Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Ood Fxhorteth Judah to Repeniamx, JEREMIAH V. His JuJr/mmls upon the Jews.
strongest of their fortresses.. 7. Hon—Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans (eh. 2. 1.5; 5. 6; Daniel 7. 11). Uls thi< Iift of the scene (cf. Isaiah 24. 19; .31. 111. witliout form and voi<l—reduced to tlie primeval ehjios ((fentsis J.2j. 2*. mountnihs—(Isaiali 5. 2.5.) niovetJ lij;5i(ly—Khook vehemently, ay. no man . . . bii-iJs-uo vestige of the human, or of tlie feathered creation, is to be seen (Ezekiel
-'lair; Babylon, destroyer of tlie Gentiles — Rather, "the nations" (ch. 2.5.9). 8. Nothing Is left to the Jews but to bewail their desperate condition, anger . . . not tnmed bacU—(Isaiah 9. 12, 17, 21.) 9. heart—the wisdom
38. 20; Zt'phaniah 1. 3). 20. frt Ulful ilavr—Hebrew, Carmel. a wilderness Hebrew, "lite wilderness," in contrast to "the fruitful place:" the greatdesert, where Carmel w.as, tliere is now the desert of Arahia. [Maurkr.] cities—in contrast to the fruitful place or field. 27. Full end—utter destruction : I will le-ave some hope of restoration (ch. 5.10, 18; 30.11; 40, 28; cf. Ieviticus 20.44). 188. For this—On account of the desolations just described (Isaiah .5. 30; Hosea 4. 3). .not repent-(Numbers 2:1 19.) 29. whole city—Jerusalem: to it tlie inhabitants of the country had fled for refuge; but wlien it, too, is likely to of the most leading men will be utterly at a loss to devise means of relief. 10. thon hast . . . deceived—God, having even the false prophets in His hands, is here said to do thatwliich for inscrutable purposes He permits them to do (Exodus 9. 12; 2 Th.essalonian8 2. U; cf. ch. 8. 1-5; which passage shows that the dupes of error were «e//-prepar€d for it, and that God's predestination did not destroy their moral freedom as voluntary agents). The false prophets foretold "peace," and the Jews believed them; God overruled this to His purposes (ch. 5. 12; 14.1.3; Ezekiel 11.9). soul—Rather, "reacheth to the life." 11. drywlnd—the simoom, terrific and destructive, blowing from the southfall, they flee out of it to hide in the "thickets." Henderson translates, "every city." noise—tlie mere noise of the hostile horsemen shall put you to flight. 30. when thou art spoiled—rather, " thou, O destroyed one." [JlAUKBK.] rcntest . . . face with painting—Oriental females paint their eyes with stibiuiil, or antimony, to make them look full and sparkling, the black margin causing the white of the eyes to appear the brighter by contrast east across the sandy deserts east of Palestine. Image of the invading Babylonian army (Hosea 1.3. 15). Babylon
In its turn shall be visited by a similar " destroying wind"
(ch. 51. 1). of . . . high places—f. e., that sweeps over tiie high places, dangliter—t. e., the children of my people, not to fan—a very different wind from those ordinary winds employed for fanning the grain in the open air.
(2 Kings 9. 30). He uses the term distcndcst in derision of tlieir effort to make their eyes look large [Maurek]; or
13. fnli . . . from those places—Rather, "a wind /uHer else, rentest, i. e., dost lacerate by punyturing the eyelid in order to make the antimony adhere. [Rosenmuli.er.] So the Jews use every artifice to secure the aid of Egypt against Babylon, face—rather, thy eyes (Ezekiel 23. 40). 31. angsilsh—1)22., occasioned by the attack of the enemy, daugliter of Zion—There is peculiar beauty in suppressing the name of the person in trouble, until that trouble had been fully described. [Henderson.] hewaileth herself—rather, "draweth her breath short" [Horsi.,et]'
(i. e., more impetuous) than those ivinds" (which fan the corn) (r>. 11). [Rosenmuller.] unto me—for me, as my Instiument for executing my purpose, sentence—:;'7(dflrments against them (ch. 1.16). 13. clouds— continuing the metaphor in d. 11, 12. Clouds of sand and dust accompany the simoom, and after rapid gj'rations ascend like a pillar, eagles—(Deuteronomy 28.49; Habakkuk
1. 8 ) "Woe \mto us-^The people are graphically presented before us, without it being formally so stated, bursting out in these exclamations. 1*. Only one means of deliverance is left to the Jews— a thorough repentance. Gesexics translates, "How long wilt thou harbour vain thoughts?" &c. vain thoughts viz., projects for deliverance, such' as enlisting the Egyptians on their panieth. spreadcth . . hands—(Lamentations 1, 17.)
