Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 32
CHAP. XXXII.
Vers. 1. THe word that came, &c.] See Chap. 1. 2, 4.
in the tenth year of Zedekiah] The last but one of his reign; and the next before the surprisall and sacking of the City, and beginning of the captivity that thereupon ensued.
the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar] Whose first year of absolute reign, concurreth with part of the third, and part of the fourth of Jehoiakims, Dan. 1. 1. 2 King. 24. 12. Chap. 25. 1.
V. 2. the king of Babylons army besieged Jerusalem] For the siege began in the ninth year of Zedekiah: but the City was not taken before the eleventh year, 2 King. 25. 1, 2. Chap. 39. 1, 2.
in the court of the prison] Heb. custody; or, keeping. Matth. 14. 3. See Nehem. 3. 21.
V. 3. Wherefore dost thou prophesie, &c.] Chap. 36. 39.
I will give this City, &c.] Chap. 34. 2.
into the hand] Or, power. Chap. 24. 7, 10.
V. 4. out of the hand] Or, power. vers. 3. and so after again.
shall surely be delivered] Heb. being given be given. Chap. 38. 3. See Chap. 34. 3.
shall speak with him mouth to mouth] Heb. his mouth shall speak with his mouth.
and his eyes shall behold his eyes] Or, and see him eye to eye; as Isai. 52. 8.
V. 5. there shall he be untill I visit him] Untill by naturall and ordinary death I take him away; as Numb. 16. 29. for by the sword he shall not dye. Chap. 34. 4.
though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper] No weapons, or courses, that ye use or take against them, shall prevail, or do you any good. Chap. 21. 4. Isai. 54. 17.
V. 6. The word of the LORD came unto me,] vers. 1.
V. 7. the right of redemption is thine to buy it] As being next of the kindred. Lev. 25. 24. Ruth 4. 4.
V. 8. in the court of the prison] vers. 2.
Buy my field that is in Anathoth] Of the possession of the Levites; which at any time might be redeemed. Levit. 25. 32. See Chap. 1. 1.
then I knew that this was the word of the LORD] That it was Gods pleasure, that I should buy it; though no expresse mention were before thereof made. vers. 7. So Act. 16. 7, 9, 10.
V. 9. weighed him the money] As the manner was in those times, to make payment, not so much by tale, as by weight. Gen. 23. 16. Isai. 55. 2. Zech. 11. 12.
seventeen shekels of silver] Or, seven shekels, and ten pieces of silver; but that rather. Which amounteth of our money, to much about forty two shillings and six pence; the shekel weighing half an ounce.
V. 10. I subscribed the evidence] Heb. wrote in the book; or, bill. Matth. 19. 7.
V. 11. I took the evidence] Heb. book. vers. 10, 12.
both that which was sealed according to the Law and custome, and that which was open] For they used in such contracts and conveighances to have two deeds, instruments, or counterparts; whereof the one was exhibited open, and was so left to be seen so oft as occasion might be; the other was sealed up, with the witnesses names on the back side endorsed; containing, as is supposed, some particularities concerning the businesse, which they would not have so commonly known.
V. 12. before all the Jewes that sate] Or, abode. Deut. 9. 9. Ezra 10. 9.
in the court of the prison] See vers. 2. 8.
V. 14. Take these evidences] Heb. books. vers. 10, 11.
put them in an earthen vessell] That they might be preserved in some secret place, untill the return from the captivitie; whereof God hereby would have assurance given. vers. 15. 43.
that they may continue many dayes] Heb. stand. Eccles. 1. 4. Isai. 66. 22.
V. 15. Houses and fields, and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land] After the delivery, and return from the Babylonian captivitie. vers. 37. 43.
V. 16. when I had delivered the evidence] Heb. Book. vers. 11.
V. 17. thou hast made the heaven and the earth] Gen. 1. 1. Psal. 146. 6.
by thy great power, &c.] Chap. 27. 5.
there is nothing too hard for thee] Job 42. 2. Luk. 1. 37. vers. 27.
nothing] Heb. no word. Chap. 22. 4. & 26. 2.
too hard] Or, hid from thee. Gen. 18. 14.
