2 And go forth H3318 unto the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 which is by the entry H6607 of the east H2777 gate, H8179 and proclaim H7121 there the words H1697 that I shall tell H1696 thee,
And the border H1366 went up H5927 by the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom H2011 unto the south H5045 side H3802 of the Jebusite; H2983 the same is Jerusalem: H3389 and the border H1366 went up H5927 to the top H7218 of the mountain H2022 that lieth before H6440 the valley H1516 of Hinnom H2011 westward, H3220 which is at the end H7097 of the valley H6010 of the giants H7497 northward: H6828
And he defiled H2930 Topheth, H8612 which is in the valley H1516 of the children H1121 H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 that no man H376 might make his son H1121 or his daughter H1323 to pass through H5674 the fire H784 to Molech. H4432
And they built H1129 the high places H1116 of Baal, H1168 which are in the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 to cause their sons H1121 and their daughters H1323 to pass H5674 through the fire unto Molech; H4432 which I commanded H6680 them not, neither came H5927 it into my mind, H3820 that they should do H6213 this abomination, H8441 to cause Judah H3063 to sin. H2398
And they have built H1129 the high places H1116 of Tophet, H8612 which is in the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 to burn H8313 their sons H1121 and their daughters H1323 in the fire; H784 which I commanded H6680 them not, neither came H5927 it into my heart. H3820 Therefore, behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that it shall no more be called H559 Tophet, H8612 nor the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 but the valley H1516 of slaughter: H2028 for they shall bury H6912 in Tophet, H8612 till there be no H369 place. H4725
And he caused H5674 his children H1121 to pass through H5674 the fire H784 in the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom: H2011 also he observed times, H6049 and used enchantments, H5172 and used witchcraft, H3784 and dealt H6213 with a familiar spirit, H178 and with wizards: H3049 he wrought H6213 much H7235 evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 to provoke him to anger. H3707
Moreover he burnt incense H6999 in the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 and burnt H1197 his children H1121 in the fire, H784 after the abominations H8441 of the heathen H1471 whom the LORD H3068 had cast out H3423 before H6440 the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
What G3739 I tell G3004 you G5213 in G1722 darkness, G4653 that speak ye G2036 in G1722 light: G5457 and G2532 what G3739 ye hear G191 in G1519 the ear, G3775 that preach ye G2784 upon G1909 the housetops. G1430
After H310 them repaired H2388 Zadok H6659 the son H1121 of Immer H564 over against his house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 also Shemaiah H8098 the son H1121 of Shechaniah, H7935 the keeper H8104 of the east H4217 gate. H8179
Arise, H6965 go H3212 unto Nineveh, H5210 that great H1419 city, H5892 and preach H7121 unto it the preaching H7150 that I bid H1696 thee.
Moreover he said H559 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 all my words H1697 that I shall speak H1696 unto thee receive H3947 in thine heart, H3824 and hear H8085 with thine ears. H241 And go, H3212 get H935 thee to them of the captivity, H1473 unto the children H1121 of thy people, H5971 and speak H1696 unto them, and tell H559 them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 whether they will hear, H8085 or whether they will forbear. H2308
Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Stand H5975 in the court H2691 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 and speak H1696 unto all the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 which come H935 to worship H7812 in the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 all the words H1697 that I command H6680 thee to speak H1696 unto them; diminish H1639 not a word: H1697
Then the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Proclaim H7121 all these words H1697 in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and in the streets H2351 of Jerusalem, H3389 saying, H559 Hear H8085 ye the words H1697 of this covenant, H1285 and do H6213 them.
Go H1980 and proclaim H7121 these words H1697 toward the north, H6828 and say, H559 Return, H7725 thou backsliding H4878 Israel, H3478 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 and I will not cause mine anger H6440 to fall H5307 upon you: for I am merciful, H2623 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and I will not keep H5201 anger for ever. H5769
But the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Say H559 not, I am a child: H5288 for thou shalt go H3212 to all that I shall send H7971 thee, and whatsoever I command H6680 thee thou shalt speak. H1696
Wisdom H2454 crieth H7442 without; H2351 she uttereth H5414 her voice H6963 in the streets: H7339 She crieth H7121 in the chief place H7218 of concourse, H1993 in the openings H6607 of the gates: H8179 in the city H5892 she uttereth H559 her words, H561 saying, How long, ye simple ones, H6612 will ye love H157 simplicity? H6612 and the scorners H3887 delight H2530 in their scorning, H3944 and fools H3684 hate H8130 knowledge? H1847
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 19
Commentary on Jeremiah 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
Jer 19:1-15. The Desolation of the Jews for Their Sins Foretold in the Valley of Hinnom; the Symbol of Breaking a Bottle.
