Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
The Prophet Exhorteth to Bepentanee. JEREMIAH XXVII. Tfte Subjection oj the Kings Predicted.
(1 Samuel 15. 21, 22). all the words—(Ezeklel 3. 10.) dlmiah. 5J0. As the flight and capture of Urijah must have occupied some time, "the beginning of tlie reignof Jelioiakim" (u. 1) must not mean the very beginning, but the second or third year of his eleven years' reign. And . . . also—perhaps connected with v. 24, as the comment of the writer, not the continuation of the speech of the elders: "And although o?so a man that prophesied . . . Urijah,&c, (proving how great was the danger in which Jeremiah stood, and how wonderful the providence of God in preserving him), nevertlieless the hand of Ahikam," &c. [Gi,ASSius.] The context, however, implies rather that the words are the continuation of the previous speecli of the elders. They adduce another Instance besides that of Micah, though of a different kind, viz., that of Urijah : he suffered for his prophecies, but they imply, though they do not venture to express it, that thereby sin has been added to sin, and that it has done no good to Jelioiakim, for that the notorious condition of the state at this time shows that a heavier vengeance is impending if they persevere in such acts of violence. [Calvin.] 33. Jelioiakim sent . . . into Eypt—He had been put on the throne by Pharaoh of Egypt (2 Kings 23. .34). This explains the readiness with which he got the Egyptians to give up Urijah to him, when that prophet had sought an asylum In Egypt. Urijah was faithful in delivering his message, but faulty in leaving his work, so God permitted him to lose his life, while Jeremiah was protected in danger. Tlie path of duty is often the path of safety. 33. graves of
I'niulsli not a avoitI—(Deuteronomy 4. 2; 12.32; Proverbs
30. B; Acts 20. 27 ; 2 Corinthians 2. 17; 4. 2; Revelation 22. 19.) Kot buppre-ssing or solteniug auglit for fear of giving offonee; nor setting fortli coldly and indirectly what can only by forcible siatcmentdo good. 3. If so be—expressed according to human conceptions; not as if God did not forelinow all contingencies, but to mark the obstinacy of the people and the difficulty of healing them; and to show His own goodness in making the offer wliich left them without excuse. [Calvin.] 5. propliets — the inspired Interpreters of the law (v. 4), who adapted it to tlie use of the people. G. like ShlloU—(iVoe, ch. 7. 12, 14; 1 Samuel
4. 10-12; Psalm 78. 60.) curse-(Ch. 24. 9; Isaiah ft5. 15). 8. priests—The captain (or prefect) of the temple had the power of apprehending offenders in the temple with the Kanctlon of the priests, prophets-the false prophets. The charge against Jeremiah was that of uttering falsehood in Jehovali's name, an act punishable with death (Deuteronomy 18.20). Kis prophecy against the temple and city (v. 11) might speciously be represented as contradicting God's own words (Psalm 132. 14). Cf. the similar charge against Steplien (Acts 6. 13, 14). 10. princes—members of the Council of State or Great Council, which took cognizance of such offences, heard—the clamour of the popular tumult, came up-from the king's house to the temple, which stood higher than the palace, sat— as judges. In the gate, the usual place of trying such cases, new gate—originally built by Jotham (2 Kings 15. 35, "the higher gate") and now recently restored. 13. Lord sent i«je—a valid justification against any laws alleged against tlie common people lit., so)is of the people (cf. 2 Kings 23.
6). The prophets seem to have had a separate cemetery (Matthew 23. 29). Urijah's corpse was denied this honour, in order that he should not be regarded as a true prophet. 3*. Ahikam—son of Sliaphan the scribe, or royal secretary. He was one of those whom King Josiah, when struck by the words of the book of the law, sent to inquire of the Lord (2 Kings 22. 12, 14). Hence his interference here in behalf of Jeremiah is what we should expect from his past association with that good king. His son, Gedaliah, followed in his father's steps, so that he was chosen by the Babylonians as the one to whom they committed Jeremiah for safety after taking Jerusalem, and on whose loyalty tliey could depend in setting him over the remnant of the people in Judea (ch. 89. 14; 2 Kings 25. 22). people to put him to death—Princes often, when they want to destroy a good man, prefer it to be done by a popular tumult rather than by their own order, so as to reap the fruit of the crime without odium to themselves (Matthew 27. 20).
