Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. O Israel] Put here for Judah. Vers. 3. as 2 Chron. 12. 1. 15. 17. & 21. 2, 4. & 29. 21, 24.
return unto me] Or, wilt, I say, return unto me. sincerely, Joel 2. 12. not in hypocrisie, Chap. 3. 10. with thy whole heart, Chap. 24. 7. Psal. 119. 10. 2 King. 23. 25. not by halves, Hos. 7. 14, 16.
if thou wilt put away thine abominations] Thine idols: which my soul abhorreth, Deut. 27. 15. Ezek. 11. 18. & 20. 7, 8.
then shalt thou not remove] Or, and wilt not wander. Or, then do not wander. Either, then shalt thou not go out of thy land into captivitie, 2 King. 21. 18. Lam. 1. 8. Or, if thou do not wander after thine idols, Chap. 2. 25. & 14. 10. but keep close to me the true God and thy Lord, Deut. 4. 3, 4. & 30. 20.
V. 2. And thou shalt swear] Or, And wilt swear. as being a continuation of the condition.
The LORD liveth] By the Lord, Deut. 10. 20. Psal. 65. 16 and not by idols, Chap. 5. 7. & 12. 16. Josh. 23. 7.
in truth, in judgement, and in righteousnesse] Truly, considerately, and justly: swearing nothing, but what is true; to do nothing but what is just; duly considering what ye swear; and making good what you have sworn: Exod. 20. 7. Lev. 19. 12. Psal. 15. 4. Isa. 48. 1. Chap. 5. 2. Matth. 5. 33.
and the nations shall blesse themselves in him, &c.] Or, then. Heb. and. as Gen. 28. 21, 22. Chap. 1. 4. When thou shalt thus demean thy self; then shall other nations, moved by thine example, worship God with thee, Psal. 47. 8, 9. and glory in him, as thou now doest, Psal. 44. 8. & 106. 47. Chap. 9. 24. 1 Cor. 1. 31. 2 Cor. 10. 17.
V. 3. Break up your fallow-ground, and sow not among thorns] Pluck up your impious and wicked affections and lusts out of your hearts, Hos. 10. 12. that the seed of Gods word and grace may be sown and thrive in them, Matth. 13. 7, 22. Luk. 8. 14, 15. Jam. 1. 21.
V. 4. Circumcise your selves to the LORD] Heb. be circumcised. Gen. 34. 24. Circumcise not your flesh alone, but your hearts also, Deut. 10. 16. & 30. 6. Chap. 9. 26. Rom. 2. 29. Col. 2. 11.
lest my fury come forth like fire, &c.] Chap. 21. 12. Zeph. 2. 2.
because of the evill, &c.] Or, for the evill of your doings.
V. 5. Declare ye in Judah, &c.] He forewarneth them of the great danger, that will shortly ensue by the Chaldeans, unlesse they repent and return unto God. Vers. 1.
Blow ye the trumpet in the land] To give warning of the enemies approach, Ezek. 33. 2, 3. and to call men to arm and assemble against them, 2 Sam. 20. 1, 2. 1 Cor. 14. 8.
cry, gather together] Or, call a fall assembly, Chap. 12. 6. Heb. fill. Chap. 51. 11.
Assemble your selves] Chap. 8. 14.
let us go into the defenced cities] For shelter and succour against the invading enemie, Judg. 9. 31. Chap. 36. 6. Matth. 24. 16. Heb. cities of defence. Chap. 34. 7.
V. 6. Set up the standard] Chap. 50. 2. & 51. 12.
towards Zion] Jerusalem; their chief citie of strength: as Zion the strongest place in it, 2 Sam. 5. 6, 7. So Chap. 50. 5.
retire] Or, strengthen. Pro. 21. 29. Or, get away. Chap. 6. 1.
stay not] Heb. stand not. Deut. 5. 31. Chap. 51. 50. Hasten each one to flie, for the saving of himself from the danger approaching, Luk. 17. 31.
I will bring evill from the north] From Chaldea, Chap. 1. 14, 15. & 6. 22.
a great destruction] Heb. breaking. Vers. 20. Chap. 6. 1.
