Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIIII.
Vers. 1. THe word which came, &c.] See Chap. 1. 2, 4.
when, &c.] 2 King. 25. 1, &c. Chap. 52. 1.
Nebuchadnezzar] By Jeremiah else-where styled Nebuchadretsar. Chap. 21. 2. & 25. 1, 9.
the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion] Heb. the dominion of his hand.
against all the cities thereof] Of Judah; Vers. 7. or, of Jerusalem; Chap. 19. 15. which was the mother-citie; Chap. 15. 8. and the rest as daughters to her. Josh. 15. 32, 36, 41, 43, &c. Lam. 3. 51.
V. 2. I will give this citie] Chap. 32. 3.
into the hand] Or, power. vers. 4. 20.
V. 3. shalt surely be taken] Heb. taking be taken. Chap. 26. 15. & 32. 4.
he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth] Heb. his mouth shall speak to thy mouth. Chap. 32. 4.
V. 4. Thou shalt not die by the sword] Of any violent death; but by Gods ordinary visitation. Chap. 32. 5.
V. 5. with the burnings of thy fathers the former kings, &c.] As their manner was to do at the solemn funerals of their Kings 2 Chron. 16. 14. & 21. 19.
they will lament thee] Or, shall lament thee. Solemn lamentation shall be made for thee. Chap. 22. 18.
V. 7. Lachish and Azekah] Josh. 10. 10, 31.
defenced cities] Heb. cities of defence. Chap. 4. 5. & 8. 14.
V. 8. This is the word that came, &c.] Here seemeth to begin another Sermon, or prophecie, distinct from the former, both for matter, and time of delivery: that being made, when they of Jerusalem were in some distresse by the Chaldean forces set down before the citie: vers. 1. 7. this when the siege was for some space of time broken up, upon the approach of some Egyptian aids. Vers. 21. Chap. 37. 5. See vers. 1.
after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant] Heb. had cut a covenant. Vers. 18. for, when the enemy was at hand, and they saw themselves in danger; they made shew of remorse and repentance, renewed their covenants with God, and made some kinde of reformation. as Judges 10. 15, 16. Psal. 78. 34, 35. Hosea 6. 1.
to proclaim liberty unto them] To their servants, who had served them the full tearm of time limited by the Law: Exod. 21. 2. but they against law and right kept still in servitude. vers. 11.
V. 9. none should serve himself of them] Keep them in service. Chap. 27. 7. & 30. 8.
of a Jew his brother] For strangers they might keep beyond that tearm of time, that they stinted unto for those of their own nation.
V. 10. none should serve themselves of them] vers. 9.
V. 11. afterwards] When by the coming of Pharaohs forces the siege was broken up for a while; the Chaldeans in likelihood going to meet the Egyptian army, before it came at them; and they now thought themselves safe; supposing that the Chaldeans would never return to the siege. Chap. 37. 5, 11. vers. 21.
brought them into subjection] Nehem. 5. 5. 2 Chron. 28. 10.
V. 13. I made a covenant] Heb. cut. vers. 8.
out of the house of bond-men] Or, bondage. Exod. 20. 2. Since that I have freed you from the condition of bond-men; I will not permit you to make bond-slaves of your brethren. Deut. 15. 15. ye shall not make them slaves, whom I have set free. Levit. 25. 39, 42.
V. 14. At the end of seven yeers] Six yeers being fully compleat, at the beginning of the seventh. Exod. 21. 2. Deut. 15. 12.
which hath been sold] Or, hath sold himself. Lev. 25. 29. Deut. 15. 12.
V. 15. ye were now turned] Heb. to day. Psal. 95. 7.
every man to his neighbour] Or, one to another. Gen. 11. 3.
ye had made a covenant] Heb. cut. vers. 8.
in the house which is called by my name] Heb. whereupon my name is called. Chap. 32. 34. In my Temple. Chap. 7. 10.
V. 16. polluted my name] By violation of your solemn vow. Lev. 19. 12. Mal. 1. 7, 12.
whom he had set at libertie at their pleasure] Or, according to their desire. Deut. 21. 14.
V. 17. Ye have not hearkened unto me, &c.] Because ye have undone again, what ye had done; which sheweth that ye did it not in sinceritie. Psal. 78. 36, 37. Hos. 6. 1, 4.
I proclaim a libertie for you to the sword, &c.] I give the sword, famine and pestilence free libertie to destroy you. See Isa. 66. 4. Chap. 14. 15.
I will make you to be removed] Heb. for a removing. Chap. 15. 5. & 24. 9. & 29. 18. Deut. 28. 64.
V. 18. of the covenant which they had made before me] Heb. cut. as vers. 8. So that by these solemn rites, God and man seal enterchangeably either to other: and man covenanteth with God, as well as God with man. Exod. 24. 8. Psal. 50. 5. Joh. 3. 33. Rom. 4. 11.
when they cut the calf in twain] See here the reason and ground of the phrase, of cutting, or cutting out a covenant, so oft here and else-where used. By this solemn rite, they did in a manner devote themselves to destruction; as confessing themselves worthy, and in way of execration (Nehem. 10. 29.) wishing, to be so cut in twain, (Matth. 24. 51.) if they brake the covenant, that then they made. See somewhat the like ceremonie, Gen. 15. 10, 17.
V. 20. I will even give them] Chap. 22. 25.
into the hand] Or, power. Vers. 3. 4.
of them that seek their life] Heb. soul. Chap. 4. 30.
their dead bodies shall be for meat, &c.] Chap. 7. 33. & 16. 4.
V. 21. into the hand] Or, power. vers. 20.
that seek their life] Heb. soul. vers. 20.
which are gone up from you] Or, departed from you. Exod. 12. 38. Chap. 37. 5. Having broken up the siege upon the coming of the Egyptian forces. Chap. 37. 5, 11. but afterward returned to it again: as the prophet also foretold that they should. Chap. 37. 8. vers. 22.
V. 22. I will command, and cause them to return] By his secret providence so disposing and procuring it, as if he had given them some command so to do. So 2 Sam. 16. 10. 2 King. 24. 2. 2 Chro. 36. 17. Chap. 49. 14. & 50. 21.
a desolation without an inhabitant] Chap. 26. 15.