111 in. against . . . against—ratlier, concerninr/. Jeremiah purposely avoids saying, "against," which would needlessly irritate. They had used the same Hebrew word
(v. 11), which ought to be trmi Maled concerning , though they meant it in the unfavourable sense. Jeremiah takes up their word in a better sense, implying that there is still room for repentance: that his prophecies aim at the real good of the city; for or concerning this house . . . city. [Grotics.] 1.3. CVer. 3, 19.) 14. Jeremiah's humility is herein shown, and submission to the powers that be (Romans 13. 1). 15. bring . . , upon yourselves—So far will you be from escaping the predicted evils by shedding my blood, that you will, by that very act, only incur heavier penalties (Afjuttliew 25. 35). 16. princes . . . all the people —The fickle people, as they were previously influenced by the priests to clamour for liis death (u. 8), so now under the princes' influence require that he shall not be put to death.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Cf. as to Jesus, Jeremiah's antitype, the hosannas of the multitude a few days before the same people, persuaded
Ver. 1-22. The Futility of Resisting Nebuchadnezzar ILLUSTRATED TO THE AMBASSADORS OF THE Kings, desiring to have the King op Judah confederate with them, under the Type of Yokes. Jeremiah exhorteth them and Zedekiah to yield. 1. Jcholaklm—The prophecy that follows was according to this reading given in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, fifteen years before it was published in the reign of Zedekiah to whom it refers; it was thus long deposited in the prophet's bosom, in order that by It he might be supported under trials in his prophetic career In the interim. [Calvin.] But " Zedekiah " may be the true reading. So the Syriac and Arabic Versions. Ver. 3, 12; ch. 28. 1, con • firms this. Also, one of Kennicotts MSS. The English Version reading may have originated from the first verstj ofch.26. " Son of Josiah " applies to Zedekiah as truly a> to " Jehoialcim " or " Eliakim." The fourth year raay , in a general sense here, as in ch. 28. 1, be called " the beginning of his reign," as it lasted eleven years (2 Kings 21. 18). It was not long after the fourth year of his reign that ho rebello<l against Nebuchadnezzar (ch. 51. 59; 52.3; 2 Kings by the priests as in this case, cried. Away with Him, crucify Him (Matthew 21., and 27. 20-25). The priests, tlirough envy of his lioly zeal, were more his enemies than the princes, whose of Hce was more secular than religious. A prophet could not legally be put to death unless he prophesied in the name of other gods (therefore, they say, "in the name of the Lord"), or after that his propliecy had failed in its accomplishment. Meanwhile, if he foretold calamity, he might be imprisoned. Cf. Micrtiah'scase (1 Kings 22. 1-28). 17. Cf. Gamaliel's interposition (Acts 5.34, &c.). elders—some of tlie "princes" mentioned {v. 10), those whose age, as well as dignity, would give weight to the precedents of past times which they adduce. 18. (Jlicah 3. 12.) Morastliite—called so from a village of the tribe Judah. Hezekiah—The precedent in the reign of such a good king proved tliat Jeremiah was not tlie only prophet, or the first, who threatened tlie city and the temple without incurring death, mountain of the home—Moriah, on which stood the temple (peculiarly called "iAe house") shall be covered with woods instead of buildings. Jeremiah, in quoting previous prophecies, never does so without alteration ; he adapts the language to his own style, showing thereby his authority In his treatment of Scripture, as being him-
21. 20), in violation of an oath before God (2 Chronicles 30.
13). a. bonds—by which the yoke is made fast to the neck (ch.5. 5). yokes lit., the carved piece of wood attached at both ends to the two yokes on the necks of a pair of oxen, so as to connect them. Here the yoke itself. The plural is used, as lie was to wear one himself, ami give the others to the ambassadors (v. 3; ch. 28. 10, 12), proves 633 self inspired. 19. Hezekiah, so far from killing him, was led " to fe.'ir the Lord," and pray for remission of the sentence against Judah (2 Chronicles 32. 26). Iord repented —(Exodus 32. U; 2 Samuel 21. 16.) Thu»—if we kill Jere-
The Removal of the Sacred Vessels Foretold. JEREMIAH XXVIII. Hananiah's FaUe Prophecy.
