3. Jaazaniah--the elder and chief of the clan.
4. man of God--a prophet ([De 33:1]; [1Sa 2:27]; [1Ki 12:22]; [2Ki 4:7]), also "a servant of God" in general ([1Ti 6:11]), one not his own, but God's; one who has parted with all right in himself to give himself wholly to God ([2Ti 3:17]). He was so reverenced that none would call in question what was transacted in his chamber.
keeper of the door--Hebrew, "of the vessel." Probably the office meant is that of the priest who kept in charge the capitation money paid for the use of the temple and the votive offerings, such as silver vessels, &c. There were seven such keepers [Grotius]. Compare [2Ki 12:9]; ; [1Ch 9:18], , which support English Version.
I said ... Drink--Jeremiah does not say, The Lord saith, Drink: for then they would have been bound to obey. Contrast the case in [1Ki 13:7-26].
6. Jonadab ... our father--that is, forefather and director, three hundred years before ([2Ki 10:15]). They were called Rechabites, not Jonadabites, having received their name from Rechab the father, previously to their adopting the injunctions of Jonadab his son. This case affords no justification for slavish deference to the religious opinions of the Christian fathers: for Jonadab's injunction only affected matters of the present life; moreover, it was not binding on their consciences, for they deemed it not unlawful to go to Jerusalem in the invasion ([Jr 35:11]). What is praised here is not the father's injunction, but the obedience of the sons [Calvin].
7. tents--([Jud 4:17]).
live many days--according to the promise connected with the fifth commandment ([Ex 20:12]; [Ep 6:2], ).
strangers--They were not of the stock of Jacob, but sojourners in Israel. Types of the children of God, pilgrims on earth, looking for heaven as their home: having little to lose, so that losing times cost them little alarm; sitting loose to what they have ([He 10:34]; , [10, 13-16]).
8. all that he ... charged us ... all our days, we ... wives ... sons ... daughters--unreserved obedience in all particulars, at all times, and on the part of all, without exception: in these respects Israel's obedience to God was wanting. Contrast [1Sa 15:20], ; Psa 78:34-37, 41, 56, 57.
11. Chaldeans ... Syrians--when Jehoiakim revolted from Nebuchadnezzar ([2Ki 24:1], 2). Necessity sets aside all other laws. This is the Rechabites' excuse for their seeming disobedience to Jonadab in temporarily settling in a city. Herein was seen the prescient wisdom of Jonadab's commands; they could at a moment's notice migrate, having no land possessions to tie them.
14. obey ... father's commandment: notwithstanding I--(Mal 1:6).
rising early and speaking--God Himself speaking late and early by His various ways of providence and grace.
15. In [Jr 35:15] and in [2Ch 36:15], a distinct mode of address is alluded to, namely, God sending His servants. ([Jr 18:11]; , ). I enjoined nothing unreasonable, but simply to serve Me, and I attached to the command a gracious promise, but in vain. If Jonadab's commands, which were arbitrary and not moral obligations in themselves, were obeyed, much more ought Mine, which are in themselves right.
17. because I have spoken ... not heard ... I ... called ... not answered--([Pr 1:24]; [Is 65:12]).
19. not want a man to stand before me--There shall always be left representatives of the clan to worship Me ([Jr 15:1], ); or, "before Me" means simple existence, for all things in existence are in God's sight ([Psa 89:36]). The Rechabites returned from the captivity. Wolff found traces of them in Arabia.
Chapter 36
Jr 36:1-32. Baruch Writes, and Reads Publicly Jeremiah's Prophecies Collected in a Volume. The Roll Is Burnt by Jehoiakim, and Written Again by Baruch at Jeremiah's Dictation
1. fourth year--The command to write the roll was given in the fourth year, but it was not read publicly till the fifth year. As Isaiah subjoined to his predictions a history of events confirming his prophecies (Is 36:1-22; 37:1-38; 38:1-22; 39:1-8), so Jeremiah also in the thirty-seventh through forty-third chapters; but he prefaces his history with the narrative of an incident that occurred some time ago, showing that he, not only by word, but in writing, and that twice, had testified all that he about to state as having subsequently come to pass [Grotius]. At the end of Jehoiakim's third year, Nebuchadnezzar enrolled an army against Jerusalem and took it in the end of the fifth or beginning of the sixth year, carrying away captive Jehoiakim, Daniel, &c. Jehoiakim returned the same year, and for three years was tributary: then he withheld tribute. Nebuchadnezzar returned and took Jerusalem, and carried off Jehoiakim, who died on the road. This harmonizes this chapter with [2Ki 24:1-20] and [Da 1:1-21]. See on [Jr 22:19].
