--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 400 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/400/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 400. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/400/" --- # 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. ## 400. Jeremiah · 24 of 56 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/400/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/400/#p-N [¶0] in this place--The valley of Hinnom was to be the place of the Chaldean encampment; the very place where they looked for help from idols was to be the scene of their own slaughter. [¶1] 8. (See on [Jr 18:16]). [¶2] 9. ([De 28:53]; [La 4:10]). [¶3] 10. break ... bottle--a symbolical action, explained in [Jr 19:11]. [¶4] the men--the elders of the people and of the priests ([Jr 19:1]; compare [Jr 51:63], ). [¶5] 11. as one breaketh a potter's vessel--expressing God's absolute sovereignty ([Jr 18:6]; [Psa 2:9]; [Is 30:14], Margin; [La 4:2]; [Ro 9:20], ). [¶6] cannot be made whole again--A broken potter's vessel cannot be restored, but a new one may be made of the same material. So God raised a new Jewish seed, not identical with the destroyed rebels, but by substituting another generation in their stead [Grotius]. [¶7] no place to bury--([Jr 7:32]). [¶8] 12. make this city as Tophet--that is, as defiled with dead bodies as Tophet. [¶9] 13. shall be defiled--with dead bodies ([Jr 19:12]; [2Ki 23:10]). [¶10] because of all the houses--Rather, (explanatory of the previous "the houses ... and ... houses"), "even all the houses," &c. [Calvin]. [¶11] roofs--being flat, they were used as high places for sacrifices to the sun and planets ([Jr 32:29]; [2Ki 23:11], ; [Zep 1:5]). The Nabateans, south and east of the Dead Sea, a nation most friendly to the Jews, according to Strabo, had the same usage. [¶12] 14. court of the Lord's house--near Tophet; the largest court, under the open air, where was the greatest crowd ([2Ch 20:5]). [¶13] 15. her towns--the suburban villages and towns near Jerusalem, such as Bethany. ### Chapter 20 ### Jr 20:1-18. Jeremiah's Incarceration by Pashur, the Principal Officer of the Temple, for Prophesying within Its Precincts; His Renewed Predictions against the City, &c., ON His Liberation [¶16] 1. son--descendant. [¶17] of Immer--one of the original "governors of the sanctuary and of the house of God," twenty-four in all, that is, sixteen of the sons of Eleazar and eight of the sons of Ithamar ([1Ch 24:14]). This Pashur is distinct from Pashur, son of Melchiah ([Jr 21:1]). The "captains" ([Lu 22:4]) seem to have been over the twenty-four guards of the temple, and had only the right of apprehending any who were guilty of delinquency within it; but the Sanhedrim had the judicial power over such delinquents [Grotius] ([Jr 26:8], [10, 16]). [¶18] 2. The fact that Pashur was of the same order and of the same family as Jeremiah aggravates the indignity of the blow ([1Ki 22:24]; [Mt 26:67]). [¶19] stocks--an instrument of torture with five holes, in which the neck, two hands, and two feet were thrust, the body being kept in a crooked posture ([Jr 29:26]). From a Hebrew root, to "turn," or "rack." This marks Pashur's cruelty. [¶20] high--that is, the upper gate ([2Ki 15:35]). [¶21] gate of Benjamin--a gate in the temple wall, corresponding to the gate of Benjamin, properly so called, in the city wall, in the direction of the territory of Benjamin ([Jr 7:2]; ; ). The temple gate of Benjamin, being on a lofty position, was called "the high gate," to distinguish it from the city wall gate of Benjamin. [¶22] 3. Pashur--compounded of two roots, meaning "largeness (and so 'security') on every side"; in antithesis to Magor-missabib, "terror round about" ([Jr 20:10]; [Jr 6:25]; ; ; [Psa 31:13]). [¶23] 4. terror ... to all thy friends--who have believed thy false promises ([Jr 20:6]). The sense must be in order to accord with "fear round about" ([Jr 20:3]). I will bring terror on thee and on all thy friends, that terror arising from thyself, namely, thy false prophecies. Thou and thy prophecies will be seen, to the dismay both of thee and thy dupes, to have caused their ruin and thine. Maurer's translation is therefore not needed, "I will