Referred by Maurer, &c., to the beginning of Zedekiah's reign.
1. bottle—Hebrew, bakuk, so called from the gurgling sound which it makes when being emptied.
ancients—elders. As witnesses of the symbolic action (Jer 19:10; Isa 8:1, 2), that the Jews might not afterwards plead ignorance of the prophecy. The seventy-two elders, composing the Sanhedrim, or Great Council, were taken partly from "the priests," partly from the other tribes, that is, "the people," the former presiding over spiritual matters, the latter over civil; the seventy-two represented the whole people.
2. valley of the son of Hinnom—or Tophet, south of Jerusalem, where human victims were offered, and children made to pass through the fire, in honor of Molech.
east gate—Margin, "sun gate," sunrise being in the east. Maurer translates, the "potter's gate." Through it lay the road to the valley of Hinnom (Jos 15:8). The potters there formed vessels for the use of the temple, which was close by (compare Jer 19:10, 14; Jer 18:2; Zec 11:13). The same as "the water gate toward the east" (Ne 3:26; 12:37); so called from the brook Kedron. Calvin translates, as English Version and Margin. "It was monstrous perversity to tread the law under foot in so conspicuous a place, over which the sun daily rising reminded them of the light of God's law."
3. The scene of their guilt is chosen as the scene of the denunciation against them.
kings—the king and queen (Jer 13:18); or including the king's counsellors and governors under him.
tingle—as if struck by a thunder peal (1Sa 3:11; 2Ki 21:12).
4. (Isa 65:11).
estranged this place—devoted it to the worship of strange gods: alienating a portion of the sacred city from God, the rightful Lord of the temple, city, and whole land.
nor their fathers—namely, the godly among them; their ungodly fathers God makes no account of.
blood of innocents—slain in honor of Molech (Jer 7:31; Ps 106:37).
5. commanded not—nay, more, I commanded the opposite (Le 18:21; see Jer 7:31, 32).
6. no more … Tophet—from Hebrew, toph, "drum"; for in sacrificing children to Molech drums were beaten to drown their cries. Thus the name indicated the joy of the people at the fancied propitiation of the god by this sacrifice; in antithesis to its joyless name subsequently.
valley of slaughter—It should be the scene of slaughter, no longer of children, but of men; not of "innocents" (Jer 19:4), but of those who richly deserved their fate. The city could not be assailed without first occupying the valley of Hinnom, in which was the only fountain: hence arose the violent battle there.
7. make void the counsel—defeat their plans for repelling the enemy (2Ch 32:1-4; Isa 19:3; 22:9, 11). Or their schemes of getting help by having recourse to idols [Calvin].
in this place—The valley of Hinnom was to be the place of the Chaldean encampment; the very place where they looked for help from idols was to be the scene of their own slaughter.
8. (See on Jer 18:16).
9. (De 28:53; La 4:10).
10. break … bottle—a symbolical action, explained in Jer 19:11.
the men—the elders of the people and of the priests (Jer 19:1; compare Jer 51:63, 64).
11. as one breaketh a potter's vessel—expressing God's absolute sovereignty (Jer 18:6; Ps 2:9; Isa 30:14, Margin; La 4:2; Ro 9:20, 21).
cannot be made whole again—A broken potter's vessel cannot be restored, but a new one may be made of the same material. So God raised a new Jewish seed, not identical with the destroyed rebels, but by substituting another generation in their stead [Grotius].
no place to bury—(Jer 7:32).
12. make this city as Tophet—that is, as defiled with dead bodies as Tophet.
13. shall be defiled—with dead bodies (Jer 19:12; 2Ki 23:10).
because of all the houses—Rather, (explanatory of the previous "the houses … and … houses"), "even all the houses," &c. [Calvin].
roofs—being flat, they were used as high places for sacrifices to the sun and planets (Jer 32:29; 2Ki 23:11, 12; Zep 1:5). The Nabateans, south and east of the Dead Sea, a nation most friendly to the Jews, according to Strabo, had the same usage.
14. court of the Lord's house—near Tophet; the largest court, under the open air, where was the greatest crowd (2Ch 20:5).
15. her towns—the suburban villages and towns near Jerusalem, such as Bethany.