--- title: "John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible" author: "John Wesley" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 215 of 398 url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/215/ cite: "John Wesley, John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible, section 215. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/215/" --- # John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible *John Wesley* Wesley's short, plain notes on the Old and New Testaments, verse by verse. ## 215. Jeremiah · 10 of 13 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/215/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/215/#p-N [¶0] The dungeon - The Hebrew words signify some pit, or deep hole, where were some cells or apartments, in which they were wont to keep those whom they judged great malefactors. [¶1] Is there - Hath God revealed any thing to thee, concerning the issue of the return of the Chaldean army. [¶2] For the king - I see I am as it were no king. I can do nothing against you, you will do what you please. [¶3] Thirty men - Probably the king commanded Ebed - melech to take thirty men to guard him against any opposition. [¶4] Lest they - Lest the Chaldeans should deliver me into the hands of those Jews which have fallen to them. [¶5] The women - Thou that art afraid of the insultings of men, shalt fall under the insultings of the women. Thy friends - For this thou mayest thank thy priests, and false prophets. And they - Have forsaken thee, every one shifting for himself. [¶6] Tenth month - This month answers to part of our December and January. [¶7] The middle gate - The city was encompassed with two walls, before they came to the wall of the temple; the gate in the inner wall is supposed to have been that which is called the middle gate. They would not at first venture farther, 'till they might without hazarding their persons. [¶8] Riblah - Riblah was upon the borders of Canaan. Zedekiah was a tributary to the king of Babylon, and so subject to his power, having made a covenant with him, and secured his allegiance by his oath to him. [¶9] Take him - It is probable, that Nebuchadnezzar had been informed, Jeremiah had constantly told the king, that the Chaldeans should take the city, and as steadily persuaded both the king and princes to surrender it to them. [¶10] Now the word - These four verses mention a matter that happened before the things mentioned in the foregoing verses. [¶11] Ramah - Ramah was a city in the tribe of Benjamin near Gibeon. Babylon - Jeremiah was by mistake and expressly contrary to the king's orders carried amongst the other prisoners; probably the captain of the guard at that place called over his prisoners, and among them found the prophet contrary to his expectation. [¶12] Now - Jeremiah before he was gone out of the presence of Nebuzar - adan, declaring that he was more inclined to stay in his own country, Nebuzar - adan bid him, Go back. [¶13] Ishmael - It is likely these were commanders of parties, which either were within the city 'till it was taken, and then escaped, or where somewhere in the country, and not so much regarded by the Chaldeans, who were more intent upon the conquest of the city, than pursuing these little parties. [¶14] I will dwell - I have choice made of Mizpah, a city upon the frontiers, to make my residence, it being a convenient place for me to receive orders from the king of Babylon. But ye - Gather such fruits as the country affords, as you use to do in the times of peace. [¶15] Returned - Probably upon the king of Babylon's first invading Judah, many fled, and more as he went on his conquests, over - running the country; and it is likely at the taking of the city, many escaped, and fled into several countries, as they had opportunity, or judged this or that country would be safest; some fled to Moab, some to Ammon some to Edom, some one way, and some another: but when they heard that the king of Babylon had set a governor of their own religion and country over them, they came back to him; and there being few people left in the land, which was wonderfully fruitful, they gathered plenty of grapes, and other summer fruits. [¶16] Moreover - They had been with him before, but now they come to discover a conspiracy against his life. [¶17] Now - Three months after the city was taken. Ishmael - The same Ishmael that came to Gedaliah, ver.8,9, to whom he sware protection; only here we are told he was of the royal blood, which might both raise his spirits, as having a more legal pretence to the government, and rendered him a fitter instrument, for Baalis the king or queen of the Ammonites to make use of. The princes - Some of the princes, who had escaped the army of the king of Babylon. [¶18] Slew - All those who were about the court of Gedaliah. [¶19] No man - No man who lived at any distance from Mizpah. [¶20] There came men - Who possibly had not heard of the temple being burnt. Cut themselves - With all indications of mourning used in those countries. [¶21] He forebare - His covetousness prevailed over his cruelty. [¶22] Good or evil - Whether grateful or ungrateful to us. [¶23] I repent - I am satisfied with the punishment your nation hath undergone, and as to the remainder, will change the course of my providence. [¶24] Tahpanhes - It was at this time the place where the king of Egypt made his residence. [¶25] Carry them - He shall carry away both the idols, and the inhabitants of Egypt captive. With the land - With the spoils of the land of Egypt, he shall clothe his army. [¶26] Beth - shemesh - Beth - shemesh is the name of a city, which had its name from a famous temple of the sun. [¶27] At Migdol - It seems the Jews that went into Egypt had planted themselves at these four places. Migdol was a city upon the borders of the Red Sea. Noph was a city, which the Greeks and Latines called Memphis; it is thought to be that, which is now called Cairo. Pathros was the province, since called Thebais. [¶28] For none - Only such shall escape, as have been forced into Egypt against their wills; and as did not fall in with the idolatry of the Egyptians. [¶29] All the men - It should seem those that did it were mostly women, and that they did it with some privacy, so that all their husbands did not know of it. [¶30] The Lord liveth - There shall not any be left alive of the Jews that are in Egypt, to swear The Lord God liveth. [¶31] This shall be a sign - Signs are usually antecedent to the thing signified, but the word is taken in a larger notion in this place for that which should attend the thing signified by it. [¶32] I find no rest - Upon Baruch's reading the prophecies both he and Jeremiah were advised to hide themselves. This probably disturbed Baruch, and made him lament his condition. [¶33] Seek them not - Dost thou expect what none is like to meet with who feareth God? Upon all flesh - I am bringing calamities upon the whole nation. [¶34] The word - This verse contains the title of all the ensuing discourses; for, tho' there be some verses in these chapters that relate to the Jews, yet they are all concerning their restoration. The prophecies of judgments from the beginning of this chapter to the fifty - second, are all against foreign nations, which are called Gentiles. [¶35] Brigandines - Coats of mail. [¶36] Let not the swift - It is in vain for the swift to flee away, the mighty men shall not escape, but they shall stumble and fall at Carchemish, which was near the river Euphrates, and northward from Egypt. [¶37] And the Lydians - They were all auxiliaries to the Egyptians in this expedition. [¶38] Made drunk - These phrases only metaphorically signify, the great slaughter God would make that day amongst the Egyptians. [¶39] Stumbled - Stumbling one upon another, so that both those that went before, and those who followed after, should fall together. [¶40] Declare - Publish this over all the land of Egypt. [¶41] Pharaoh - Hath made a great noise, but it cometh to nothing. Passed - That is, he hath passed the time himself fixed when he would cone, and fight the Chaldeans. [¶42] Surely - He shall as certainly come and encompass you with his armies, as Tabor is encompassed with mountains, and as Carmel is by the sea. [¶43] A serpent - Egypt is now like an heifer that makes a great bellowing, but the time shall come when she shall make a lesser noise like the hissing of a serpent. With axes - For the Chaldeans shall come with an army, armed with battle - axes, as if they came to fell wood in a forest. [¶44] Tho' - Tho' it seem impenetrable.