9. Instead of serving strangers ([Jr 30:8]), they shall serve the Lord, their rightful King in the theocracy ([Eze 21:27]).
David, their king--No king of David's seed has held the scepter since the captivity; for Zerubbabel, though of David's line, never claimed the title of "king." The Son of David, Messiah, must therefore be meant; so the Targum (compare [Is 55:3], ; [Eze 34:23], ; ; [Ho 3:5]; [Ro 11:25-32]). He was appointed to the throne of David ([Is 9:7]; [Lu 1:32]). He is here joined with Jehovah as claiming equal allegiance. God is our "King," only when we are subject to Christ; God rules us not immediately, but through His Son ([Joh 5:22], 23, 27).
raise up--applied to the judges whom God raised up as deliverers of Israel out of the hand of its oppressors ([Jud 2:16]; ). So Christ was raised up as the antitypical Deliverer ([Psa 2:6]; [Lu 1:69]; [Ac 2:30]; 13:23).
10. from afar--Be not afraid as if the distance of the places whither ye are to be dispersed precludes the possibility of return.
seed--Though through the many years of captivity intervening, you yourselves may not see the restoration, the promise shall be fulfilled to your seed, primarily at the return from Babylon, fully at the final restoration.
quiet ... none ... make ... afraid--([Jr 23:6]; [Zec 14:11]).
11. though ... full end of all nations ... yet ... not ... of thee--([Am 9:8]). The punishment of reprobates is final and fatal; that of God's people temporary and corrective. Babylon was utterly destroyed: Israel after chastisement was delivered.
in measure--literally, "with judgment," that is, moderation, not in the full rigor of justice ([Jr 10:24]; ; [Psa 6:1]; [Is 27:8]).
not ... altogether unpunished--([Ex 34:7]).
12. The desperate circumstances of the Jews are here represented as an incurable wound. Their sin is so grievous that their hope of the punishment (their exile) soon coming to an end is vain ([Jr 8:22]; ; [2Ch 36:16]).
13. none to plead--a new image from a court of justice.
bound up--namely, with the bandages applied to tie up a wound.
no healing medicines--literally, "medicines of healing," or else applications, (literally, "ascensions") of medicaments.
14. lovers--the peoples formerly allied to thee, Assyria and Egypt (compare [La 1:2]).
seek thee not--have cast away all concern for thee in thy distress.
wound of an enemy--a wound such as an enemy would inflict. God condescends to employ language adapted to human conceptions. He is incapable of "enmity" or "cruelty"; it was their grievous sin which righteously demanded a grievous punishment, as though He were an "enemy" ([Jr 5:6]; [Job 13:24]; ).
15. Why criest thou--as if God's severity was excessive. Thou hast no reason to complain, for thine affliction is just. Thy cry is too late, for the time of repentance and mercy is past [Calvin].
16. Therefore--connected with [Jr 30:13], because "There is none to plead thy cause ... therefore" I will plead thy cause, and heal thy wound, by overwhelming thy foes. This fifteenth verse is inserted to amplify what was said at the close of [Jr 30:14]. When the false ways of peace, suggested by the so-called prophets, had only ended in the people's irremediable ruin, the true prophet comes forward to announce the grace of God as bestowing repentance and healing.
devour thee ... be devoured ... spoil ... be a spoil ... prey upon ... give for a prey--retribution in kind (see on [Jr 2:3]; [Ex 23:22]; [Is 33:1]).
17. ([Jr 8:22]; ).
Outcast--as a wife put away by her husband ([Is 62:4], contrasted with [Jr 30:12]).
Zion--alluding to its Hebrew meaning, "dryness"; "sought after" by none, as would be the case with an arid region ([Is 62:12]). The extremity of the people, so far from being an obstacle to, will be the chosen opportunity of, God's grace.
18. bring again ... captivity--([Jr 33:7], ).
tents--used to intimate that their present dwellings in Chaldea were but temporary as tents.
have mercy on dwelling-places--([Psa 102:13]).
own heap--on the same hill, that is, site, a hill being the usual site chosen for a city (compare [Jos 11:13], Margin). This better answers the parallel clause, "after the manner thereof" (that is, in the same becoming ways as formerly), than the rendering, "its own heap of ruins," as in [Jr 49:2].
palace--the king's, on Mount Zion.
remain--rather, "shall be inhabited" (see on [Jr 17:6], [Jr 17:25]). This confirms English Version, "palace," not as others translate, "the temple" (see [1Ki 16:18]; [2Ki 15:25]).
19. thanksgiving--The Hebrew word includes confession as well as praise; for, in the case of God, the highest praises we can bestow are only confessing what God really is [Bengel], ([Jr 17:26]; , ; ; [Is 35:10]; ).
multiply them--([Zec 10:8]).
20. as aforetime--as flourishing as in the time of David.
21. their nobles--rather, "their Glorious One," or "Leader" (compare [Ac 3:15]; [He 2:10]), answering to "their Governor" in the parallel clause.
of themselves--of their own nation, a Jew, not a foreigner; applicable to Zerubbabel, or J. Hyrcanus (hereditary high priest and governor), only as types of Christ ([Ge 49:10]; [Mi 5:2]; [Ro 9:5]), the antitypical "David" ([Jr 30:9]).
cause him to draw near--as the great Priest ([Ex 19:22]; [Le 21:17]), through whom believers also have access to God ([He 10:19-22]). His priestly and kingly characters are similarly combined ([Psa 110:4]; [Zec 6:13]).
who ... engaged ... heart to approach--literally, "pledged his heart," that is, his life; a thing unique; Messiah alone has made His life responsible as the surety ([He 7:22]; [9:11-15]), in order to gain access not only for Himself, but for us to God. Heart is here used for life, to express the courage which it needed to undertake such a tremendous suretyship. The question implies admiration at one being found competent by His twofold nature, as God and man, for the task. Compare the interrogation ([Is 63:1-3]).
22. ye shall be my people, &c.--The covenant shall be renewed between God and His people through Messiah's mediation ([Jr 30:21]; , ; ; [Eze 11:20]; ).
23-24. ([Jr 23:19]). Vengeance upon God's foes always accompanies manifestations of His grace to His people.
continuing--literally, "sojourning," abiding constantly; appropriately here in the case of Babylon, which was to be permanently destroyed, substituted for "whirling itself about" ("grievous" in English Version) (see on [Jr 23:19],), where the temporary downfall of Judea is spoken of.
Chapter 31
Jr 31:1-40. Continuation of the Prophecy in the Thirtieth Chapter
As in that chapter the restoration of Judah, so in this the restoration of Israel's ten tribes is foretold.
1. At the same time--"In the latter days" ([Jr 30:24]).
the God of--manifesting My grace to ([Ge 17:7]; [Mt 22:32]; [Re 21:3]).
all ... Israel--not the exiles of the south kingdom of Judah only, but also the north kingdom of the ten tribes; and not merely Israel in general, but "all the families of Israel." Never yet fulfilled ([Ro 11:26]).
2. Upon the grace manifested to Israel "in the wilderness" God grounds His argument for renewing His favors to them now in their exile; because His covenant is "everlasting" ([Jr 31:3]), and changes not. The same argument occurs in [Ho 13:5], [9, 10]; , [5, 8]. Babylon is fitly compared to the "wilderness," as in both alike Israel was as a stranger far from his appointed "rest" or home, and Babylon is in [Is 40:3] called a "desert" (compare [Jr 50:12]).