Commentary on Jeremiah Volume 1 John Calvin
Chapter
Lecture Fifty-Fifth
Jeremiah 14:1
1. The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
1. Quod fuit verbum Jehovte ad Jeremiam super verbis prohibitionum.
Though the Prophet does not distinctly express that what had not yet happened was divinely revealed to him, yet it may be easily gathered that it was a prophecy with reference to what was future. Of this sterility nothing is recorded in sacred history: there is, however, no doubt but God had in an unusual manner afflicted the Jews, as previously in the days of Ahab. As then a drought was near at hand which would cause great scarcity, his purpose was to forewarn the Jews of it before the time, that they might know that the dryness did not happen by chance, but was an evidence of God's vengeance. And we know that whenever any adversity happens, the causes of it are sought in the world, so that hardly any one regards the hand of him who smites. But when there is a year of sterility, we consult astrology, and think that it is owing to the influence of the stars: thus God's judgment is overlooked. As then men contrive so many expedients by which they throw aside the consideration of Divine judgment, it was necessary that the Prophet should speak of the sterility mentioned here before it happened, and point it out as it were by the finger, though it was yet not made manifest.
He therefore says that the word of God came to him respecting the words of restraints 360 Though {,}דברdeber, signifies a thing or a business or concern, yet, what seems here to be intended is the contrast between {,}דברdeber, the word of 360The Septuagint express it in one word, "{ἀζροχία} --- the want of rain;'' the Vulgate, by words of dryness, or drought: and the Syriac, by ``defect of rain.'' We may take ``words'' here in the sense of effects; so we may render the Hebrew, ``concerning the effects of restraints;'' and the last word is put in the plural number because there was a twofold restraint, --- that of the heavens from rain, and that of the earth from producing fruit. The ``effects'' of these restraints are described in the following verses. --- Ed