CHAPTEE V.
Ver. 1-31. The Cause of the Judgments to be inflicted IS THE Universal Corrurtion of the People. 1. a man—As the pious Josiah, Baruch, and Zephaniah lived in Jerusalem at that time, Jeremiah must here mean tlie ma.ss of the people, the king, his counsellors, the false prophets, and the priests, as distinguished from the faithful few, whom God had openly separated from the reprobate people; among the latter not even owe just person was to be found (Isaiah 9. 16) [Calvin]; the godly, moreover, were forbidden to intercede for them (ch. 7. 16;
Bide. 1.5. For . . . from Dan—The connection is: There
Is danger in delay; for the voice of a messenger announces the approach of the Chaldean enemy from Dan, the northern frontier of Palestine (ch. 8.16; cf. v. 6; ch. 1. 14). Mount Ephralm—which borders closely on Judah ; so that the foe is coming nearer and nearer. Dan and Bethel \n Ephraim were the two places where Jei-oboam sat up the idolatrous calves (1 Kings 12. 29); just retribution. IG. The neighbouring foreign "nations" are summoned to witness Jehovah's judgments on His rebel people (ch. 6. 18, 19). watchers—t. e., besiegers (cf. 2 Samuel 11.10); "observed" or watched, i.e., besieged, their voice—the war-shout. 17. keepers of a fleld—nietaplior from tliose wlio watch a field, to frighten away, the wild cf. Genesis 18. 23, &c. ; Psalm 12. 1 ; Ezekiel 22. 30). see . ". . know—look . . . ascertain, judgment—justice, righteousness, pardon it—rather, her. 2. (Titus 1. 16.) swear falsely—not a judicial oath ; but their profession of the worship of jehovah is insincere (v. 7; ch. 4. 2).- The reformation under Josiah was merely superficial in the case of the majority. 3. eyes upon the truth—(Deuteronomy 32. 4; 2 Chronicles 16.9.) "Truth" is in contrast with "swear falsely" (v. 2). The false-professing Jews could expect nothing but judgments from the God of truth, stricken . . . not grieved—(Ch. 2. 30; Isaiah 1.5; beasts. 18. (Ch. 2. 17, 19; Psalm 107. 17.) this Is thy wickedness—i. e., the fruU of thy wickedness. 19. The prophet suddenly assumes the language of the Jewisli State personified, lamenting its affliction (ch. 10. 19, 20; 9.
