5 Declare H5046 ye in Judah, H3063 and publish H8085 in Jerusalem; H3389 and say, H559 Blow H8628 ye the trumpet H7782 in the land: H776 cry, H7121 gather together, H4390 and say, H559 Assemble H622 yourselves, and let us go H935 into the defenced H4013 cities. H5892
Why do we sit still? H3427 assemble H622 yourselves, and let us enter H935 into the defenced H4013 cities, H5892 and let us be silent H1826 there: for the LORD H3068 our God H430 hath put us to silence, H1826 and given us water H4325 of gall H7219 to drink, H8248 because we have sinned H2398 against the LORD. H3068
And it came to pass, when Joshua H3091 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 had made an end H3615 of slaying H5221 them with a very H3966 great H1419 slaughter, H4347 till they were consumed, H8552 that the rest H8300 which remained H8277 of them entered H935 into fenced H4013 cities. H5892
O ye children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 gather yourselves to flee H5756 out of the midst H7130 of Jerusalem, H3389 and blow H8628 the trumpet H7782 in Tekoa, H8620 and set up H5375 a sign H4864 of fire in Bethhaccerem: H1021 for evil H7451 appeareth H8259 out of the north, H6828 and great H1419 destruction. H7667
Set the trumpet H7782 to thy mouth. H2441 He shall come as an eagle H5404 against the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 because they have transgressed H5674 my covenant, H1285 and trespassed H6586 against my law. H8451
Declare H5046 this in the house H1004 of Jacob, H3290 and publish H8085 it in Judah, H3063 saying, H559
Who is the wise H2450 man, H376 that may understand H995 this? and who is he to whom the mouth H6310 of the LORD H3068 hath spoken, H1696 that he may declare H5046 it, for what the land H776 perisheth H6 and is burned up H3341 like a wilderness, H4057 that none passeth through? H5674
Hear H8085 ye the words H1697 of this covenant, H1285 and speak H1696 unto the men H376 of Judah, H3063 and to the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem; H3389
But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 came up H5927 into the land, H776 that we said, H559 Come, H935 and let us go H935 to Jerusalem H3389 for fear H6440 of the army H2428 of the Chaldeans, H3778 and for fear H6440 of the army H2428 of the Syrians: H758 so we dwell H3427 at Jerusalem. H3389
Son H1121 of man, H120 speak H1696 to the children H1121 of thy people, H5971 and say H559 unto them, When I bring H935 the sword H2719 upon a land, H776 if the people H5971 of the land H776 take H3947 a H259 man H376 of their coasts, H7097 and set H5414 him for their watchman: H6822 If when he seeth H7200 the sword H2719 come H935 upon the land, H776 he blow H8628 the trumpet, H7782 and warn H2094 the people; H5971 Then whosoever H8085 heareth H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 and taketh not warning; H2094 if the sword H2719 come, H935 and take him away, H3947 his blood H1818 shall be upon his own head. H7218 He heard H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 and took not warning; H2094 his blood H1818 shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning H2094 shall deliver H4422 his soul. H5315 But if the watchman H6822 see H7200 the sword H2719 come, H935 and blow H8628 not the trumpet, H7782 and the people H5971 be not warned; H2094 if the sword H2719 come, H935 and take H3947 any person H5315 from among them, he is taken away H3947 in his iniquity; H5771 but his blood H1818 will I require H1875 at the watchman's H6822 hand. H3027
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 4
Commentary on Jeremiah 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
It should seem that the first two verses of this chapter might better have been joined to the close of the foregoing chapter, for they are directed to Israel, the ten tribes, by way of reply to their compliance with God's call, directing and encouraging them to hold their resolution (v. 1, 2). The rest of the chapter concerns Judah and Jerusalem.
Jer 4:1-2
When God called to backsliding Israel to return (ch. 3:22) they immediately answered, Lord, we return; now God here takes notice of their answer, and, by way of reply to it,
Jer 4:3-4
The prophet here turns his speech, in God's name, to the men of the place where he lived. We have heard what words he proclaimed towards the north (ch. 3:12), for the comfort of those that were now in captivity and were humbled under the hand of God; let us now see what he says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, who were now in prosperity, for their conviction and awakening. In these two verses he exhorts them to repentance and reformation, as the only way left them to prevent the desolating judgments that were ready to break in upon them. Observe,
Jer 4:5-18
God's usual method is to warn before he wounds. In these verses, accordingly, God gives notice to the Jews of the general desolation that would shortly be brought upon them by a foreign invasion. This must be declared and published in all the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, that all might hear and fear, and by this loud alarm be either brought to repentance or left inexcusable. The prediction of this calamity is here given very largely, and in lively expressions, which one would think should have awakened and affected the most stupid. Observe,
Jer 4:19-31
The prophet is here in an agony, and cries out like one upon the rack of pain with some acute distemper, or as a woman in travail. The expressions are very pathetic and moving, enough to melt a heart of stone into compassion: My bowels! my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; and yet well, and in health himself, and nothing ails him. Note, A good man, in such a bad world as this is, cannot but be a man of sorrows. My heart makes a noise in me, through the tumult of my spirits, and I cannot hold my peace. Note, The grievance and the grief sometimes may be such that the most prudent patient man cannot forbear complaining.
Now, what is the matter? What is it that puts the good man into such agitation? It is not for himself, or any affliction in his family that he grieves thus; but it is purely upon the public account, it is his people's case that he lays to heart thus.