Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
Vers. 1. THe words of the letter] Heb. book. Vers. 25.
unto the residue of the elders] For some of them died by the way; or shortly after their coming unto Babylon.
which were carried away captives] Heb. of the captivitie. Chap. 28. 4.
V. 2. Jeconiah] 2 King. 24. 12, &c. Chap. 24. 1.
the queen] Jechoniahs mother. Chap. 22. 26.
the eunuchs] Or, chamberlains. Gen. 39. 1. Isa. 39. 7.
V. 3. By the hand of Elasah] Or, By Elasah. as Chap. 27. 3.
sent unto Babylon] To treat with Nebuchadnezzar about some equall conditions. See Chap. 51. 59.
V. 4. all that are carried away captives] Heb. the captivitie. Vers. 1.
I have caused to be carried away] The Lord; whose work this was. Chap. 24. 5. though effected by Nebuchadnezzar his instrument; Chap. 25. 9. and procured by their sinnes. Chap. 1. 15, 16. & 4. 18.
V. 5. and dwell in them] Or, that ye may dwell in them. as Chap. 27. 12. or, to dwell in.
and eat the fruit of them] Or, that ye may eat the fruit of them. or, the fruit whereof ye may eat.
V. 6. Take ye wives, and beget sonnes and daughters] Contrary to the charge, or advise, given to the people that abode at Jerusalem. Chap. 16. 2.
that they may bear] Heb. and they shall bear. as Mal. 1. 9.
V. 7. seek] Chap. 38. 4.
the peace of the citie] Or, prosperitie. or, welfare. Chap. 28. 9.
pray unto the LORD for it] Not out of any affection to the tyranny, or to that State it self, doth the prophet speak this: but in regard of the common rest and quietnesse; that Gods people there abiding, might with lesse molestation patiently expect the time of their deliverance. Otherwise, not the Israelites alone, but the whole world, as was foretold, were to rejoyce at the downfall of that State. Isa. 14. 4.
V. 8. that be in the midst of you] Or, among you. Chap. 39. 5.
deceive you] Chap. 14. 14. & 23. 21. & 27. 15.
neither hearken to your dreams, &c.] Or, dreamers, (as Cha. 27. 9.) whom ye cause to dream. or, dreams which you dream. Which either ye your selves dream, and flatter your selves with; or, which ye give them occasion to dream, by giving heed to them.
V. 9. they prophesie salsely] Heb. in a lye. Chap. 27. 15.
I have not sent them] Chap. 28. 15.
V. 10. after seventy yeers] Not before, or sooner; as your false prophets bear you in hand. Vers. 8. Of these seventie yeers, see 2 Chron. 36. 21, 22. Ezra 1. 1. Chap. 25. 12. Dan. 9. 2.
I will visit you] For good. Ruth 1. 6. Chap. 27. 22. Luk. 1. 68.
V. 11. the thoughts that I think towards you] Isa. 55. 8.
thoughts of peace] Or, prosperitie. Vers. 7.
to give you an expected end] Heb. end and expectation. Psalm 37. 37.
V. 12. shall ye call upon me, &c.] Dan. 9. 23. & 10. 12. Isa. 65. 24.
ye shall go and pray] Addresse and set your selves seriously thereunto. Dan. 9. 3.
V. 13. ye shall search for me with all your heart] Sincerely and entirely: Chap. 24. 7. being thoroughly humbled by your forepassed afflictions. Ezek. 6. 9. & 36. 31.
V. 14. I will gather you from all the nations] Ezek. 20. 34, 41.
I will bring you again] Chap. 24. 6. & 32. 37.
V. 15. Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets] Because ye give credit to the false prophets among you, as if they came from God, and conceive hope of returning hither shortly upon their words; hear ye therefore what God hath to the contrary determined concerning those that yet remain here.
prophets] Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemaiah. Vers. 21. 24.
V. 16. Know that thus] Or, Therefore thus. as Chap. 20. 8, 9. & 22. 22.
V. 17. the sword, the famine, and the pestilence] Chap. 24. 10. & 28. 8.
like vile sigs] Chap. 24. 8, 10.
V. 18. with the sword, &c.] Chap. 21. 9. & 24 10.
to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth] Deut. 28. 25. 2 Chron. 29. 8. Chap. 15. 4. & 34. 17.
to be a curse] Heb. for a curse. Chap. 26 6.
V. 19. I sent unto them] Chap. 25. 4. & 32. 33.
V. 20. all ye of the captivitie] Vers. 4.
V. 21. prophesie a lie] Vers. 9.
I will deliver them into the hand] Or, power. Chap. 20. 5. & 24. 7, 10.
he shall slay them before your eyes] That your selves may be eyewitnesses of Gods just judgement upon them.
V. 22. of them shall be taken up a curse] They shall use their names in wishing evill to others. See Chap. 26. 6.
all the captivity] Or, captives. vers. 4.
whom the king of Babylon rosted in the fire] Or, burnt with fire. Because to put the people in hope of a speedy return, they prophecied the sudden ruine of that State: Chap. 28. 4, 11. and for their lewd courses otherwise. vers. 23.
V. 23. they have committed villany] Or, folly. that is, fornication, uncleannesse. Gen. 34. 7. Deut. 22. 21. Chap. 23. 14.
have spoken lying words] Vers. 9, 31.
even I know] Though they do it in secret, and make a faire shew before men, yet I see it. Job 24. 15. Prov. 5. 20, 21. Mal. 3. 5.
V. 24. Shemaiah the Nehelamite] Or, dreamer. So tearmed, either from the place of his birth; or in allusion to his dreames and dotages, wherewith he deluded Gods people. Vers. 8, 9.
V. 25. thou hast sent letters] Heb. books. Vers. 1.
Zephaniah the sonne of Maasciah the priest] The second under Seraiah, who was then Chief-Priest. Chap. 52. 24.
V. 26. LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada] Thus he flattereth Zephaniah, as if God had given him the spirit and zeal of Jehoiada, to punish transgressours; such as he would make Jeremiah to be. 2 Chron. 23. 1. &c.
that ye] Thou and the other priests. vers. 25.
should be officers] Or, overseers. Chap. 20. 1.
every man that is mad] 2 King. 9. 11. Act. 26. 24.
thou shouldest put him in prison] As Pashur had done before. Chap. 20. 2.
V. 27. which maketh himself a prophet] Faineth himself to be so, when indeed he is not. So Chap. 43. 2.
V. 28. he sent] vers. 5.
V. 29. And] Or, For. as Isa 9. 11.
Zephaniah the priest read] Or, had read. as Gen. 12. 1.
this letter] Heb. book. vers. 25.
in the ears] Or, hearing. Chap. 28. 7.
of Jeremiah] It may be out of some good affection to the prophet; to acquaint him with this wicked mans malice. See Chap. 21. 1. & 37. 3.
V. 30. Then] Or, Therefore. For this dependeth upon that, which the Prophet had begun to say, vers. 25.
came the word of the LORD] See Chap. 1. 2.
V. 31. I sent him not] vers. 9. 23. Chap. 28. 15.
he caused you to trust in a lie] Chap. 7. 4.
V. 32. I will punish] Heb. visit. Chap. 25. 12.
he shall not have a man to dwell among this people] Heb. in the midst of them. as Chap. 40. 1, 6. Both he and his seed shall be clean rooted out: so that none of his issue shall survive to see and enjoy the promised deliverance. See the like judgements of God threatned in the like case, Amos 7. 17.
neither shall he behold the good] Chap. 17. 6.
because he hath taught rebellion] Chap. 28. 16. Heb. spoken revolt.