1,10; Isaiah 15.5; cf. Luke 19.41). at my very l»eart— Hebrew, at the walls of my heart; the muscles round tlie heart. There is a climax, the " bowels," tlie pericardium, the "heart" itself, maketh . . . nolae—moaneth. [Henderson.] alarm—the battle-shout. SJO. Destruction . . , cried—Breaisii upon breach is announced (Psalm 42. 7; Ezekiel 7. 2ii). The war "trumpet" . . . the battle-shout
9. 13.) refused . . . correction—<Ch. 7. 28 ; Zephaniah 3.2.) 4. poor—rather, "the poor." He supposes for the moment that this utter depravity is confined to the uninstructed poor, and that he would find a different state of things in the higher ranks : but there he finds unbridled profligacy. 5. they have known—rather, "they must know." The prophet supposes it as probable, consideftng tLeir position, but these—I found tlie very reverse to be. . . the "destructions" . . . the havoc throughout "the whole land" . . . the spoiling of the shepherds' "tents"
(ch. 10. 20; or, "tents" means cities, which should be overthrown as easily as tents [Calvin]), form a gradation. 31. Judah in perplexity asks. How long is this state of tilings to continue? 'ii. Jehovah's reply; they cannot be otherwise tlian miserable, since they persevere in sin. The repetition of clauses gives greater force to the sentiment, wise . . . evil ... to do good . . . no knowledge—reversing the rule (Romans 16.19) "wise unto . . . good, simple concerningevil." !J3. Graphic picture of tlie utter desolation about to visit Palestine. "I beheld, and Ji)!" four times solemnly repeated, heightens the awful eifect tlie case, hurst . . . bonds-set God's law at defiance (Psalm 2. .3). 0. lion . . . wolf. . . leopard—the strongest, the most ravenous, and the swiftest, respectively, tif beasts: Illustrating the formidable character of the Babylonians, of the evenings—others not so well translate, of the deserts. The plural means that it goes forth every eveninrj to seek its prey (Psalm 101. 20; Habakkuk 1. 8; Zephaniah 3. 3). leopard . . . watch . . . cities—(Hosea 13. 7.)
It shall lie In wait about their cities. 7. It would not be consistent with God's holiness to let such wickednesa
Judgments upon the Jews for Impiety. JEREMIAH VI. ZMs Foes prepare War against Jier.
to the beginning of December. The "latter," or spring pass unpunished, s-vyorii by {v. 2; ch. 4.2); i. e., worra-in in Palestine, falls before harvest in March and April, and is. essential for ripening the craps (Deuterohomy 11.
ship2)ed. no go»ls—(Dtutei'onomy 32. 21.) fed ... to tlie full—so the Keri {Hebrew Margin) re Dls.. God's bountifulness is contrasted witli theirapostasy (Deuteronomy 32.
14; Joel 2.23). weeks of . . . harvest— the seven weeks between passover and pentecost, beginning on the 16tli of Nisan (Deuteronomy 16. 9). By God's special providence no rain fell in Palestine during the harvest weeks, so that liarvest work went on without interruption (see Genesis
15). Prospei'ity, tlie gilt of God, designed to lead men to Him, often prodiu-rs tlie opposite effect. The Hebrew Chetib (text) reads: " I bound them (to nie) by oath," viz., In the marriage covenant, sealed at Sinai between God and
8.22). 25. National guilt liad caused the suspension of these national mercies mentioned in v. 24 (of. ch. 3. 3). 26. (Proverbs 1. 11, 17, 18 ; Habakkuk 1. 15.) as he that setteth snares—rather, "as fowlers crouch." [Maurer.] trap
Israel; in contrast to which stands their "adultery:" the antithesis favours tliis. adtiltcry . . . harlots' Uotises— spiritually: idolatry in temples of idols; but literal prostitution is also included, being frequently part of idol-wor Bhip: e. g., in the worship of the Babylonian Mylitta. 8. iu tlie moriilng—(Isaiah 5.11.) "Rising early in the morning " is a phrase lor unceasing eagerness in any purlit., destruction: the instrument of destruction, catch men—not as Peter, to save (Luke 5. 10), but to destroy men. 27. full of deceit—full of treasures got by deceit. rich—(Psalm 73. 12, 18-20.) 28. shine—the effect of fatness on the skin (Deuteronomy 32. 15). They live a life of selfindulgence, overpass . . . the wicked—exceed even the Gentiles in wickedness (ch. 2. 33; Ezekiel 5.6, 7). judge not . . . fatherless—(Isaiah 1. 23). yet . . . prospei-—(Ch.
suit; such was the Jews' avidity after idol-worship. Matjrek translates from a different Hebrew root, "continually wander to and fro," inflamed with lust (ch. 2. 23). But JSnglish Version is simpler (cf. ch. 13. 27; Ezekiel 22. 11). 9. (Ver. 29; ch.9. 9; 44.22.) 10. Abrupt apostrophe to the Babylonians, to take Jerusalem, but not to destroy the na-
12. 1.) 29. (Ver. 9; Malachi 3. 5.) 30. (Ch. 23. 14; Hosea 6.