of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah. 19. (Ch. 52. 17, 20, 21.) 33. until ... I visit them—in wrath by Cyrus (ch. 32. 5). In seventy years from the first carrying away of captives ia Jelioiachin's reign (ch. 29. 10; 2 Chronicles 36. 21). restore them—by the hand of Cyrus (Ezra 1. 7). By Artaxerxes (Ezra 7. 19).
that the symbolical act was in this instance (though not in olliei s, ch. 25. 15) actually done (cf. Isaiah 20. 2, ic. ; Ezekiel 12. 3, 11, IS). 3. Appropriate symbol, as lhe.se ambassadors had come to Jerusalem to consultas to shaking off the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar. According to Plierecydes in Clemens Alexandrinus Stromaleis, 507, Idanthura, king of the Scythians, intimated to Darius, wlio had crossed the Danube, that he would lead an army against him, by sending him, instead of a letter, a mouse, a frog, a bird, an
CHAPTER XXVITI.
Ver. 1-17. Prophecies Immediately following thosk IN chap. 27. HANANIAH breaks the YOKE.S TO SIQKiPY THAT Nebuchadnezzar's Yoke shall be broken. Jerkmiah foretells that Yokes of Ikon are to succeed those of Wood, and that Hananiah shall die.
and a plough. The task assigned to Jeremiah required great faith, as it was sure to provoke alike his own oountiymen and the foreign ambassadors and their kings, by a seeming insult, at the very time that all were full of confident hopes grounded on the confederacy. 5. God
1. In the beginning of the reign of Zedeklali—The Jew3 often divided any period into two halves, the beginning and the end. As Zedekiah reigned eleven years, the fourth year would be called the beginning of his reign : especially as during the first three years affairs were in such a disturbed state that he had little power or dignity, being a tributary; but in the fourth year he became strong in power. Hananiah—Another of this name was one ot the three godly youtlis who braved Nebuchadnezzar's wrath in the fear of God (Daniel 1. 6, 7; 3. 12). Probably a hear relation, for Azariah is associated with him ; as Azur with the Hananiah here. The godly and ungodly are often in the same family (Ezekiel 18. 14-'20). GIbeou—one of the here, as elsewhere, connects with the symbol doctrine, which is as it were its soul, without which it would be not only cold and frivolous, but even dead. [Calvin.] God's mention of His supreme power is in order to refute the pride of those who rely on their own power (Isaiah 45.
12). given it imto whom it seemed meet nnto me (Psalm 115. 15, 16; Daniel 4. 17, 2.5, 32.) Not for his merits, but of my own sole good pleasure. [EsTitJS.] 6. beasts of tUe fleld—Not merely the horses to carry his Chaldean soldiers, and oxen to draw his provisions [Grotius]; not merely the deserts, mountains, and woods, the haunts of wild beasts, implying his unlimited extent of empire cities of the priests, to which order he must have belonged. 3. broken the yoke—/ have determined to break : referring to Jeremiah's prophecy (ch. 27. 12). 3. two. full years lit., years of days. So "a month of days," i.e., all
I EsTius]; but the beasts themselves by a mysterious instinct of nature. A reproof to men that they did not recognize God's will, which the very beasts acknowledged
(cf. Isaiah 1. 3). As the beasts are to submit to Christ, the Restorer of the dominion over nature, lost by the first Adam (cf. Genesis 1. 2S; 2. 19, 'lO; Psalm 8. 6-8), so they were appointed to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, the representaits days complete (Genesis 29. 14, Margin ; 41. 1). It was marvellous presumption to speak so definitely without having any Divine revelation. 4. bring again—Jeconiah —not necessarily implying that Hananiah wished Zedekiah to be superseded by Jeconiah. The main point intended was, that the restoration from Babylon should be complete. But, doubtless, the false prophet foretold Jeconiah's return (2 Kings 24. 12-15), to ingratiate himself with the populace, with whom Jeconiah was a favourite (ch.
