21 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of the men H582 of Anathoth, H6068 that seek H1245 thy life, H5315 saying, H559 Prophesy H5012 not in the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 that thou die H4191 not by our hand: H3027
Nevertheless G4133 I G3165 must G1163 walk G4198 to day, G4594 and G2532 to morrow, G839 and G2532 the day following: G2192 for G3754 it cannot be G3756 G1735 that a prophet G4396 perish G622 out of G1854 Jerusalem. G2419 O Jerusalem, G2419 Jerusalem, G2419 which G3588 killest G615 the prophets, G4396 and G2532 stonest G3036 them that are sent G649 unto G4314 thee; G846 how often G4212 would G2309 I have gathered G1996 thy G4675 children G5043 together, G1996 as G3739 G5158 a hen G3733 doth gather her G1438 brood G3555 under G5259 her wings, G4420 and G2532 ye would G2309 not! G3756
If thou hast run H7323 with the footmen, H7273 and they have wearied H3811 thee, then how canst thou contend H8474 with horses? H5483 and if in the land H776 of peace, H7965 wherein thou trustedst, H982 they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do H6213 in the swelling H1347 of Jordan? H3383 For even thy brethren, H251 and the house H1004 of thy father, H1 even they have dealt treacherously H898 with thee; yea, they have called H7121 a multitude H4392 after H310 thee: believe H539 them not, though they speak H1696 fair words H2896 unto thee.
Ye stiffnecked G4644 and G2532 uncircumcised G564 in heart G2588 and G2532 ears, G3775 ye G5210 do G496 always G104 resist G496 the Holy G40 Ghost: G4151 as G5613 your G5216 fathers G3962 did, so G2532 do ye. G5210 Which G5101 of the prophets G4396 have G1377 not G3756 your G5216 fathers G3962 persecuted? G1377 and G2532 they have slain G615 them which G3588 shewed before G4293 of G4012 the coming G1660 of the Just One; G1342 of whom G3739 ye G5210 have been G1096 now G3568 the betrayers G4273 and G2532 murderers: G5406
Wherefore, G1223 G5124 behold, G2400 I G1473 send G649 unto G4314 you G5209 prophets, G4396 and G2532 wise men, G4680 and G2532 scribes: G1122 and G2532 some of G1537 them G846 ye shall kill G615 and G2532 crucify; G4717 and G2532 some of G1537 them G846 shall ye scourge G3146 in G1722 your G5216 synagogues, G4864 and G2532 persecute G1377 them from G575 city G4172 to G1519 city: G4172 That G3704 upon G1909 you G5209 may come G2064 all G3956 the righteous G1342 blood G129 shed G1632 upon G1909 the earth, G1093 from G575 the blood G129 of righteous G1342 Abel G6 unto G2193 the blood G129 of Zacharias G2197 son G5207 of Barachias, G914 whom G3739 ye slew G5407 between G3342 the temple G3485 and G2532 the altar. G2379 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 All G3956 these things G5023 shall come G2240 upon G1909 this G5026 generation. G1074 O Jerusalem, G2419 Jerusalem, G2419 thou that killest G615 the prophets, G4396 and G2532 stonest G3036 them which are sent G649 unto G4314 thee, G846 how often G4212 would I G2309 have gathered G1996 thy G4675 G3739 children G5043 together, G1996 even as G5158 a hen G3733 gathereth G1996 her G1438 chickens G3556 under G5259 her wings, G4420 and G2532 ye would G2309 not! G3756
Now Pashur H6583 the son H1121 of Immer H564 the priest, H3548 who was also chief H6496 governor H5057 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 heard H8085 that Jeremiah H3414 prophesied H5012 these things. H1697 Then Pashur H6583 smote H5221 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet, H5030 and put H5414 him in the stocks H4115 that were in the high H5945 gate H8179 of Benjamin, H1144 which was by the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
Think G3543 not G3361 that G3754 I am come G2064 to send G906 peace G1515 on G1909 earth: G1093 I came G2064 not G3756 to send G906 peace, G1515 but G235 a sword. G3162 For G1063 I am come G2064 to set G1369 a man G444 at variance G1369 against G2596 his G846 father, G3962 and G2532 the daughter G2364 against G2596 her G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 the daughter in law G3565 against G2596 her G846 mother in law. G3994 And G2532 a man's G444 foes G2190 shall be they of his own G846 household. G3615
Prophesy H5197 ye not, say they to them that prophesy: H5197 they shall not prophesy H5197 to them, that they shall not take H5253 shame. H3639 O thou that art named H559 the house H1004 of Jacob, H3290 is the spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 straitened? H7114 are these his doings? H4611 do not my words H1697 do good H3190 to him that walketh H1980 uprightly? H3477 Even of late H865 my people H5971 is risen up H6965 as an enemy: H341 ye pull off H6584 the robe H145 with H4136 the garment H8008 from them that pass H5674 by securely H983 as men averse H7725 from war. H4421 The women H802 of my people H5971 have ye cast out H1644 from their pleasant H8588 houses; H1004 from their children H5768 have ye taken away H3947 my glory H1926 for ever. H5769 Arise H6965 ye, and depart; H3212 for this is not your rest: H4496 because it is polluted, H2930 it shall destroy H2254 you, even with a sore H4834 destruction. H2256 If H3863 a man H376 walking H1980 in the spirit H7307 and falsehood H8267 do lie, H3576 saying, I will prophesy H5197 unto thee of wine H3196 and of strong drink; H7941 he shall even be the prophet H5197 of this people. H5971
