Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Vers. 1. RIghteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee]
Or, though I should contend with thee. Isa. 50. 8. Chap. 2. 12. & 10. 2. Thou wouldest be found so to be: he acknowledgeth God to be just in his dealings; though man be not able to conceive, or render, a reason of his doings. Psal. 51. 5. and 73. 1.
let me talk with thee of thy judgements] Or, let me reason the case with thee. Heb speak judgements with thee. Chap. 39. 5.
Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper] This consideration hath from time to time much troubled the godly, Job 21. 7,-14. & Psal. 37. 1. & 73. 2,-12. Hab. 1. 4, 5. and the wicked have thereby taken occasion of encouragement unto evill, Mal. 2. 17. and 3. 15.
that deal very treacherously] Heb. dealing treacherously deal treacherously. Chap. 5. 11.
V. 2. they grow] Heb. they go on. Gen. 26. 13.
thou art neare in their mouth, &c.] They professe thee in word; but denie thee in heart and deed, Psal. 14. 1. & 53. 1. Tit. 1. 16. Or, professe themselves to be thy people, a people neer to thee, Psal. 148. 14. when as they bear no hearty affection to thee, Isa. 29. 13. & 48. 1. & 58. 2. Psal. 78. 34, 37.
and] Or, but. as Isa. 29. 13. Chap. 1. 19.
V. 3. thou, O LORD, knowest me] Thou knowest my sinceritie. Chap. 15. 15. & 17. 16. Psal. 17. 3.
tried mine heart towards thee] Heb. with thee. 2 King. 10. 15.
pull them out like sheep for the slaughter] The issue and upshot of the prosperitie of the wicked; Jam. 5. 5. by the consideration whereof the godly recover, and are strengthened against the former temptation, Psal. 37. 2, 20, 36, 38. & 73. 17,-22. Mal. 3. 18. and 4. 1.
prepare them for the day of slaughter] Heb. sanctifie them. as Isa. 13. 3. Chap. 6. 4.
V. 4. How long shall the land mourn] Either by reason of the drought, and dearth then ensuing, Chap. 14. 1. or, in regard of the wast and havock to be made of all by the enemie, Chap. 4. 25, 26. vers. 10, 11.
for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein] Psal. 107. 34.
the beasts are consumed, and the birds] Chap. 4. 25. and 7. 20. and 9. 10.
because they said] Or, though. as Chap. 10. 2.
He shall not see our last end] Or, he will not see it. Either God; who, they thought, would be better then his word; and not destroy them, notwithstanding their sinnes. Deut. 29. 19. Or, the Prophet; whose words they esteemed but as wind, Chap. 5. 13. Gen. 19. 14.
V. 5. If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses] Heb. close with them. Chap. 22. 15. Gods words to the Prophet, as most take them, reproving him, as farre unable to dispute with God, when he is not able to deal with man: or, demanding how he will be able to bicker with those mightier and more masterfull ones of Jerusalem, when he cannot brook those meaner and more despicable inhabitants of Anathoth. Yet may it well be Gods speech to the people, demanding of them, how they will endure a mightie enemie invading them, when as they are not safe in quiet times from their own neighbours and friends. Chap. 9. 4.
in the land of peace] When the land is quiet, in comparison of what will ensue, Chap. 22. 21.
in the swelling of Jordan] When all shall be in confusion, and in danger to be utterly destroyed, through the enemie overruning it: Isa. 8. 7, 8. & 59. 19. as it is with the low lands bordering upon Jordan, when the river swelleth above his banks, Josh. 3. 15. 1 Chron. 12. 15. Chap. 49. 19. & 50. 44. Zech. 11. 3.
V. 6. even thy brethren, and the hous… of thy father] Chap. 9 4. The men of Anathoth, thy countreymen, allies and kindred, though they make shew of love and good liking to thee outwardly, yet are covertly plotting thy death, and …nforming and inciting the State against thee. Chap. 11. 21. & 20. 10. Or, thy confederates, O Judah, and kinsmen in regard of descent; the issue of Lot, Psal. 83. 8. the Moabites and Ammonites; Gen. 19. 37, 38. and the Edomite, of Isaac; Gen. 35. 29. & 36. 1. Mal. 1. 2. though they seem to comply with thee; Chap. 27. 3. yet are inwardly fall-hearted; and will joyn with the enemy against thee. Chap. 4. 30. Vers. 14. 2 King. 24. 3.
they have called a mu…titude after thee] Or, a full assemblie. Heb. fulnesse. Isa. 31. 4. Or, they cried, or, will cry, after thee fully; or, with full throat. Isa. 58. 1. as Psal. 73. 10. See Psal. 137. 7.
beleeve them not, though they speak fair words] Heb. good things. Chap. 52. 32. Pro. 26. 15.
V. 7. I have forsaken mine house] My people, that were sometime my possession: Chap. 10. 16. Heb. 3. 6. and the place of my speciall residence, Psal. 78. 60. Chap. 50. 11.