ti ve of the world-power and prefigurer of Antichrist ; this universal power was suffered to be held by him to show the unfitness of any to wield it "until He come whose right:t is" (Ezekiel 21. 27). 7. son . . . son's son—(2 Chronicles
3d. 20). Nebuchadnezzar had four successors—Evil-merodach, his «on,- Neriglissar, husband of Nebuchadnezzar's daughter; his son, Labosodarchod ; and Naboned (with whom his son, Belshazzar, was joint king), son of Evilmerodach. But Neriglissar and Labosodarchod were not in the direct mdle line ; so that the prophecy held good to " his son and his son's son," and the intermediate two are omitted, time of liis land— i. e., of its subjugation or its being "visited" in wrath (v. 22; ch. 25. 12; 29. 10; 50. 27; Daniel .5. 26). serve themselves of htm—make him their -servant (ch. 2.3. 14 ; Isaiah 13. 22). So " his day" for the destined day of his calamity (Job 18. 20). 8. until I have consumed thein by his Ikund—until by these consuming visitations I have brought them under his power. 9. ye
22. 24, Note). 5. the prophet Jeremiah—the epithet, " the prophet," is prefixed to "Jeremiah" throughout this chapter, to correspond to the same epithet before "Hananiah :" except v. 12, where " the jn-ophct" Injs been inserted in English Version. The rival claims of the true and the false prophet are thus put in the more prominent contrast. 6. Amen—Jeremiah prays for the people, though constrained to prophesy against them (1 Kings 1. 30). The ei'cn/ was the appointed test between contradictory predictions (Deuteronomy IS. 21, 22). "Would that what you say were true!" I prefer the safety of my country even to my own estimation. The prophets had no pleasure iu announcing God's judgment, but did so as a matter of stern duty, not thereby divesting themselves of their natural feelings of sorrow for their country's woe. Cf. Exodus 32. 32; Romans 9. 3, as instances of how God's servants, intent only on the glory of God and the salvation of the country, forgat self, and uttered wishes in a state of feeling transported out of themselves. So Jeremiah wished not to diminish aught from the word of God, though as a Jew he uttered the wish for his people. [Calvin.] 8. prophets . . . before me— Hosea, Joel, Amos, and others, evil—a few MSS. road famine, which is more usually associated with the specification of war and pestilence (ch. 15. 2; 18. 21; 27. 8, 13). But evil here includes all the calamities flowing from war, not merely famine, but also desolatio}), Ac. Evil being the more diflicult reading, tlie Jews especially, lor whom the addrass to the rest was intended, enchanters—augurs [Calvin], from a root, the eyes, i.e., lookers at the stars and other means of taking omens of futurity ; or another root, a fixed time, observers of times: forbidden in the law (Leviticus li). 26; Deuteronomy 18. 10, 11, 14). 10. to remove you—expressing Uie went which would result. The very thing they profess by their encliantments to avert, they are by them bringing on you. Better to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, and remain in your land, than to rebel, and be removed from it. H. aerve . . . till It—The same Hebrew root expresses serve and till; or cultivate. Sei~ve ye tlie king of Babylon, and the land will serve you. [Calvin.J l!4. I spake also—im/ijkUe, " And I spake," &c. Special application of the subject to Zedekiah. 13. Why . . . die—by running on your own ruin in resisting Nebuchadnezzar after this warning (Ezekiel 18. 31). 14. lie—(Ch. 14. 14.) 15. In my name—the devil often makes God's name the plea for lies (Matthew is less likely to be the interpolated one than famine, which probably originated in copying the parallel passages. 9. peace—Hananiah had given no warning as to the need of conversion, but had foretold prospn-ity unconditionally. Jeremiah does not say that all are true prophets who fore-
4. 6; 7. 22, 23; v. 1.5-20, the test whereby to know false prophets). 16. Tlie " vessels" had been carried away to Babylon in the reign of Jiu'oniali (2 Kings 24. 13) ; also previously in that of Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 36. 5-7). 18. at .Terusnlem— i. e., in other houses coiilainiiig such vessels, besides the house of God and the king's palace. Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard under Nebuchadnezzar, carried all away (2 Kings a>. 13-17; 2 Chronicles 36. 18). The more tell truths in any instance (which Dcuteronoiiiy l.S. I 2, disproves); but asserts only the converse, iiz., that whoever as Hananiah predicts what tlui event doe,s not confirm, is a false prophet. There are two tests of prophets:
(1.) The event, Deuteronomy IS. 22. (2.) The Yi'ord of God, Isaiah 8. 29. 10. the yoke—(Ch. 27. 2.) Impious audacity o break what God had appointed as a solemn pledge of co.stly vessels had been previously removed in the reigns