V. 7. The lion] Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, 2 King. 24. 1. so tearmed, for his force and fiercenesse, Pro. 30. 30, 31. Chap. 2. 15. & 5. 6. Ezek. 19. 2. Dan. 7. 4. 2 Tim. 4. 17.
is come up from his thicket] From Babylon his strongest hold, and chief place of residence, Dan. 4. 30. See Chap. 25. 38.
the destroyer of the Gentiles] By whom God hath destroyed many nations already, 2 King. 24. 7. Chap. 50. 23. & 51. 20. and will destroy thee, Chap. 23. 7.
is on his way] For Jerusalem, Ezek. 21. 21, 22.
and thy cities shall be laid wast, without an inhabitant] Or, that thy cities may be laid wast, or, be overgrown with grasse, (Isa. 37. 26.) because no man dwelleth in thee. Chap. 2. 15. & 9. 11.
V. 8. gird you with sackcloth] Isa. 22. 12. Chap. 6. 26. Heb. with sacks. Chap. 49. 3.
the fierce anger of the LORD] Heb. heat, or, fervor of the nose. Isa. 13. 13. Vers. 26.
is not turned back from us] Isa. 9. 12, 17.
V. 9. the heart of the princes: and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder] The false prophets, that prophecied nothing but peace, Chap. 6. 14. & 8. 11. Kings, princes, and prophets shall be all out of heart, and at their wits end, Chap. 39. 4.
V. 10. thou hast greatly deceived this people] Heb. deceiving deceived them. Not that God indeed deceived them, but that he should so have done, had that been true, which those false prophets fathered on him: promising unto the people, as from him, peace: unto whose delusions God justly left them; because they loved not, nor listed, to listen to his truth, 1 King. 22, 23. Isa. 63. 17. Ezek. 14. 9. 2 Thess. 2. 11, 12. Or the words may be read by way of interrogation, Hast thou indeed deceived this people? Can it be, thou shouldest promise peace to them, and hold them in an expectation of it, as those their prophets in thy name do, when thou intendest nothing lesse? implying it to be a thing impossible, that God should so do, Num. 23. 19. Tit. 1. 2.
the sword reacheth unto the soul] Striketh to the heart, vers. 18. woundeth deadly; unto the taking away of life. Soul, for life. Vers. 30. 1 Sam. 26. 24. Mat. 16. 25, 26. Luk. 14. 26.
V. 11. A dry wind] Such as the North-wind usually is, Job 37. 22. Pro. 25. 23. meaning the Chaldeans; who from the North, Chap. 1. 14, 15. Vers. 6. should break in upon them; like a whirl-wind in the plain, where there is no shelter or resistance, that sweepeth all away before it, Isa. 21. 1. & 27. 8.
of the high places in the wildernesse] Or, such as bloweth upon the high places in the plain. Chap. 9. 10. & 13. 24. though alluding withall, it may well be, to those plains or wasts, by which the Chaldeans were to march in their expedition against Judah. Vers. 12.
not to fanne, nor to cleanse] Not to sever the chaff from the grain, and carrie the one away, leaving the other, but to disperse and scatter all together, Chap. 15. 7. and 18. 17. and 51. 1. Ezek. 5. 2. & 21. 3.
V. 12. a full wind from those places] Or, a fuller winde then those. as Vers. 15. Chap. 49. 19.
will I give sentence against them] Heb. utter judgements. Chap. 1. 16. and 39. 5.
V. 13. he shall come up] Nebuchadnezzar: whose coming in fierce and furious manner is here described. Vers. 12. See the like, Isa. 21. 1.
as clouds] As clouds, driven with the wind for swiftnesse. Isa. 19. 1. Or, with forces, as thick as clouds, for multitude, Isa. 60. 8.
his chariots shall be as a whirlwind] Isa. 66. 15.
swifter] Heb. lighter. Isa. 19. 1. Vers. 24.
then eagles] Chap. 48. 40. Lam. 4. 19. Dan. 7. 4.
wo unto us, &c.] The peoples voyce in their distresse. Or the Prophets, before-hand bewailing it. See the like Lam. 5. 16.
