Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Vers. 1. THen said the LORD unto me] This Chapter seemeth to depend upon the former: beginning with Gods answer to the Prophets petition preferred to him in the behalf of his people; Chap. 14. 21. containing a close, but flat, deniall of it.
Though Moses and Samuel, &c.] Should men as gracious as these ever were with me; or they themselves, whom I som…time heard, Exod. 32. 11, 14. 1 Sam. 7. 9. Psal. 99. 6. now surviving; solicite me for this people: yet they should not prevail. Ezak. 14. 14. and therefore do not thou move me any more in their behalf, for it will be but in vain. Chap. 14. 11.
stood before me] As in prayer men are wont to do. Gen. 18. 22. & 17. 27. Psal. 106. 23. Chap. 18. 20.
my mind, &c.] Heb. my soul. as Chap. 6. 8. I could have no affection to them.
cast them out of my sight] Declare to them from me, that I have cast them off: an expression borrowed from those that cast a thing aside into some obscure hole or corner, where it may lye out of the way, which they lift not to see, or cannot endure the sight of. Psal. 31. 22. 1 King. 9. 7.
let them go forth] Or be gone.
V. 2. Whither shall we go forth] Or, go. as Zech 6. 8.
Such as are for death, to death, &c.] Lev. 26. 16, &c.
V. 3. I will appoint over them] Chap. 43. 11. Zech. 11 9.
four kinds] Heb. families. Four sorts or plagues. Ezek. 14. 21.
and the dogs to tear, &c.] Heb. to draw. Chap. 22. 19. Dogs, birds and beasts, to tear and devour the slain; 1 King 14. 11. & 21. 24. Psal. 79. 2. and to slay them too. Lev. 26. 22. Ezek. 14. 15. See Chap. 12. 9.
V. 4. I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth] Heb. I will gi…e them for a removing. or, a wandring, &c. I will cause them to wander and range to and fro, as Cain, through disquiet of mind and conscience. Gen. 4. 14, 16 Or, I will seatter them by captivitie into severall countreys abroad, having cast them out of their own. Deut. 28. 25. Chap. 24. 9. Ezek. 23. 46. See Chap. 14. 10.
because of Manasseh] The sinnes by him committed; wherein the people also took part with him. 2 King. 21. 9, 11. Or, such sinnes as those were, which he committed, and taken up by his example. 2 King. 21. 2-7, 16. See 2 King. 23. 26. & 24. 3.
the sonne of Hezekiah] But one altogether unlike his father; and reversing what he had well done. 2 King. 2. … 3.
V. 5. who shall have pitie upon thee, &c.] Thou shalt be left friendlesse, helplesse, and comfortlesse. Psal. 88. 8. 18.
go aside to ask how thou doest] Heb. to ask of thy peace. 2 Sam. 8. 10.
V. 6. Thou hast forsaken me] Chap. 2. 13, 19.
thou art gone backwa…d] Chap. 7 24.
will I stretch out my hand against thee] Chap. 9. 16. Job 6. 9.
I am weary with repenting] Or, of repenting. as Isa. 1. 14. I will no more revoke the charge given against thee. I will spare thee no longer. Gen. 6. 3, 6 7. Chap. 4. 28.
V. 7. I will fanne them] Chap. 9. 16. & 51. 2.
in the gates of the land] That is, cities. Chap. 14. 2 of the land: or, of the ea…th. the wide world. vers. 4. I will cast them out of all their habitations: or, disperse them into all parts abroad. Lev. 26. 33. Chap. 10. 18. vers. 4.
I will bereave them of children] Or, have bereaved. Hos. 9. 12. Or, of whatsoever is dear.
I will destroy] Or, have destroyed.
sith they return not from their wayes] Or, yet (as vers. 10.) they return not, Chap. 5. 3. Amos 4. 10, 11.
V. 8. Their widows are increased] Heb. are stronger. that is, more in number. as Psal. 40. 5, 12. & 69. 4. their husbands being slain. Chap. 18. 21.
to me] Either from me; by my means, through my just judgement: as blessed of, or, from the Lord, 1 Sam. 23. 21. and salvation is of, or, from the Lord. Psal. 3. 8. Or it is a more full and emphaticall finenesse of speech. The like whereof, see Gen. 12. 1. compared with Act. 7. 3. Exod. 18. 27. See Chap. 22. 6.
above the sand of the seas] An hyperbolicall expression; usuall in scripture, to signifie a very great multitude. Gen. 22. 17. & 32. 12. & 41 49. Psal. 139. 18. Isa. 10. 22.
I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men, a spoiler at noon-day] Or, against the mother-citie, a young man spoiling, &c. or, against the mother and the young men a spoiler, &c. The young King of Babylon, against the Mother-citie Jerusalem: who shall assault it, not by stealth, as a thief, in the night; Chap. 49. 9. 1 Thess. 5. 2. Rev. 3. 3. & 16. 15. but as an high-way robber, that robbeth openly at noon-day. Chap. 6. 4. Zeph. 2. 4.
I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and …errours upon the citie] Or, I have made trouble and terrours to fall suddenly upon her.
V. 9. She that hath born seven, languis…cth] Jerusalem, that bred so many children, is now desolate. 1 Sam. 2. 5.
her sunne is gone down while it was yet day] In the height of her prosperitie, she is suddenly faln. Amos 8. 9.
V. 10. Wo is me, &c.] The Prophet bewaileth his own unquiet estate and miserable condition, by reason of the peoples obstinate and crosse carriage towards him. Chap. 20. 14.
a man of strife, and a man of contention] Or, a contentious man. one, whom every man contendeth with. Judg. 12. 2.
to the whole earth] Or, land. Chap. 3. 1. Vers. 14.
I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury] I have had no worldly dealings with them: such as usually breedeth jarres and suits.