10.) 31. hear rule by their means— lit., accoixling to their hands, ii e., under their guidance (1 Chronicles 25. 3). As a sample of the priests lending themselves to the deceits of the false prophets, to gain influence over the people, see ch. 29. 24-32. love to Iiave it so—(Micah 2. II.) end thereof—the fatal issue of this sinful course, when Divine judgments sliall come.
tion utterly (JVote, ch.i. '17).. Ijattlements—rather, tendrils [Matjrer]: the state being compared to a vine (ch.l2. 10), the stem of which was to be spared, while the tendrils (the chief men) were to be removed. 11. (Ch. 3. 20.) 13. belleddenied. It is not lie—rather, "(Jehovah) is not He," i. e., the true and only God (ch. 14. 22; Deuteronomy 32.39; Isaiah 43. 10, 13). By their idolatry they virtually denied Him. Or, referring to what follows, and to v. 9, "(Jehovah)
CHAPTER VI.
is not," viz., about to be the punisher of our sins (cli. 14. 13; Isaiah 28. 15). 13. Continuation of the unbelieving language ol the Jews, tlie jiropliets—who prophesy punishment coming on us. tlie word—the Holy Spirit, w!io speaks through true prophets, is not in therh. [JMaurer.] Or
Ver. 1-30. Zion's Foes prepare War against heb: HER Sins are the cause. 1. Benjamin-Jerusalem was situated in the tribe of Benjamin, which was here separated from that of Judah by the valley of Hinnom. Though else, "There is no word (Divine communication) In them" (Hosea 1. 2) [Rosenmui-ler]. thus, &c.—their ill-omened prophecies shall fall on themselves. lA. ye . . . thy . . , this people—He turns away from addressing the people to the prophet; implying that He puts them to a distance from Him, and only communicates with them through his prophet (v. 19). fire. . . . wood—Thy denunciations of judgments shall be fulfilled, and shall consume them as it was inhabited partly by Benjamites, partly by men of Judah. he addresses the former as being his own countrymen, hlow . . . trumpet . . . Tekoa Tikehu, Tekoa form a play on sounds. The birth-place of Amos. Beth-liaC" cerem—meaning in Hebrew, vineyard-house. It and Tekoa were a few miles south of Jerusalem. As the enemy came from the north, the inhabitants of the surrounding country would naturally flee southwards. The fire-signal on the hills gave warning of danger approaching. 2. likened—rather, "I lay waste." IJt., "O comely and delicate one, I lay waste the daughter of Zion," i. e., thee. So Zechariah 3. 9, " before Joshua," i. e., before thee. [Maurer.] 3. shepherds — hostile leaders with their armies (ch. 1. 15 ; 4. 17 ; 49. 20 ; 50. 45). fcetl—They shall consume each one all that is near him; lit., "his hand," i. e., the place which he occupies (Numbers 2. 17; Note, Isaiah fire does wood. In ch. 23. 29 it is the penetrating energy of fire which is the point of comparison. 15. (Ch. 1. 15; 6.22.) Alluding to Deuteronomy 28. 49, &c. Israel—<. e., Judah. mlglity — from an Arabic root, enduring. The fourfold repetition of "nation" heightens the force, ancient—The Chaldeans came originally from the Carduchian and Armenian mountains north of Mesopotamia, whence they Immigrated into Babylonia; like all mountaineers, they were brave and hardy (Note, Isaiah 23. 13). language . . . Knowestnot—Isaiah 36. 11 shows that A^-amaic was not understood by the jnultitude, but only by the educated
56. 5). 4, 5. The invading soldiers encourage one another to the attack on Jerusalem. Prepare lit.. Sanctify wor, classes. [Maurer.] Hj;nderson refers It to the original languar/e of tlie Babylonians, which, he thinks, they brought with them from their native liills, akin to the Persic, not to the Aramaic, or any other Semitic tongue, the parent of the modern Kurd. 10. open sepulchre t. e.. Proclaim it formally with solemn rites; the invasion was solemnly ordered by God (cf. Isaiah 13. 3). at noon the hottest part of the day when attacks were rarely made
