Chapter XXXII
to destroy, shall be as much on the watch for the means of their restoration. !J9. In those days—After their punishment has been completed, and mercy again visits them, fathers . . . eaten . . . sour grape . . . citildren'a teeth . . . on edge—The proverb among the exiles' children born in Baljyion, to express that they suffered the evil consequences of their fathers' sins rather than of thetr own (Lamentations .5. 7 ; Ezekiel 18. 2, 3). 30. (GalaUaas n. 5, 7.) 31. the days . . . new covenant with . , .
Ver. 1-14. Jeremiah, Imprisoned for his Prophecy AGAINST Jerusalem, buys a Patrimonial Property (HIS RELATIVE HANAMEEL'S), IN ORDER TO CERTIFY TO THE Jews their future Return from Babylon. 1. tenth year—The siege of Jerusalem had already begun, In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah (ch. 39. 1 ; 3 Kings 25. 1). 2. in . . . court of . . . prison—i. e., in the open space occupied by the guard, whence he was noi al
Jeremiah Iniprisuned for his Prophecy. JEREMIAH XXXII. In his Prayer he Complaincth lo God.
Jeremiah had bought tlie field by his right as next of kin. (Leviticus 25. V^-lii). [LUDOVICUS DE DiEU.l IZ. liaruch —Jeremiah's amanuensis and agent (ch. 36. 4, itc.l. befort all-in sales everything clandestine was avoided ; publicity was required. So here, in the court of prison, where Jeremiah was confined, there were soldiers and others, who had free access to him, present (ch. 38. 1). 14. in an earthen vessel—that the documents might not be injured by the moisture of the surrounding earth ; at the same time, being buried, they could not be stolen, but would remain as a pledge of the Jews' deliverance until God's time should come. 15. (Cf. J). 24, 2.i, 37, 43, 44.) 16. Jeremiah, not comprehending how God's threat of destroying Judali could be reconciled with God's commanding him to purchase land in It as if in a free country, has recourse to his grand remedy against perplexities, prayer. 17. hast mode . . . heaven—Jeremiah extols God's creative power, as a ground of humility on his part as man : It is not my part to call thee, the miglity God, to account for thy ways
lowed Id depart, but where any of his friends might visit nim (V. 12; ch. 3S. 13,28). Marvellous obstinacy, tliat at the time when they were experiencing the truth of Jeremiah's words in the pressure of the siege, they should still keep the prophet in conflnement. [Calvin.] The circumstances narrated (t). 3^) occurred at the beginning of the siege, when Jeremiah foretold the capture of the city
(r. 1; ch. 31. 1-7; 39. 1). He was at that time put into free custody in the court of.the prison. At the raising of the siege by Pharaoh-liophra, Jeremiah was on the point of repairing to Benjamin, when he was cast into "the dun-
geon,"' but obtained leave to be removed again to the court of the prison (ch. 37. 12-21). When there he urged the Jews, on the second advance of the Chaldeans to the siege, to save themselves by submission to Nebuchadnezzar (ch.
88.2,3); in conseciuence of this the king, at the instigation of the princes, had him cast into a miry dungeon (ch.
3*!. 4-(i); again he was removed to the prison court at the Intercession of a courtier (v. 7-13), where he remained till the capture of the city {v. 28), when he was liberated (ch.
(cf. ch. 12. 1). too hard—In v. 27 God's reply exactly accords with Jeremi.ih's prayer (Genesis 18. 14; Zechariah 8. 6; , Luke 1. 37). 18. (Exodus 34. 7; Isaiah 65. 6.) This is taken from the decalogue (Exodus 20.5,6). This is a second consideration to check hasty judgments as to God's ways: Thou art the gracious and righteous Judge of the workl. 19. counsel . . . vvorlt—flevising . . . executing (Isaiali
89. 11, lie. ; 40. 1, &c.). 4. liis eyes sUall behold lits eyes—
t. e., only before reaching Babylon, which he was not to see. Ch. 39. 6, 7 harmonizes this prophecy (ch. 32. 4) with the seemingly opposite prophecy, Ezekiel 12. 13, "He shall not see." 5. visit liim—in a good sense (ch. 27. 22); referring to the honour paid Zedekiah at his death and burial
2S. 26). eyes . . . open npon all—(Job 34. 21 ; Proverbs 5.