I have given the dearly beloved of my soul] Heb. the love of my soul. (See Chap. 11. 15.) Or, my beloved. as Chap. 9. 9.
V. 8. Mine beritage is unto me as a lion in the forest] Ever ramping and raging against me and my Prophets. Isa. 63. 10. Chap. 2. 30. Matth. 23. 37. Act. 7. 51▪ 53.
it crieth out against me] Or, velleth. Heb. giveth out his voyce. Chap. 4. 16. Joel 2. 11.
have I hated it] Or, I hate it. as Mal 1. 2.
V. 9. Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird] Or, a tallanted fowl. Either a ravenous fowl; or, a pied one: she is grown wild and fierce. Or, she hath gotten her a garb patched up of divers superstitions, casting off my simple liverie; as not content therewith. Chap. 7. 9, 10. Ezek. 8. 5, 10, 14, 16.
the birds round about are against her] The nations, her enemies, flock about her; as birds about a strange fowl.
come ye, assemble] Or, go, assemble.
all the beasts of the field] Heb. every beast. as Chap. 9. 10.
come to devour] Or, cause them to come to devoure her. To prey upon her, as ravenous beasts upon a flock of theep; Isa. 56. 9. or, to spoil her, as wild beasts breaking into a vineyard; Psal. 80. 13. or, to feed upon the carcasses of men slain by the enemy. Chap. 7. 33. & 15. 3. Rev. 19. 17, 18.
V. 10. Many pastours] The King of Babylons Princes and Chieftains, Chap. 6. 3.
trodden my portion under foot] Isa. 63. 18.
my pleasant portion] Heb. portion of desire. Chap. 3. 19.
V. 11. They have made it desolate] Heb. He hath. that is, God. Vers. 12.
because no man layeth it to heart] Or, though. or, yet. as Isa. 9. 1. See Chap. 11. 15. Because no man layeth my word to heart: Chap. 18. 18. Or, though no man for all this considereth aright of the judgement, or the cause of it: Isa. 42. 25. Chap. 5. 12. and 9. 12.
V. 12. The spoilers are come upon all high places] No place of defence or fortification; such as higher grounds are naturally, in regard of more difficult accesse; is able to withstand them. Chap. 9. 21.
through the wildernesse] Or, in the plain. Lam. 4. 19. That lay between Chaldea and Judea. Chap. 4. 11, 12. Or the plains within the land of Judah.
no flesh shall have peace] Heb. there is no peace to any flesh. that is, to none of the Jewish people. as Matth. 24. 22. See Chap. 45. 5.
V. 13. They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns] According to the curse in the law, Gen 3. 18. Lev. 26. 16. Deut. 28. 38. no fruit shall come of all your labours, Gen. 4. 12. Job 31. 40. Mic. 6. 15. Hag. 1. 6. no good issue of all your vain endevours, whereby ye hope to help your selves. Chap. 3. 23.
and they shall be ashamed of your revenues] Or, be ye even ashamed, &c. Ye may well be ashamed of your crop, Chap. 3. 25. and 8. 15.
because of the fierce anger] Heb. heat of nose. Chap. 4. 8, 26.
V. 14. Thus saith the LORD against all mine evill neighbours] For the comfort of the faithfull, God promiseth yet to restore them again; and to be revenged on their neighbour people, the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, that had wronged them, and invaded their land, taking occasion by their distracted and distressed estate so to do. 2 King. 24. 2. Psal. 137. 7. Chap. 49. 1. Obad. 11,-14.
that touch the inheritance, &c.] To wrong it in the least degree. Psal. 115. 15. Zech. 2. 8.
I will pluck them out of their land] I will dispeople their land; as they have done to my people, Chap. 30. 11, 16. Deut. 30. 3. Chap. 32. 37.
pluck out the house of Judah from among them] Deliver them; as by main might snatching them out of their hands, and bringing them away out of those lands, wherein, as exiles and captives, they shall abide. Ezek. 20. 37, 38.
V. 15. I will return, and have compassion …n them] Or, have compassion again upon them. as Psal. 71. 20. & 85. 6. I will yet again in mercy restore those nations also upon their repentance: Isa. 18. 7. & 19. 22, 24.
V. 16. if they] These nations: under whom is presigured and foretold the calling of the Gentiles in generall. Isa. 2. 2. and 24. 22.
will diligently learn] Heb. learning learn.
to swear by my name] To give up their names to me; and worship me onelyonly: Isa. 19. 18. Chap. 4. 2.
(as they taught my people to swear by Baal)] Which my people learned from them, Num. 25. 1,—3. Psal. 106. 35.
be built in the mi…st of my people] Or, among my people. Chap. 9. 6. They shall have a settled place and portion among my people, Isa. 56. 5, 6, 7. and thrive and prosper with them: as Gen. 16. 2. Exod. 1. 20, 21. Job 22. 23. Chap. 33. 7. Mal. 3. 15.
V. 17. if they will not obey] Isa. 60. 12.
I will utterly pluck up] Heb. plucking up pluck up.