(ch. 15. 8 ; 20. 16). Even at this time they wished to attack, such is their eagerness, woe unto us—The words of the' invaders, mourning the approach of night which would suspend their hostile operations; still, even in spite of the darkness, at night they renew the attack {v. 5). 6. cast —Hebrew, pour out; referring to the emptying of the baskets of earth to make the mound, formed of " trees" and earth-work, to overtop the cit.v walls. The " trees" were also used to make warlike engines with, this—pointing the invaders to Jerusalem, visited — i. e., punished, wholly oppression—or join "wholly" with "visited,"
(Cf. Psalm 5.9.) Their quiver is aU-devouring, as the grave opened to receive tlie dead : as many as are the arrows, so many are the deaths. 17. (Leviticus 26. 16.) 18. (Ver. 10; ch. 4. 27.) Nevertheless Not ctcti. in those days of judgments, God will not utterly exterminate Ills people. 19. Retribution in kind. As ye have forsaken me
(ch. 2. 13), so shall ye btforsaken by me. As ye have served strange (foreign) gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers (foreigners) In a land not yours. Cf. the similar retribution in Deuteronomy 28. 47, 48. 21. eyes, . . . and ears, and translate, "and yet" (cf. Deuteronomy 29. 4; Isai.ih 6. 9). Having powers of perception, they did not Hse them: still they were responsible for the exercise of them. H'i. sanil—though made up of particles easily shifting about, I render it sutllclent to curb the violence of the sea. Such is your monstrous perversil,y, that the raging, senseless sea sooner obeys me, than ye do who profess to be intelligent [Cai.vin] (Job 26. 10; 38.10, 11; Proverbs 8.
t. e., she is altogether (in her whole extent) to be punished. [Maurer.] 7. fountain—rather, a ivell dug, from which water springs ; distinct from a natural spring or fountain, casteth out catisctli to flow ; lit., caiuieth to dig, t he cause being put for the effect (2 Kings 21. 16, 24; Isaiah 57. 20). me—Jehovah. 8. Tender appeal in the midst of threats. depart — Hebrtnv, "be tm-n away:" Jehovah's allectlon making Him unwilling to depart; His attachment to Jerusalem was such that an effort was needed to tear lilmself from It (Ezekiel 23. 18; Hosea 9. 12; 11. 8). 9. The Jews are the grapes, their enemies the unsparing gleaners.
29; Revelation 15. 4). )43. (Ch. 6. 28.) 84. rain . . . former, , , latter—the " tornier" falls from the middle of October
I/ie Prophet Lamentelk the JudgmenU JEREMIAH Vir. of Ood because of the People's Sins.
turji back . . . hand—again and again bring freslilygathered liaiullals to the bafelcets; referring to the repeated carrying away of captives to Babylon (ch. 52. 28-30;
Zion" (v. 23); caution to the citizens of Jerusalem not to expose themselves to the enemy by going outside of the city walls, sword of the enemy lit., there is a sword to the enemy ; the enemy hath a sword. 26. wallow ... In ashes—(Ch. 25. 34 ; Micah 1. 10.) As they usually in mourning only "cast ashes on the head," wallowing in them means something more, viz., so entirely to cover one's self with ashes as to be like one who had rolled in them (Ezekiel 27. 30). as for an only son—(Amos 8. 10 ; Zechariah 12. 10.) lamentation lit., lamentation expressed by beating the breast. 27. tower . . . fortress—(ch. 1. 18), rather, "an assayer (and) explorer." By a metaphor from metallurgy in v. 27-30, Jehovah, in conclusion, confirms the prophet in his office, and the latter sums up the description of the reprobate people on whom he had to work. The Hebrew for "assayer" {English Version, " tower") is from a root to try metals. " Explorer" {English Version, " fortress") is from an Arabic root, keen-sighted
2 Kings 24. 14; 25. U). 10. ear Is unclrciimclsed — closed against tlie precepts of God by the foreskin of carnality (Leviticus 2C. 41 ; Ezekiel 44. 7; Acts 7. 51). word ... reproach—(Ch. 20. 8.) 11. fury of . . . Lord—His denunciations communicated to the prophet against Judah. weary with holding in— {Ch. 20. 9.) I will pour—or else imperative: the command of God (see u. 12), "Pour
It out." [Maitrer.] aged . . . full of days—The former means one becoming old; the latter a decrepit old man [Maueek] (,Tob 5.26; Isaiah 65.20). 13. The very punishments threatened by Moses in the event of disobedience to God (Deuteronomy 2S. 30). turned— transferred. 13.
