Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations Volume 2 John Calvin
Jeremiah 31
CHAPTER 31
Jeremiah 31:1-2
1. At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
1. In tempore illo, dicit Jehova, ero in Deum cunctis cognationibus Israel; et ipsi mihi in populum.
2. Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
2. Sic dicit Jehova, Invenit gratiam in deserto populus qui evaserant a gladio, proficiscendo donec quietem daret ipsi Israeli (vel profectus est Israel, donec se ad quietem conferret)
I omit here any remarks on the first verse; for it was explained in connection, with the 22d verse of the last chapter (Jeremiah 30:22). The verb {}הלוךeluk, in the second verse, is in the infinitive mood, but it is to be taken as a preterite, and in this interpreters agree. But some apply it to God, that he is a leader to his people, until he brings them to rest; and as the verb, {,}להרגיעוlaeregiou, to rest him, so to speak, is in Hiphil, it seems that this ought to be ascribed to God. But we may take the words more simply, ``until he betakes himself to rest;'' added afterwards is the word ``Israel;'' and thus we may render the pronoun ``himself,'' and not ``him,'' --- until then he betook himself to rest 247
247The early versions and the Targum vary much as to the meaning of this and the following verse. The nearest to the Original, as a whole, is the Vulg.; the Sept. go wholly astray. Of all the expositions which have been given, that of Calvin seems the best, as it corresponds more with the Hebrew. I render the second verse thus, — Thus saith Jehovah, — Find favor in the wilderness Did the people, the remnants of the sword, When proceeding to his rest was Israel. I take {{הלוךas a participle, the auxiliary verb being understood, as the case often is in Hebrew. Preceded by a preposition, and followed by a pronoun, {}הרגיעis a verb in the infinitive mood, used as a noun. Twelve MSS., says Blayney, have {}הלךa past tense in Kal: if so, then the meaning would be more striking, though somewhat elliptical, --- Proceed (or advance) to his rest did Israel. As though he had said, ``The people, who escaped the sword of Pharaoh and the slaughters which happened to them, found favor during their passage through the wilderness, and notwithstanding all opposition, Israel advanced forward to