But prophesy H5012 not again H3254 any more at Bethel: H1008 for it is the king's H4428 chapel, H4720 and it is the king's H4467 court. H1004 Then answered H6030 Amos, H5986 and said H559 to Amaziah, H558 I was no prophet, H5030 neither was I a prophet's H5030 son; H1121 but I was an herdman, H951 and a gatherer H1103 of sycomore fruit: H8256 And the LORD H3068 took H3947 me as I followed H310 the flock, H6629 and the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Go, H3212 prophesy H5012 unto my people H5971 Israel. H3478 Now therefore hear H8085 thou the word H1697 of the LORD: H3068 Thou sayest, H559 Prophesy H5012 not against Israel, H3478 and drop H5197 not thy word against the house H1004 of Isaac. H3446
Then Shephatiah H8203 the son H1121 of Mattan, H4977 and Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Pashur, H6583 and Jucal H3116 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 and Pashur H6583 the son H1121 of Malchiah, H4441 heard H8085 the words H1697 that Jeremiah H3414 had spoken H1696 unto all the people, H5971 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 He that remaineth H3427 in this city H5892 shall die H4191 by the sword, H2719 by the famine, H7458 and by the pestilence: H1698 but he that goeth forth H3318 to the Chaldeans H3778 shall live; H2421 for he shall have his life H5315 for a prey, H7998 and shall live. H2421 H2425 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 This city H5892 shall surely H5414 be given H5414 into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Babylon's H894 army, H2428 which shall take H3920 it. Therefore the princes H8269 said H559 unto the king, H4428 We beseech thee, let this man H376 be put to death: H4191 for thus H3651 he weakeneth H7503 the hands H3027 of the men H582 of war H4421 that remain H7604 in this city, H5892 and the hands H3027 of all the people, H5971 in speaking H1696 such words H1697 unto them: for this man H376 seeketh H1875 not the welfare H7965 of this people, H5971 but the hurt. H7451 Then Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 said, H559 Behold, he is in your hand: H3027 for the king H4428 is not he that can H3201 do any thing H1697 against you. Then took H3947 they Jeremiah, H3414 and cast H7993 him into the dungeon H953 of Malchiah H4441 the son H1121 of Hammelech, H4428 that was in the court H2691 of the prison: H4307 and they let down H7971 Jeremiah H3414 with cords. H2256 And in the dungeon H953 there was no water, H4325 but mire: H2916 so Jeremiah H3414 sunk H2883 in the mire. H2916
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 11
Commentary on Jeremiah 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Jer 11:1-23. Epitome of the Covenant Found in the Temple in Josiah's Reign. Judah's Revolt from It, and God's Consequent Wrath.
2. this covenant—alluding to the book of the law (De 31:26) found in the temple by Hilkiah the high priest, five years after Jeremiah's call to the prophetic office (2Ki 22:8-23:25).
Hear ye—Others besides Jeremiah were to promulgate God's will to the people; it was the duty of the priests to read the law to them (Mal 2:7).
3. (De 27:26; Ga 3:10).
4. in the day—that is, when. The Sinaitic covenant was made some time after the exodus, but the two events are so connected as to be viewed as one.
iron furnace—(De 4:20; 1Ki 8:51). "Furnace" expresses the searching ordeal; "iron," the long duration of it. The furnace was of earth, not of iron (Ps 12:6); a furnace, in heat and duration enough to melt even iron. God's deliverance of them from such an ordeal aggravates their present guilt.
do them—namely, the words of the covenant (Jer 11:3).
so, &c.—(Le 26:3, 12).
5. oath—(Ps 105:9, 10).
a land flowing with milk and honey—(See on Nu 14:8).
as it is this day—These are the concluding words of God to the Israelites when formerly brought out of Egypt, "Obey … that I may at this time make good the promise I made to your fathers, to give," &c. [Maurer]. English Version makes the words apply to Jeremiah's time, "As ye know at this time, that God's promise has been fulfilled," namely, in Israel's acquisition of Canaan.
So be it—Hebrew, Amen. Taken from De 27:15-26. Jeremiah hereby solemnly concurs in the justice of the curses pronounced there (see Jer 11:3).
6. Jeremiah was to take a prophetic tour throughout Judah, to proclaim everywhere the denunciations in the book of the law found in the temple.
Hear … do—(Ro 2:13; Jas 1:22).
7. rising early—(Jer 7:13).
8. imagination—rather, "stubbornness."
will bring—The words, "even unto this day" (Jer 11:7), confirm English Version rather than the rendering of Rosenmuller: "I brought upon them."
words—threats (Jer 11:3; De 27:15-26).