(ch. 84. 4, 5). Perhaps, too, before his death he was treated by Nebuchadnezzar with some favour, tlioiigli ye Aght
21.) to give . . . according to . . . ways—(Ch. 17. 10.) 20. even nnto this day—thou hast given "signs" of thy power from the day when thou didst deliver Israel out of Egyi>t by mighty miracles, down to the present time. [MAtniER.] Calvin explains It, " memorable even unto this day." among otiier men—not in Israel only, but among foi-eign peoples also. Cf. for "other" understood, Psalm 73. 5. made thee a name—(Exodus 9. 16; 1 Chronicles 17. 21 ; Isaiah 63. 12.) asatthisday—a /ia?/iPof power, such as thou hast at this day. 21. (Psalm 136. 11, 12.) 23. given . . . didst swear—God gave it by a gratuitous covenant, not for their deserts. 23. all . . . thon commandedst . . . all this evil — their punishment was thus exactly commensurate with their sin. It was not fortuitous. 24. mounts— mounds of earth, raised as breastworks by the besieging army, behind which tliey employed their engines, and which they gradually pushed forward to the walls of the city, behold, thou seest It connected with v. 25. Thou seest all this with thine o\\-n eyes, and yet (what seems Inconsistent with it) thou commandest me to buy a field. for the city, etc.—rather, though, &c. 27. Jehovah retorts Jeremiah's own words:
. . . shall iiol prosper—(Ch.21. 4.) G. Jeremiah said—resuming the thread of v. 1, which was interrupted by the parentliesis (i;. 2-5). 7. son of Sliallum thine iinelc therefore, Jeremiah's first cousin. Aeld . . . in Anathoth —a sacerdotal city: and so having lOOO cubits of suburban
fields outside the wall attached to it (Numbers 35. 4, 5). The prohibition to sell these suburban tieUis (Leviticus 25.
84) applied merely to their alienating them from Levites to another tribe; so that this chapter does not contravene that prohibition. Besides, what is here meant is only the purchase of the use of the field till the j'ear of jubilee. On the failure of the owner, the next of kin had the right of redeeming it (Leviticus 25. 2.5, &c.; Rutlt 4. 3-()). 8. Then I knew—Not that Jeremiah previousl}' doubted tlie reality of the Divine communication, but, the eflect following it, and the prophet's experimentally knowing it, coutirined his faith and was the seal to tlie vision. The Koman historian, Florus (2. 6), records a similar instance: During the days that Rome was being besieged by Hannibal, the very ground on which he was encamped was put up for sale at Home, and found a purchaser; implying tlie calm confidence of the ultimate Issue entertained by the Roman people. 1). seventeen slielcels of silver—As the shekel was only 2s. 4d., the whole would be under £2, a rather small sum, even taking into account the fact of tlie Chaldean occupation of the land, and the uncertainty of tlie lime when it might come to Jeremiah or his heirs. Perhaps .t!ie "seven shekels," which in the Hebrewisee J/arj/tn)aredistinguished from the" ten pieces of silver," were shekels of gold. [Maurku.] 10. snbcribed—/ wrote in the deed, " book of purchase " (d. 12). •wclglits—coined money was not in early use; hence money was weirjhed (Genesis 23. 16). H. evidence , . , sealed . . . open—Two deeds were drawn up in a contract of sale; the one, the original copy, witnessed and sealed with the puljlic seal; tlie other not so, but open, and therefore less authoritative, being but a copi/. GaTAKEU thinks, that the purchaser sealed the one witli his own seal, the other he showed to witnesses that they might write their names on the back of it, and know the contents; and that some details, e. ,17., the conditions and time of redemption were In the sealed copy, which the partu^s might not choose to bo known to tlie witnesses, and whi(tli were ther(^foi e not in tlie open copy. The sealed copy, when opened alter the seventy years' caiitivity, would greatly confirm the faith of those living at that time. The " law and custom " refer, probably, not merely to the sealing up of the conditions and details of purchase, but also to the law of redemption, according to which, at the return to Judoa, the deed would show tlint