V. 18. Thou shewest loving kindnesse unto thousands] Exod. 20. 6. & 34. 7. Deut. 5. 10.
recompensest the iniquity of the fathers] Punishing the parents oft in their posterity; though not faultlesse themselves; (as those wicked wretches pretended, Chap. 31. 29.) but deserving for their own sinne as much as God inflicteth on them. See Josh. 7. 15, 24.
into the bosome] Or, lap. Prov. 16. 31. Repayest it plentifully at last; though it seem long a comming. See Isai. 65. 7.
of their children after them] Even when they are dead and gone. 1 Sam. 2. 36. 2 Sam. 21. 6, 8. 2 King. 5. 27. & 24. 3. God for a monument of his wrath, and example to others, punishing their sinnes in their posteritie, in whom also they oft continue, as well as Gods judgements upon them for the same. See Chap. 15. 4.
the great] Psal. 145. 3. Tit. 2. 13.
the mighty God] Isai. 9. 6.
the LORD of hosts is his name] Or, whose name is. Chap. 31. 35. & 48. 15. Amos 4. 13.
V. 19. Great in counsell, &c.] Isai. 9. 6. & 28. 29.
mighty in work] Heb. doing. Psal. 66. 5.
thine eyes are open upon all the wayes of the sonnes of men] Or, of Adam. Chap. 16. 21. & 25. 6. Chap. 17. 10. See Job 34. 21. Prov. 5. 21. & 15. 3. Chap. 16. 17.
to give every one according to his wayes] Psal. 62. 12. Chap. 17. 10.
V. 20. hast set signes and wonders in the land of Egypt] Psal. 78. 43. & 135. 9.
unto this day] The memory whereof still endureth; and will never be forgotten. Psal. 78. 4, 6.
hast made thee a name] Isai. 63. 12.
as at this day] Or, as appeareth this day. Chap. 25. 18.
V. 21. brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt] Exod. 6. 6. 2 Sam. 7. 23. 1 Chron. 17. 21. Psal. 136. 10-12.
with signes and with wonders, &c.] Deut. 4. 34.
V. 22. this land which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them] Psal. 105. 9, 11. Chap. 11. 5.
flowing with milk and honey] Abounding in most pleasant fruits; and plenty of all good things. Num. 13. 27. & 16. 14. Deut. 6. 3. & 8. 7-9.
V. 23. they obeyed not thy voyce] Chap. 7. 24. Nehem. 9. 26.
V. 24. Behold the mounts] Or, ramparts: or, engins, of battery, to discharge shot; such as were in use before the invention of Gunnes. Isai. 37. 33. Chap. 33. 4. See 2 Chron. 26. 15.
the citie is given] It is as good as given up and taken already, it is given for lost: as sure to be taken, as if it were already surprised. Chap. 9. 1. & 37. 10.
into the hand] Or, power. vers. 3, 4.
because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence] Chap. 21. 9. & 28. 8.
V. 25. And thou hast said unto me] Vers. 8.
Buy thee the field for money] Heb. silver. vers. 44. Isai. 55 1, 2.
for the City is given, &c.] Or, when as. as Gen. 4. 12. Psal. 102. 16. Or, though the citie be given, as Gen. 8. 21. Josh. 17. 18. into the hand; that is, the power, of the Chaldeans, that besiege it, vers. 24.
V. 26. Then came the word, &c.] Vers. 6.
V. 27. the God of all flesh] Of every creature: or, of all mankind. Chap. 45. 5. Rom. 3. 20. whom as he made, so he guideth and governeth as he pleaseth: and as he sent this people into captivity for their sinnes; so is he able to set them at liberty again when he will. See Numb. 16. 12.
is there any thing too hard for me] Vers. 17. Gen. 18. 14.
V. 28. I will give this citie] vers. 3.
into the hand] Or, power. vers. 25. so after again.
V. 29. set fire on this City] Chap. 37. 10.
upon whose roofes, &c.] Chap. 19. 13.
to provoke me to anger] Chap. 7. 18.
V. 30. have onelyonly done evill before me from their youth] From the time that I brought them out of Egypt, and made them by a solemn covenant my people, setling among them both an Ecclesiasticall and civill estate. Isai. 48. 8. Chap. 2. 2. & 22. 21.
have onelyonly provoked me to anger] Have done nothing but provoke me: have been continuall matter of provocation to me. vers. 31.
with the work of their hands] Their idols. Chap. 10. 3. & 25. 6, 7.