9. conspiracy—a deliberate combination against God and against Josiah's reformation. Their idolatry is not the result of a hasty impulse (Ps 83:5; Eze 22:25).
11. cry unto me—contrasted with "cry unto the gods," (Jer 11:12).
not hearken—(Ps 18:41; Pr 1:28; Isa 1:15; Mic 3:4).
12. cry unto the gods … not save—(De 32:37, 38). Compare this verse and beginning of Jer 11:13; Jer 2:28.
in the time of their trouble—that is, calamity (Jer 2:27).
13. shameful thing—Hebrew, "shame," namely, the idol, not merely shameful, but the essence of all that is shameful (Jer 3:24; Ho 9:10), which will bring shame and confusion on yourselves [Calvin].
14. There is a climax of guilt which admits of no further intercessory prayer (Ex 32:10, in the Chaldee version, "leave off praying"; Jer 7:16; 1Sa 16:1; 15:35; 1Jo 5:16). Our mind should be at one with God in all that He is doing, even in the rejection of the reprobate.
for their trouble—on account of their trouble. Other manuscripts read, "in the time of their trouble;" a gloss from Jer 11:12.
15. my beloved—My elect people, Judea; this aggravates their ingratitude (Jer 12:7).
lewdness with many—(Eze 16:25). Rather, "that great (or, manifold) enormity"; literally, "the enormity, the manifold"; namely, their idolatry, which made their worship of God in the temple a mockery (compare Jer 7:10; Eze 23:39) [Henderson].
holy flesh—(Hag 2:12-14; Tit 1:15), namely, the sacrifices, which, through the guilt of the Jews, were no longer holy, that is, acceptable to God. The sacrifices on which they relied will, therefore, no longer protect them. Judah is represented as a priest's wife, who, by adultery, has forfeited her share in the flesh of the sacrifices, and yet boasts of her prerogative at the very same time [Horsley].
when thou doest evil—literally, "when thy evil" (is at hand). Piscator translates, "When thy calamity is at hand (according to God's threats), thou gloriest" (against God, instead of humbling thyself). English Version is best (compare Pr 2:14).
16. called thy name—made thee.
olive—(Ps 52:8; Ro 11:17). The "olive" is chosen to represent the adoption of Judah by the free grace of God, as its oil is the image of richness (compare Ps 23:5; 104:15).
with … noise of … tumult—or, "at the noise," &c., namely, at the tumult of the invading army (Isa 13:4) [Maurer]. Or, rather, "with the sound of a mighty voice," namely, that of God, that is, the thunder; thus there is no confusion of metaphors. The tree stricken with lightning has "fire kindled upon it, and the branches are broken," at one and the same time [Houbigant].
17. that planted thee—(Jer 2:21; Isa 5:2).
against themselves—The sinner's sin is to his own hurt (see on Jer 7:19).
18, 19. Jeremiah here digresses to notice the attempt on his life plotted by his townsmen of Anathoth. He had no suspicion of it, until Jehovah revealed it to him (Jer 12:6).
the Lord … thou—The change of person from the third to the second accords with the excited feelings of the prophet.
then—when I was in peril of my life.
their doings—those of the men of Anathoth. His thus alluding to them, before he has mentioned their name, is due to his excitement.
19. lamb—literally, a "pet lamb," such as the Jews often had in their houses, for their children to play with; and the Arabs still have (2Sa 12:3). His own familiar friends had plotted against the prophet. The language is exactly the same as that applied to Messiah (Isa 53:7). Each prophet and patriarch exemplified in his own person some one feature or more in the manifold attributes and sufferings of the Messiah to come; just as the saints have done since His coming (Ga 2:20; Php 3:10; Col 1:24). This adapted both the more experimentally to testify of Christ.
devices—(Jer 18:18).
tree with … fruit—literally, "in its fruit" or "food," that is, when it is in fruit. Proverbial, to express the destruction of cause and effect together. The man is the tree; his teaching, the fruit. Let us destroy the prophet and his prophecies; namely, those threatening destruction to the nation, which offended them. Compare Mt 7:17, which also refers to prophets and their doctrines.
20. triest … heart—(Re 2:23).
revealed—committed my cause. Jeremiah's wish for vengeance was not personal but ministerial, and accorded with God's purpose revealed to him against the enemies alike of God and of His servant (Ps 37:34; 54:7; 112:8; 118:7).
21. Prophesy not—(Isa 30:10; Am 2:12; Mic 2:6). If Jeremiah had not uttered his denunciatory predictions, they would not have plotted against him. None were more bitter than his own fellow townsmen. Compare the conduct of the Nazarites towards Jesus of Nazareth (Lu 4:24-29).
22. The retribution of their intended murder shall be in kind; just as in Messiah's case (Ps 69:8-28).
23. (Jer 23:12).
the year of … visitation—The Septuagint translates, "in the year of their," &c., that is, at the time when I shall visit them in wrath. Jerome supports English Version. "Year" often means a determined time.