8. 10; Isuiiih 56. 11; Micah 3. 11.) 14. hurt—the spiritual wound, slightly—as if It were but a, slight wound; or, in a slight man ner, pronouncing all sound wliere there is no soundness, saying— viz., the prophels and priests or a ii/eftret/; root, CMttutsr, t. e., separating the metal from the dross. [Ewald.] Gesenius translates as English Version, "fortress," which does not accord with tlie previous "assayer." 88. grievous rcolte Tca—Ut., contumacious of the contumcu Hous, i. e., most contumacious, the Hebrew mode of expressing a superlative. So " the strong among the mighty," t. e., the strongest (Ezekiel 32. 21). See ch. 5.
(y. 13). Whereas they oaglit to warn the people of impending judgments and the need of repentance, they say these is nothing to fear, peace—including soundness. All is sound in the nation's moral state, so all will be peace as to its political state{ch. 4. 10; 8. 11; 14. 13; 23. 17; Ezekiel
13. 0, 10 ; 22. 2S). 15. Ro.SENMTil,l,ER translates, " They oug/U
23; Hosea 4. 16. walking with slanders—(ch.- 9. 4.) "Going about /or <7te purpose o/ slandering." [Maurer.] brass, &c. i.e., copper. It and "iron" being the baser and harder metals expi-ess the debased and obdurate character of the Jews (Isaiah 48. 4; 60. 17). ,'39. bellows to hace been ash.amed, because," &c., "but," the liebrew verb often expressing, not the action, but the duty, to perform it, Gienesis 20. 9 ; Malachl 2. 7). Maurer translo Ues, "They shall be put to shame, for they commit abomination; nay (the prophet correcting himself), there is no shame in them" (ch. 3. 3; 8. 12; Ezekiel 3. 7; Zephaniah 3.
, . . burned—so intense a heat is made that the very bellows are almost set on fire. Rosenmuller translates not so well from a Hebrew root, "pant" or "snort," referring to the sound of the bellows blown hard, lead—employed to separate the baser metal from the silver, as quicksilver
5). tlieni that fall—they shall fall with the rest of tlielr people who are doomed to fall, t. e., I will now cease from words; I will execute vengeance. [Calvin.] 16. Image from travellers who have lost their road, stopping and inquiring which is the right way on whicii they once had been, t)ut from which they have wandered, old paths Idolatry and apostasy are the modern way; the worship of God the old way. Evil is not coeval with good, but a modem degeneracy from good. The forsaking of God is not, in a true sense, a "way cast up" at all (ch. 18.15; Psalm 13!). 24; Malachi 4. 4). rest-(Isaiah 28. 12; Matthew is now used. In other words, the utmost pains have been used to purify Israel in the furnace of af Siction, but in vain (ch. 5. 3; 1 Peter 1. 7.) consumed of the lire—In the
Clietib or Hebrew test, the " consumed" is supplied out of the previous " burned." Translating as RcjENMULLKU, "pant," this will be inadmissible ; and the Keri {Hebrew margin) division of the Hebrew words will have to be read, to get " is consumed of tlie fire." This is an argument for the translation, "are burned." fovmrter—the refiner, wicked . . . not plucked away—answering to the dross which has no good metal to be separated, the mass being all dross. 30. Rei>robate—Silver so full of alloy as to be utterly worthless (Isaiah'l. 22). The Jewswere fit only for rejection.