2. roll of a book--a book formed of prepared skins made into a roll. Compare "volume of the book," that is, the Pentateuch ([Psa 40:7]). It does not follow that his prophecies were not before committed to writing; what is implied is, they were now written together in one volume, so as to be read continuously to the Jews in the temple.
against ... nations--([Jr 25:15], &c.).
from ... days of Josiah--([Jr 25:3]). From Josiah's thirteenth year ([Jr 1:2]).
3. hear--consider seriously.
return ... from ... evil way--([Jon 3:8]).
4. all ... words of ... Lord--God specially suggesting what might otherwise have escaped his memory, and directing the choice of words, as well as the substance ([Joh 14:26]; ).
5. I am shut up--not in prison, for there is no account of his imprisonment under Jehoiakim, and [Jr 36:19], are inconsistent with it: but, "I am prevented," namely, by some hindrance; or, through fear of the king, to whose anger Baruch was less exposed, as not being the author of the prophecy.
6. go--on the following year ([Jr 36:9]).
fasting day--(See [Jr 36:9]). An extraordinary fast, in the ninth month (whereas the fast on the great day of atonement was on the tenth day of the seventh month, [Le 16:29]; [23:27-32]), appointed to avert the impending calamity, when it was feared Nebuchadnezzar, having in the year before (that is, the fourth of Jehoiakim), smitten Pharaoh-necho at Carchemish, would attack Judea, as the ally of Egypt ([2Ki 23:34], ). The fast was likely to be an occasion on which Jeremiah would find the Jews more softened, as well as a larger number of them met together.
7. present ... supplication--literally, "supplication shall fall"; alluding to the prostrate attitude of the supplicants ([De 9:25]; [Mt 26:39]), as petitioners fall at the feet of a king in the East. So Hebrew, [Jr 38:26]; [Da 9:18], Margin.
9. they proclaimed ... to all the people ... to all, &c.--rather, "all the people ... all the people proclaimed a fast" [Michaelis]. The chiefs appointed the fast by the wish of the people. In either version the ungodly king had no share in appointing the fast.
10. chamber--Baruch read from the window or balcony of the chamber looking into the court where the people were assembled. However, some of the chambers were large enough to contain a considerable number ([Ne 13:5]).
Gemariah--distinct from the Gemariah, son of Hilkiah, in [Jr 29:3].
Shaphan--the same person as in [2Ki 22:3].
scribe--secretary of state, or he who presided over the public records.
higher court--that of the priests, the court of the people being lower ([2Ch 4:9]).
new gate--([Jr 26:10]). The east gate.
12. scribe's chamber--an apartment in the palace occupied by the secretary of state.
princes--holding a counsel of state at the time.
Elnathan--who had already been an instrument of evil in Jehoiakim's hand ([Jr 26:22], ).
Hananiah--the false prophet ([Jr 28:10-17]).
14. Jehudi--of a good family, as appears from his pedigree being given so fully, but in a subordinate position.
come--Instead of requiring Baruch to come to them, they ought to have gone to the temple, and there professed their penitence. But pride forbade it [Calvin].
16. afraid, both one and other--Hebrew, "fear-stricken," they turned to one another (compare [Ge 42:28]). This showed, on their part, hesitancy, and some degree of fear of God, but not enough to make them willing to sacrifice the favor of an earthly king.
We will surely tell the king--not the language of threatening but implying that the matter is of such moment that the king ought to be made acquainted with it, so as to seek some remedy against the divine anger.
17. What they wished to know was, whether what Baruch had read to them was written by him from memory after hearing Jeremiah repeating his prophecies continuously, or accurately from the prophet's own dictation.
18. his mouth--Baruch replies it was by the oral dictation of the prophet; [Jr 36:2] accords with this view, rather than with the notion that Jeremiah repeated his prophecies from manuscripts.