10. thou hast ... deceived--God, having even the false prophets in His hands, is here said to do that which for inscrutable purposes He permits them to do ([Ex 9:12]; [2Th 2:11]; compare [Jr 8:15]; which passage shows that the dupes of error were self-prepared for it, and that God's predestination did not destroy their moral freedom as voluntary agents). The false prophets foretold "peace," and the Jews believed them; God overruled this to His purposes ([Jr 5:12]; ; [Eze 14:9]).

[¶7] soul--rather, "reacheth to the life."

[¶8] 11. dry wind--the simoom, terrific and destructive, blowing from the southeast across the sandy deserts east of Palestine. Image of the invading Babylonian army ([Ho 13:15]). Babylon in its turn shall be visited by a similar "destroying wind" ([Jr 51:1]).

[¶9] of ... high places--that is, that sweeps over the high places.

[¶10] daughter--that is, the children of my people.

[¶11] not to fan--a very different wind from those ordinary winds employed for fanning the grain in the open air.

[¶12] 12. full ... from those places--rather, "a wind fuller (that is, more impetuous) than those winds" (which fan the corn) ([Jr 4:11]) [Rosenmuller].

[¶13] unto me--"for Me," as My instrument for executing My purpose.

[¶14] sentence--judgments against them ([Jr 1:16]).

[¶15] 13. clouds--continuing the metaphor in [Jr 4:11]:. Clouds of sand and dust accompany the simoom, and after rapid gyrations ascend like a pillar.

[¶16] eagles--([De 28:49]; [Ha 1:8]).

[¶17] Woe unto us--The people are graphically presented before us, without it being formally so stated, bursting out in these exclamations.

[¶18] 14. Only one means of deliverance is left to the Jews--a thorough repentance.

[¶19] vain thoughts--namely, projects for deliverance, such as enlisting the Egyptians on their side. Gesenius translates, "How long wilt thou harbor vain thoughts?"

[¶20] 15. For ... from Dan--The connection is: There is danger in delay; for the voice of a messenger announces the approach of the Chaldean enemy from Dan, the northern frontier of Palestine ([Jr 8:16]; compare [Jr 4:6]; [Jr 1:14]).

[¶21] Mount Ephraim--which borders closely on Judah; so that the foe is coming nearer and nearer. Dan and Beth-el in Ephraim were the two places where Jeroboam set up the idolatrous calves ([1Ki 12:29]); just retribution.

[¶22] 16. The neighboring foreign "nations" are summoned to witness Jehovah's judgments on His rebel people ([Jr 6:18], ).

[¶23] watchers--that is, besiegers (compare [2Sa 11:16]); observed or watched, that is, besieged.

[¶24] their voice--the war shout.

[¶25] 17. keepers of a field--metaphor from those who watch a field, to frighten away the wild beasts.

[¶26] 18. ([Jr 2:17], 19; [Psa 107:17]).

[¶27] this is thy wickedness--that is, the fruit of thy wickedness.

[¶28] 19. The prophet suddenly assumes the language of the Jewish state personified, lamenting its affliction ([Jr 10:19], ; , ; [Is 15:5]; compare [Lu 19:41]).

[¶29] at my very heart--Hebrew, "at the walls of my heart"; the muscles round the heart. There is a climax, the "bowels," the pericardium, the "heart" itself.

[¶30] maketh ... noise--moaneth [Henderson].

[¶31] alarm--the battle shout.

[¶32] 20. Destruction ... cried--Breach upon breach is announced ([Psa 42:7]; [Eze 7:26]). The war "trumpet" ... the battle shout ... the "destructions" ... the havoc throughout "the whole land" ... the spoiling of the shepherds' "tents" ([Jr 10:20]; or, "tents" means cities, which should be overthrown as easily as tents [Calvin]), form a gradation.

[¶33] 21. Judah in perplexity asks, How long is this state of things to continue?

[¶34] 22. Jehovah's reply; they cannot be otherwise than miserable, since they persevere in sin. The repetition of clauses gives greater force to the sentiment.

[¶35] wise ... evil ... to do good ... no knowledge--reversing the rule ([Ro 16:19]) "wise unto ... good, simple concerning evil."

[¶36] 23. Graphic picture of the utter desolation about to visit Palestine. "I beheld, and lo!" four times solemnly repeated, heightens the awful effect of the scene (compare [Is 24:19]; ).

[¶37] without form and void--reduced to the primeval chaos ([Ge 1:2]).

[¶38] 24. mountains--([Is 5:25]).

[¶39] moved lightly--shook vehemently.

[¶40] 25. no man ... birds--No vestige of the human, or of the feathered creation, is to be seen ([Eze 38:20]; [Zep 1:3]).

[¶41] 26. fruitful place--Hebrew, Carmel.

[¶42] a wilderness--Hebrew, "the wilderness," in contrast to "the fruitful place"; the great desert, where Carmel was, there is now the desert of Arabia [Maurer].

[¶43] cities--in contrast to the fruitful place or field.

[¶44] 27. full end--utter destruction: I will leave some hope of restoration ([Jr 5:10], ; ; ; compare [Le 26:44]).