11. 29.) 17. watchmen—prophets, whose duty it was to announce impending calamities, so as to lead the people to repentance (Isaiah 21. 11; 58. 1; Ezekiel 3. 17; Habakkuk
2L 1). 18. congregation-parallel to "nations;" it therefore means the gathered peoples who are invited to be witnesses how great is the perversity of the Israelites {v. 16,
17), and that they deserve the severe punisltment about to be inflicted on them {v. 19). what Is among them— what deeds are committed by the Israelites (v. 16, 17). [Maurer.] - Or, "what punishments are about to be inflicted on them." [Calvin.] 19. (Isaiah 1. 2.) fruit of
CHAPTER VII.
Ver. ISi. Chapters 7.-9. Deliverbb. in the Beginv KING OP JEHOIAKIM'S ReIGN, ON THE OCCASION OF SOME Public Festival. The prophet stood at the gate of tho temple in order that the multitudes from the country might hear him. His life was threatened, it appears from ch. 26. 1-9, for this prophecy, denouncing the fate of Shiloh as about to befall the temple at Jerusalem. The prophecy, given In detail here is summarily referred to there. After Josiah's death the nation relapsed into idolatry, .through Jehoiaklm's bad influence; the worship of Jehoviih was,- however, combined with it (d. 4, 10). 2. the gate—i. e., the gate of the court of Israel within that of the women. Those whom Jeremiah addresses came through the gate leading Into the court of the women, and the gate leading into the outer conrt, or court of tlie Gentiles ("these gates"). 3. caiise you to dwell—per-w»« you still to dwell (ch. 18. 11; 20. 13). 4. The Jews falsely thought that because their temple had been chosen by Jehovah as His peculiar dwelling, it could never be dest-toycvl. Men think that ceremoni.al observances will saporsede the need of holiness (Isaiah 48. 2; Micah 3.;.H). . The triple repetition of "the temple of JehovahV expresses the intense confidence of the Jews (see ch. 22, 29-; Jsaiah 6. 3). these—the temple buildings which the prophet points to with his finger (t). 2). 5. For— ISut. [Mauhkk.] judgmeut tstioe (ch. 22. 3 1, this ulace—thisclty/aad land (v. 7/.
. . . thoughts—(Proverbs 1. 31.) nor to my law, but rejected it—lit., " and (as to) my law they have rejected it." The same construction occurs. Genesis 22. 24. 20, L,it., "To what purpose is this to me, that incense cometh to me?" Incense . . . cane—(Isaiah 43. 24; 60. 6.) No external services are accepted by God without oliedience of the heart aii<l life (ch. 7. 21 ; Psalm 50. 7-9; Isaiah 1. 11 ; Mlcah
6. 6, ifec). Kiveet . . . rweet—antithesis. Your sweet cane is not sveet to me. The calamus. 21. stumbling-blocks —Instruments of the Jews' ruin (cf. Matthew 21. 44 ; Isaiah
8. 14 ; 1 Pet<'r 2. 8). God Himself (" I") lays them before the reprobate (Psalm 69. 22; Romans 1. 28; 11. 9). fathers . . . 801U . . . netghljour . . . Arlend— indiscriminate ruin.
'i-i. north . . . sidcfl of the earth— The ancients were little acquainted with the north; therefore it is called the remotest regions (as the Hebrew for "sides" ought to be translated, S(!e Kole, Isaiah 14. 13) of the earth. The Chaldees are meant (ch. 1. 15; 5. 15). It Is striking that the very same calamities which the Chaldeans had inflicted on Zion are threatened as the retribution to be dealt in turnto themselves by Jehovah (ch. 50. 41^3). 83. like the nea—(Isalali 5. 30.) as men for war—not that they were tite warriors, for they were warriors ; but "arrayed most perfectly as warriors." [Maurer.] 84. fame thereof —the report of them. 85. He addresses " the daughter o' 33