give up thee and all thy friends to terror." [¶24] 5. strength--that is, resources. [¶25] labours--fruits of labor, gain, wealth. [¶26] 6. prophesied lies--namely, that God cannot possibly leave this land without prophets, priests, and teachers ("the wise") ([Jr 18:18]; compare [Jr 5:31]). [¶27] 7. Jeremiah's complaint, not unlike that of Job, breathing somewhat of human infirmity in consequence of his imprisonment. Thou didst promise never to give me up to the will of mine enemies, and yet Thou hast done so. But Jeremiah misunderstood God's promise, which was not that he should have nothing to suffer, but that God would deliver him out of sufferings ([Jr 1:19]). [¶28] deceived--Others translate as Margin, "Thou hast enticed" or "persuaded me," namely, to undertake the prophetic office, "and I was persuaded," that is, suffered myself to be persuaded to undertake what I find too hard for me. So the Hebrew word is used in a good sense ([Ge 9:27], Margin; [Pr 25:15]; [Ho 2:14]). [¶29] stronger than I--Thou whose strength I could not resist hast laid this burden on me, and hast prevailed (hast made me prophesy, in spite of my reluctance) ([Jr 1:5-7]); yet, when I exercise my office, I am treated with derision ([La 3:14]). [¶30] 8. Rather, "Whenever I speak, I cry out. Concerning violence and spoil, I (am compelled to) cry out," that is, complain [Maurer]. English Version in the last clause is more graphic, "I cried violence and spoil" ([Jr 6:7])! I could not speak in a calm tone; their desperate wickedness compelled me to "cry out." [¶31] because--rather, "therefore," the apodosis of the previous sentence; because in discharging my prophetic functions, I not merely spake, but cried; and cried, violence ... ; therefore the word of the Lord was made a reproach to me ([Jr 20:7]). [¶32] 9. his word was--or literally, "there was in my heart, as it were, a burning fire," that is, the divine afflatus or impulse to speak was as ... ([Job 32:18], ; [Psa 39:3]). [¶33] weary with forbearing, and I could not--"I labored to contain myself, but I could not" ([Ac 18:5]; compare [Jr 23:9]; [1Co 9:16], ). [¶34] 10. For--not referring to the words immediately preceding, but to "I will not make mention of Him." The "defaming" or detraction of the enemy on every side (see [Psa 31:13]) tempted him to think of prophesying no more. [¶35] Report ... we will report--The words of his adversaries one to the other; give any information against him (true or false) which will give color for accusing him; and "we will report it," namely, to the Sanhedrim, in order to crush him. [¶36] familiars--literally, "men of my peace"; those who pretended to be on peaceable terms with me ([Psa 41:9]). Jeremiah is a type of Messiah, referred to in that Psalm. (See [Jr 38:22]; [Job 19:19]; [Psa 55:13], ; [Lu 11:53], ). [¶37] watched for my halting--([Psa 35:15], Margin, "halting"; [Psa 38:17]; , Margin). Gesenius not so well translates, according to Arabic idiom, "those guarding my side" (that is, my most intimate friends always at my side), in apposition to "familiars," and the subject of "say" (instead of "saying"). The Hebrew means properly "side," then "halting," as the halt bend on one side. [¶38] enticed--to commit some sin. [¶39] 11. not prevail--as they hoped to do ([Jr 20:10]; [Jr 15:20]). [¶40] prosper--in their plot. [¶41] 12. triest the righteous--in latent contrast to the hasty judgments of men ([Jr 11:20]; ). [¶42] opened--that is, committed (compare [2Ki 19:14]; [Psa 35:1]). [¶43] 13. delivered ... soul--This deliverance took place when Zedekiah succeeded Jeconiah. [¶44] 14-18. The contrast between the spirit of this passage and the preceding thanksgiving is to be explained thus: to show how great was the deliverance ([Jr 20:13]), he subjoins a picture of what his wounded spirit had been previous to his deliverance; I had said in the time of my imprisonment, "Cursed be the day"; my feeling was that of Job ([Job 3:3], [10, 11], whose words Jeremiah therefore copies). Though Jeremiah's zeal had been stirred up, not so much for self as for God's honor trampled on by the rejection of the prophet's words, yet it was intemperate when he made his birth a subject for cursing, which was really a ground for thanksgiving.