I am indeed, as th<iu sayest {v. 17), the God and Creator of " all flesh," and " nothing Is too hard for me :" thine own words ought4o have taught thee that, though Judeaand Jerusalem are given up to the Chaldeans now for the sins of the Jews, yet it will not be hard to me, when I please, to restore the state so that houses and lands therein shall be possessed In safety (r. 36-11). 29. burn . . . houses upon whose roofs . . . incense unto Baal—retribution In kind. They burnt incense to Baal, on the houses, so the houses sliall be burnt (ch. 19. 13). The god of lire was the object of their worshij); so fire shall lie the Instrument of their punishment, to provoke me—indicating the
design, not merely the event. They seemed to court God's "anger," and jiKj-posp/.f/ to " provoke" Him. 30. have . . . done lit., have been doing; implying continuous action, only . . . evil . . . only provoked me—they have been
Ho'iufr nothing else but evil; flieir sole aim seems to have been to provoke me. their youth—the time when they were in the wilderness, having just before come into national existence. 31, provocation of mine auger— "for mine anger." ("alvin, therolbre, connects these words with those at the end of the verse, "this city has been to me an object for mine anger (viz., by reason of tlie provocations mentioned, v. 30), &c., that I sliould remove
it," Ac. Thus, there will not be the repetition of ine sentiment, v. 30, as In English Version; the Hebrew also favours this rendering. However, Jeremiah deliglits In repetitions. In Jing/.ish Version tlie words, "that I should remove it," ic, stand Independently, us the result of
&40
JEEEMIAH XXXIII.
Christ the Branch, and His Kingdom,
Restoration from Babylon Pi omised.
Into the city through the " thrown-down houses," but all the effect that they produce " is, to fill them (the houses) with" their own "dead bodies." 6. (Ch. 30. 17.) The answer to Jeremiah's mournful question (ch. 8. 22). cure lit., the long linen bandage employed in dressing wounds, truth i. e., stability; I will bring forth for them abundant and permanent peace, i. e., prosperity. 7. cause ... to return i.e., reverse (i'. 11; ch. 32. 44). The specification, both of " Judah" and " Israel," can only apply fully to the future restoration, as at tlie first (Isaiah I. 26.) 8. cleanse—(Ezekiel 36. 25; Zechariali 13. 1; Hebrews 9. 13, 14). Alluding to the legal rites of purification, all their iniquity . . . all their iniquities—both the principle of sin within, and its outward manifestations in acts. The repetition is in order that the Jews may consider how great is the gx-.ace of God in not merely pardoning (as to the punishment), but also cleansing them (as to the pollution of guilt); not merely one iniquity, but aU (Micah 7. 18). 19. it—the city, a name ... a praise (Ch.l3. 11; Isaiah 62. 7.) them—the inhabitants of Jerusalem, they shall fear . . . for all tlie goodness—(Psalra
what precedes. The time Is ripe for taking vengeance on them (2 Kings 23. 27). from the day tliat they built ItSolomon completed the building of the city; and it was he who, first of the Jewish kings, turned to idolatry. It was originally built by the idolatrous Cauaanites. 33. priests . . . prophets—{Nehemiah 9. 32, 34.) Hence, learn, though ministers of God apostatize, we must remain
faithful. 33. (Ch. 2. 27; 7. 13.) 34. (Ch. 7. 30, 31; Ezekiel
8.5-17.) 35. cause . . . pass tlirough . . . lire—by way of purification, they passed through with bare feet (Leviticus 18. 21). Molech—meaning king ; the same as Milcom