V. 11. The LORD said] By way of comfort and encouragement to me.
Verily it shall be well thy remnant, &c.] Heb. If it be not well with thy remnant; or, in thy latter end. as 1 King. 20 23. Isa. 14. 24. In thy latter time thou shalt have rest, Psal. 37. 37. and finde favour with the enemy. Chap. 40. 1-4. Or, Though I destroy the main body of my people, yet will I reserve a remnant, that shall find favour in the enemies eye. 1 King. 8. 50. Psal. 106. 46. Chap. 39. 17, 18. & 45. 5. & 52. 31, 34.
verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well] Heb. If I cause not the enemy to entreat thee well. Or, I will entreat the enemy for thee.
V. 12. Shall iron break the northern iron, and the steel] Or, Can any break iron. Can such iron be broken? Shall any power be able to hinder the execution of my word and purpose; which is stronger then iron, even the hardest and toughest of▪ it, and then steel? Chap. 23. 29. Or, Though this people be as hard and tough as iron; Isa. 48. 4. Chap. 6. 28. yet will I make thee as steel, that they may not prevail against thee. Chap. 1. 18, 19. Vers. 20. or, yet they shall not be able to withstand the Chaldean forces, which I shall send in against them. Vers. 8.
northern iron] Out of which parts the hardest and toughest iron cometh: and from which should the Chaldeans forces come. Chap. 4. 6.
and the steel] Or, or steel. as Gen. 2. 6. Exod. 21. 15.
V. 13. Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil] Chap. 17. 3.
without price] Not regarding losse or gain, but the execution of my justice. Psal. 44. 13. Isa. 52. 3.
V. 14. I will make thee to passe with thine enemies] Or, to serve thine enemies. Chap. 17. 4. For there is a diverse reading here: as also Chap. 2. 20.
into a land which thou knowest not] Or, in a land, &c. Chap. 17. 4. See Chap. 14. 18.
a fire is kindled in mine anger, &c.] Deut. 32. 22. Isa. 42. 25. Chap. 17. 27.
V. 15. O LORD, thou knowest] Both their malice and mine innocency. Chap. 11. 18. & 12. 3.
remember me] Chap. 18. 20.
visit me] In mercy. as Ruth 1. 6.
revenge me of my persecutours] The Prophets prayer in the heat of his spirit against his obstinate and incorrigible adversaries. Chap. 17. 18. & 18. 21. 2 Tim. 4. 14.
take me not away in thy long-suffering] According to thy wonted long-suffering forbear me. Or, suffer me not to be destroyed by mine enemies, while thou in thy long-suffering forbearest them.
know] Or, take notice. Psal. 139. 23.
that] Or, how. as Lam. 1. 9.
for thy sake I have suffered rebuke] Psal. 69. 7.
V. 16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them] When thy messages came unto me, I entertained and received them as gladly and as greedily, as an affamished man taketh his meat. Job 23. 12. See Ezek. 3. 3. Rev. 10. 9.
I am called by thy name] Heb. Thy name is called upon me. Chap. 14. 9. I am one of thy Prophets whom thou takest speciall charge of. Psal. 105. 15.
V. 17. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers] Psal. 1. 1. and 26. 5.
nor rejoyced] Or, revelled it. Isa. 22. 2, 13.
I sat alone because of thy hand] Solitary, in heavinesse: mourning in secret for them, and thy wrath incensed against them. Chap. 13. 17. Lam. 3. 18.
thou hast filled me with indignation] With prophecies of wrath and judgements. Chap. 6. 11. Or, with indignation at this people, for their obstinacie tending to their destruction. Chap. 9. 1, 2.
V. 18. Why is, &c.] Chap. 14. 19.
my pain perpetuall] Chap. 30. 15.
my wound incurable] Heb. stroke. Chap. 10. 19.
which refuseth to be healed] That can not be cured, that admitteth no cure. as Psal. 77. 2.
wilt thou be altogether unto me as a lier] Wilt thou fail me of thy promise? a sudden fit of humane frailtie. Psal. 116. 10, 11. 1 Sam. 27. 1. Chap. 20. 7.
as waters that fail] Heb. be not sure. Isa. 33. 16. That fail in hot and dry weather; when most need is of them. Job 6. 15-20.
V. 19. If thou return then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me] Or, if thou wilt return, (Chap. 4. 1.) and wilt be reclaimed by me▪ thou shalt stand before me, &c. as 1 King. 17. 1. Chap. 35. 19. If thou wilt, casting off these passions of impati…nce, discontent and diffidence, betake thee again to the constant execution of thine office, I will both continue and confirme thee therein. Zech. 1. 3. & 3. 7.
if thou take forth the precious from the vile] Or, if thou wilt take the precious from the vile. that is, make a difference between them; by confirming and comforting the one; and by reproving and menacing the other. Chap. 6. 27. Contrary to the practise of the false prophets. Ezek. 13. 19, 22. & 22. 26. & 44. 23.
thou shalt be as my mouth] My messenger. 2 Cor. 5. 20. & 13. 3.
let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them] Let them conform to thee: but comply not thou with them.
V. 20. I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall] Or, wall of steel. Vers. 12. I will arm thee with invincible courage and confidence; such as they shall never be able to bear down, or to overcome. Vers. 12. and I will protect thee against all their might and malice. Vers. 21. See Chap. 1. 18. & 6. 27.
they shall not prevail against thee] Chap. 20. 11, 12. Psal. 129. 2.
I am with thee to save thee] Chap. 1. 8, 19.
V. 21. I will redeem thee] Or, rescue thee. Isa. 29. 22.
out of the hand] Or, from the power. as Psal. 22. 20. & 49. 15.
of the terrible] Or, roisters. Isa. 13. 11. & 25. 5.