Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations Volume 2 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
35. Et peribit fuga a pastoribus, et evasio ab eximiis gregis.
He explains what we have now observed, for he had bidden the pastors to howl and the choice of the flock to roll or to prostrate themselves in the dust; he now gives the reason, even because they could not preserve their lives, no, not by an ignominious flight. It is indeed very miserable, when any one cannot otherwise secure his life than by seeking exile, where he must be poor, and needy, and despised; but even this is denied by the Prophet to the king and his counsellors, as well as to the rich through the whole city and the whole land: Perish, he says, shall flight from them. This mode of speaking is common in Hebrew: ``Flight,'' says David, ``has perished from me,'' *
142:5;) that is, I find no way of escape. So here, Perish shall flight; that is, while looking here and there in order to escape from danger, they shall be so shut up on every side, that they shall necessarily fall a prey to their enemies. It follows, ---
Jeremiah 25:36
36. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.
36. Vox clamoris pastorum et ululatus eximoirum gregis, quia perdidit jehova pascua eorum.
He not merely repeats the same thing in other words, but adds also something more grievous, that God would render desolate their pastures. He pursues the same metaphor; for as he used this comparison in speaking of the king's counsellors and the priests, so now he does the same; and what he means by pastures is the community, the people, in the city and in the country; 154 as though he had said, that they had hitherto ruled over that land which was rich and fertile, and in which they enjoyed power and dignity, but that now they would be deprived of all these benefits.
He afterwards adds, ---
Jeremiah 25:37
37. And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
37. Et peribunt (vel, succidentur, vertunt alii) pascua pacis (tuguria pacis, hos est, tranquilla) a facie excandescentiae (vel, furoris) irae Jehovae.
He goes on with the same subject, that the tents, previously tranquil, would perish or be destroyed. And he designedly calls their dwellings peaceable; for the Jews, having found that their enemies had not before disturbed them, still promised to themselves the same good fortune in future.
And the faithful indeed do act thus rightly, and justly conclude from God's previous benefits that he will be kind to them as he had ever been so; but hypocrites, though they repent not, yet absurdly think that God is bound to them; and though they daily provoke his wrath, they yet securely continue in their confidence of having peace. Since God then had until that time deferred the grievousness of his wrath, the Prophet says, that though their tents had been peaceable, 155 yet they could 154So the Targ. renders the sentence, "For the Lord hath destroyed their people." — Ed. 155The word rendered "tents" means sometimes dwellings, or habitations, and sometimes