(1 Kings 11. 33). I commanded not—this cuts off from the superstitious the plea of a good intention. All " willworship" exposes to God's wrath (Colossians 2. 18, 23). 36. And now therefore—rather. But now, nevertheless. Notwithstanding that their guilt deserves lasting vengeance, God, for the elect's sake and for His covenant's sake, will, contrai-y to all that might have been expected, restore them, ye say, It shal^ be delivered into . . . king of Uabylon—The reprobate pass from the extreme of selfconfidence to that of despair of God's fulfilling His promise of restoring them. 37. {Note, ch. 16. 15.) The "all" countries implies a future restoration of Israel more universal than that from Babylon. 38. (Ch. 30. 22; 2i 7.) 39. one heart—all seeking the Lord with one accord, in contrast to their state when only scattered individuals sought Him (Ezekiel 11.19,20; Zephaniah .3.9). for . . . good of them—(Psalm 34. 12-15.) 40. (Ch. 31. 31, 33 ; Isaiah
130. 4.) The Gentiles shall be led to " fear" God by the proofs of His power displayed in behalf of the Jews; the ungodly among them shall " tremble" for fear of God's judgments on them; the penitent shall reverentially fear and be converted to him (Psalm 102. 15; Isaiah 60. 3). 10. ye say . . . desolate — (Ch. 32.43.) 11. (Ch. 7.34; 16. 9.) Praise the Lord, &c.—The words of Psalm 136. 1, which were actually used by the Jews at their restoration (Ezra 3.11). sacrifice of praise—(P.salm 107. 22; 116. 17). This shall continue when all other sacrifices shall be at an end. 13. habitation of shepherds . . . fiocks—In contrast to V. 10, "without man . . . inliabitant . . . without beast" (ch.32. 43; cf. ch. 31. 24; 50.19; Isaiah 65. lO"). 13. pass . . . under . . . hands of him that telletli them— —Shepherds, in sending forth and bringing back their sheep to the folds, count them by striking each as it passes with a rod. Implying the shepherd's provident care that not one should be lost (Leviticus 27. 32; Micah 7. 14; cf. John 10. 28, 29; 17. 12). 14. perform—"I will make to rise:" God's promise having for a time seemed to lie dead and abortive. [Calvin.! 15, Repeated from ch. 23.
55. 3.) not depart from me—never yet fully realized as to the Israelites. I will not turn away from them . . . good—(Isaiah 30. 21.) Jehovah compares Himself to a sedulous preceptor following his pupils everywhere to direct their words, gestures, &c. put my fear in . . . hearts . . . not depart from me—Both the conversion and perseverance of the saints are the work of God alone, by the operation of the Holy Spirit. 41. rejoice over them—(Deuteronomy 30. 9; Isaiah 62. 5; 65. 19; Zephaniah
3. 17.) plant . . . assuredly—rather, in stability, i. e., permanently, for ever (ch. 24. 6; Amos 9. 15). 43. (Ch. 31. 28.) The restoration from Babj'lon was only a slight foretaste of the grace to be expected by Israel at last through Christ. 43. (Ver. 15.) whereof ye say, It is desolate (Ch. 33. 10.) 44. Referring to the forms of contract (v. 10-
5. the land—the Holy Land : Israel and Judah (ch. 23. 6). 16. Jerusalem—in ch. 23. 6, instead of this, it is "Israel." " The name" in the Uebreiv has here to be supplied from that passage; and for "he" (Messiah, the antitypical " Israel") the antecedent there (Isaiah 49. 3), we have "she" here, i. e., Jerusalem. She is called by the same name as Messiah, "The Lord our Righteousness;" by virtue of the mystical oneness between her (as the literal representative of the spiritual Church) and her Lord and Husband. Thus, whatever belongs to the Head belongs also to the members (Ephesians 5. 30, 32). Hence the Church is called "Christ" (Romans 16.7; 1 Corinthians 12.
12). Benjamin—specified as Anathoth, Jeremiah's place of residence where the field lay (u. 8), was in It.