Commentary on Jeremiah Volume 1 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
be, --- that the Jews would be so worthless, that no one would buy them: but this is too refined. I doubt not but that the Prophet intimates, that whatever the Jews possessed would become a prey to their enemies, so that it would be taken away from them without any price or bartering; as though he had said, ``Your enemies will freely plunder all that you have without any permission from you, and will regard as their own, even by the right of victory, whatever ye think you have so laid up as never to be taken away.'' 400 He afterwards adds ---
Jeremiah 15:14
14. And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.
14. Et transire faciam ad hostem in terram quam non cognoscis; quia ignis ascensus est in ira mea (alii vertunt, in nare; {}יפאsignificat utrunque) super vos ardebit.
He pursues the same subject. He had said, that they would be exposed as a prey to their enemies, so that all their wealth would be plundered with impunity: he now adds, I will deliver you to the enemy, that is, I will give you into the hands of your enemies, that they may remove you ejsewhere. He afterwards mentions a circumstance, which must have rendered exile much worse; for when any one changes his place and is not led to a distance, the evil is more tolerable; but when any one is carried beyond the sea, or into distant lands, there is a much greater cause for sorrow, as there is no hope of return to one's own country. Then despair increases the grief. Add to this, that not to hear of one's native Iand, as though we were in another world, is also a bitter trial.
The Prophet then adds, Because fire has been kindled in my wrath, and against you it shall burn He means that God would be implacable until they were consumed; for his wrath had been kindled on account of their perverse wickedness.
Now all these things were foretold to them, that they might know that God would execute a just vengeance by making the Chaldeans their conquerors: for they might have thought that this happened by chance, according to what has been said by heathen writers, that the events of war are uncertain, that Mars is indifferent (Cicero in Epist) Thus they ascribe to chance whatever happens through God's providence.
That the Jews then might know that they were chastised by God's hand and by his just vengeance, it was necessary that this should have been declared to them: and therefore he speaks now of the Chaldeans and then of God himself, whose agents the Chaldeans were, for they were guided by his hand. He said before, ``Will iron break the iron from the north?'' This we, have explained of the Chaldeans: but now he turns to God himself, the author of the calamity brought on the Jews: for the Chaldeans could have done nothing, except through his guidance and direction.
400This verse and the following are said by Horsley to be "very obscure:" and there seems to be no way of understanding them, except we regard the Prophet as classed with the people; and the conclusion of verse fourteenth (Jeremiah 15:14) favors the idea, "On you, {,{עליכםit shall burn.'' The Prophet himself did not wholly escape the evils which came on the people. Then this verse and the following I would render thus, --- 13. Thy wealth and thy treasures for spoil will I give, Not for a price, but for all thy sins, Even in all thy borders; 14.
And I will make thine enemies to pass To a land thou knowest not; For a fire has been kindled in my wrath, On you it shall burn.
The ``enemy'' before is now ``enemies.'' The verb ``make to pass,'' has various readings, owing evidently to the similarity of two letters. The versions, except the Vulgate, have ``I will make thee to serve thine enemies;'' but the received text is the most suitable to the passage. Blayney's rendering is, --- I will cause them to pass with thine enemies --- By ``them'' he understands
wealth and thy treasures;'' but this sort of construction can hardly be admitted; and it seems incrongruous. --- Ed.