---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 384 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/384/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 384. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/384/"
---

# 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.

## 384. Jeremiah · 8 of 56

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/384/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/384/#p-N

[¶0] 14. ye ... thy ... this people--He turns away from addressing the people to the prophet; implying that He puts them to a distance from Him, and only communicates with them through His prophet ([Jr 5:19]).

[¶1] fire ... wood--Thy denunciations of judgments shall be fulfilled and shall consume them as fire does wood. In [Jr 23:29] it is the penetrating energy of fire which is the point of comparison.

[¶2] 15. ([Jr 1:15]; 6:22). Alluding to [De 28:49], &c.

[¶3] Israel--that is, Judah.

[¶4] mighty--from an Arabic root, "enduring." The fourfold repetition of "nation" heightens the force.

[¶5] ancient--The Chaldeans came originally from the Carduchian and Armenian mountains north of Mesopotamia, whence they immigrated into Babylonia; like all mountaineers, they were brave and hardy (see on [Is 23:13]).

[¶6] language ... knowest not--[Is 36:11] shows that Aramaic was not understood by the "multitude," but only by the educated classes [Maurer]. Henderson refers it to the original language of the Babylonians, which, he thinks, they brought with them from their native hills, akin to the Persic, not to the Aramaic, or any other Semitic tongue, the parent of the modern Kurd.

[¶7] 16. open sepulchre--(Compare [Psa 5:9]). Their quiver is all-devouring, as the grave opened to receive the dead: as many as are the arrows, so many are the deaths.

[¶8] 17. ([Le 26:16]).

[¶9] 18. Not even in those days of judgments, will God utterly exterminate His people.

[¶10] I will not make a full end with you--([Jr 5:10]; [Jr 4:27]).

[¶11] 19. Retribution in kind. As ye have forsaken Me ([Jr 2:13]), so shall ye be forsaken by Me. As ye have served strange (foreign) gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers (foreigners) in a land not yours. Compare the similar retribution in [De 28:47], .

[¶12] 21. eyes ... ears, and--Translate, "and yet" (compare [De 29:4]; [Is 6:9]). Having powers of perception, they did not use them: still they were responsible for the exercise of them.

[¶13] 22. sand--Though made up of particles easily shifting about, I render it sufficient to curb the violence of the sea. Such is your monstrous perversity, that the raging, senseless sea sooner obeys Me, than ye do who profess to be intelligent [Calvin], ([Job 26:10]; , ; [Pr 8:29]; [Re 15:4]).

[¶14] 23. ([Jr 6:28]).

[¶15] 24. rain ... former ... latter--The "former" falls from the middle of October to the beginning of December. The "latter," or spring rain in Palestine, falls before harvest in March and April, and is essential for ripening the crops ([De 11:14]; [Joe 2:23]).

[¶16] weeks of ... harvest--the seven weeks between passover and pentecost, beginning on the sixteenth of Nisan ([De 16:9]). By God's special providence no rain fell in Palestine during the harvest weeks, so that harvest work went on without interruption (see [Ge 8:22]).

[¶17] 25. National guilt had caused the suspension of these national mercies mentioned in [Jr 5:24] (compare [Jr 3:3]).

[¶18] 26. ([Pr 1:11], 17, 18; [Ha 1:15]).

[¶19] as he that setteth snares--rather, "as fowlers crouch" [Maurer].

[¶20] trap--literally, "destruction": the instrument of destruction.

[¶21] catch men--not as Peter, to save ([Lu 5:10]), but to destroy men.

[¶22] 27. full of deceit--full of treasures got by deceit.

[¶23] rich--([Psa 73:12], ).

[¶24] 28. shine--the effect of fatness on the skin ([De 32:15]). They live a life of self-indulgence.

[¶25] overpass ... the wicked--exceed even the Gentiles in wickedness ([Jr 2:33]; [Eze 5:6], ).

[¶26] judge not ... fatherless--([Is 1:23]).

[¶27] yet ... prosper--([Jr 12:1]).

[¶28] 29. ([Jr 5:9]; Mal 3:5).

[¶29] 30. ([Jr 23:14]; [Ho 6:10]).

[¶30] 31. bear rule by their means--literally, "according to their hands," that is, under their guidance ([1Ch 25:3]). As a sample of the priests lending themselves to the deceits of the false prophets, to gain influence over the people, see [Jr 29:24-32].

[¶31] love to have it so--([Mi 2:11]).

[¶32] end thereof--the fatal issue of this sinful course when divine judgments shall come.

### Chapter 6

### Jr 6:1-30. Zion's Foes Prepare War against Her: Her Sins Are the Cause

[¶35] 1. Benjamin--Jerusalem was situated in the tribe of Benjamin, which was here separated from that of Judah by the valley of Hinnom. Though it was inhabited partly by Benjamites, partly by men of Judah, he addresses the former as being his own countrymen.

[¶36] blow ... trumpet ... Tekoa--Tikehu, Tekoa form a play on sounds. The birthplace of Amos.

[¶37] Beth-haccerem--meaning in Hebrew, "vineyard-house." It and Tekoa were a few miles south of Jerusalem. As the enemy came from the north, the inhabitants of the surrounding country would naturally flee southwards. The fire-signal on the hills gave warning of danger approaching.

[¶38] 2. likened--rather, "I lay waste." Literally, "O comely and delicate one, I lay waste the daughter of Zion," that is, "thee." So [Zec 3:9], "before Joshua," that is, "before thee" [Maurer].

[¶39] 3. shepherds--hostile leaders with their armies ([Jr 1:15]; ; 49:20; 50:45).

[¶40] feed--They shall consume each one all that is near him; literally, "his hand," that is, the place which he occupies ([Nu 2:17]; see on [Is 56:5]).

[¶41] 4-5. The invading soldiers encourage one another to the attack on Jerusalem.

[¶42] Prepare--literally, "Sanctify" war, that is, Proclaim it formally with solemn rites; the invasion was solemnly ordered by God (compare [Is 13:3]).

[¶43] at noon--the hottest part of the day when attacks were rarely made ([Jr 15:8]; ). Even at this time they wished to attack, such is their eagerness.

[¶44] Woe unto us--The words of the invaders, mourning the approach of night which would suspend their hostile operations; still, even in spite of the darkness, at night they renew the attack ([Jr 6:5]).