V. 31. this citie hath been to me, as a provocation of mine anger, &c.] Heb. for mine anger: or, upon my nose: or, anger. (See Isai. 65. 5.) set continually upon angring of me.
that I should remove it from before my face] Not that this was their intent and purpose; but a necessary effect of those their wicked courses, whereby they incessantly provoked God to wrath; and as sure to follow upon the same, as if they had for that very end purposely done what they did. So vers. 29. Chap. 27. 10.
V. 33. turned unto me the back] Heb. neck. the hinder part of the neck. Chap. 2. 27.
I taught them rising up early] Using all diligence and instance. Prov. 1. 24. Isai. 65. 3. Chap. 7. 13. & 25. 3. & 26. 3. & 29. 19.
V. 34. they set their abominations in the house, &c.] Chap. 7. 30. & 23. 11. Ezek. 8. 5, 6.
which is called by my name] Heb. whereupon my name is called. Chap. 7. 11, 14.
V. 35. they built, &c.] Chap. 7. 31. & 19. 5.
the high places of Baal] Their altars; whereupon they sacrificed in those places to their idols. Chap. 17. 2.
in the valley of the sonne of Hinnom] 2 King. 21. 4, 6.
to cause their sonnes and their daughters to passe through the fire] Chap. 7. 31. & 19. 6. & 20. 2.
unto Molech] Lev. 18. 21.
V. 36. thus saith the LORD] That thou maist see, whether that that I have told thee be a thing impossible. vers. 15.
concerning this City, whereof ye say] Ye, that beleeve my word; and make full account that the Chaldeans shall take this Citie.
It shall be delivered] Vers. 24.
into the hand] Or, power. vers. 28.
by the sword, &c.] Chap. 27. 13.
V. 37. I will gather] Deut. 30. 3.
them] The people of Judah and Jerusalem.
I will cause them to dwell safely] Ezek. 34. 28.
V. 38. they shall be my people, &c.] Chap. 24. 7. & 30. 22. & 31. 33.
V. 39. I will give them one heart] Ezek. 11. 19. & 36. 27.
one way] One manner of worshipping me with joint consent. Act. 4. 32. Eph. 4. 3-6.
that they may fear me for ever, &c.] Heb. all dayes. Deut. 5. 29.
V. 40. I will, &c.] Isa. 61. 8.
make] Heb. cut. Chap. 34. 8.
an everlasting covenant] Heb. a covenant of perpetuity. Ezek. 39. 29.
I will not turn away] Chap. 31. 32, 33.
from them] Heb. from after them; as Zeph. 1. 6. from pursuing them with my favour and bounty.
but] Or, and.
that they shall not depart from me] That they may continue constant with me, and not constrain me to break with them; I will work such a reverent dread of me into their souls, as shall cause them to cleave to me, and keep close with me for ever. Psal. 80. 18. & 86. 11. Isa. 59. 21. vers. 39.
V. 41. I will rejoyce over them, &c.] Zeph. 3. 17.
plant them in this land assuredly] Heb. in truth, or stabilitie. Hos. 2. 20.
V. 43. It is desolate] Which ye think will so remain for ever, and never be again restored. Chap. 33. 10.
it is given into the hand] Or, power. vers. 28.
V. 44. Men shall buy fields] This is a declaration of that that was enjoined, vers. 8. and the end for which God would have it done.
for money] Heb. silver. vers. 25.
subscribe evidences] Heb. writing write (as Chap. 14. 5.) books. vers. 14. so after, sealing seal. See Isai. 59. 13.
in the land of Benjamin] Chap. 17. 26. & 33. 13. where Anathoth was situate; Chap. 1. 1. and which continued one with Judah. 2 Chron. 11. 12.
in the Cities of the mountains, &c.] Or, both in, &c. as Psal. 76. 6 Chap. 31. 13. In all the Cities of those two tribes; whether situate above on the hils; or below in the vales; or on the upland grounds, as in a middle situation between either. Chap. 17. 26.
in the cities of the south] Or, upland. Josh. 15. 19.
I will cause their captivity to return] Or, captives. Chap. 24. 5. Psal. 14. 7. & 126. 1.