V. 14. wash thine heart from wickednesse] Take the right and surest course for thine own safetie, by sincere repentance and serious reformation; as well of heart, as of life. Isa. 1. 16. Chap. 13. 27. Jam. 4. 8.
how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee] Heb. thoughts of vanitie, or, iniquitie. Pro. 6. 18. Isa. 59. 7. Expecting, and relying on succours and helps, that cannot save thee, Chap. 2. 5.
V. 15. voyce] Or, rumour. Isa. 13. 4.
from Dan] Or, greater then that of Dan.
affliction from mount Ephraim] Or, iniquitie (Vers. 14.) greater then that of mount Ephraim. as Vers. 12. Lam. 4. 6.
For a voyce declareth from Dan, &c.] A report of the Chaldeans coming; brought to Jerusalem from Dan, the utmost coast of Israel toward Babylon; and from mount Ephraim, that lay between Dan and Jerusalem, Chap. 8. 16. Or, the notorious fame of Judahs sinne, proclaimeth her iniquitie to be greater then the sinne of Israel committed at Dan and Bethel in the confines of mount Ephraim, 1 King. 12. 29. Chap. 3. 11.
V. 16. Make ye mention to the nations] Summon the Chaldeans, and such other people as joyn with them, 2 King. 24. 3. to come together against Jerusalem. Or, give advertisement to this people, the Jews, of the coming of such against them. Vers. 5.
watchers] Besiegers; that watch to keep from escape, Isa. 1. 8.
from a farre countrey] From Babylon, Isa. 39. 3.
give out their voyce] Chap. 2. 15. & 12. 8.
V. 17. As keepers of a field] Such as watch fruit, and keep it so straitly, that they suffer none to go in or out of the places, where it is: Or, that watch wild beasts, or deer, enclosed in a wood, that they may not make escape: intimating a very strait siege, 2 King. 25. 4. Chap. 5. 6.
V. 18. Thy way and thy doings have procured these things] Psal. 107. 17. Isa. 50. 1. Chap. 2. 17. 19.
this is thy wickednesse, because it is bitter] Or, thy wickednesse hath caused that it is bitter.
because it reacheth unto thine heart] Or, that it reacheth. as Gen. 22. 17. this being the effect and fruit of their sinnes. Vers. 10.
V. 19. My bowels] I am in pain, as a woman in travel, Isa. 26. 17. The disposition of true prophets, being deeply affected with the calamities of Gods people, which they are compelled to denounce, Isa. 25. 5. & 16. 11. & 22. 4. Chap. 9. 1. 10.
my bowels] This repetition argueth a great vehemencie of passion and affection: as 2 Sam. 18. 33. 2 King. 4. 19. & 13. 14.
I am pained as my very heart] Heb. the walls of my heart. to think what will become of the walls of my citie, Chap. 5. 10. I am. 2. 8, 18.
my heart maketh a noise in me] Isa. 16. 11.
the sound of the trumpet, &c.] Chap. 20. 16. & 49. 2.
V. 20. Destruction upon destruction] Deut. 32. 23. Psal. 42. 7. Ezek. 7. 26. Heb. Breach upon breach. Vers. 6.
suddenly are my tents spoiled] Their cities are overthrown, as suddenly and easily as a shepherds, or other sorie tent, Isa. 38. 12. Lam. 2. 6. Or, their habitations; simply: as Isa. 54. 2. Chap. 10. 20. Alluding to the manner of their habitation in times past, Heb. 13. 9. Or to the overthrow of a camp, Judg. 7. 13, 14. Chap. 6. 3.
my curtains] Whereof the tents consist, Cant. 1. 5. Isa. 54. 2. Chap. 10. 20. & 49. 29.
V. 21. How long shall I see the standard, &c.] Either their own, set up, for their forces to repair to; Vers. 6. or the enemies, approaching with his forces against them, Isa. 31. 9. Of the trumpet, see the like, Vers. 5. 19.
V. 22. my people is foolish] Isa. 44. 18, 19. Chap. 10. 8, 10.
they have not known me] Or, know me not. Chap. 9. 3.
have none understanding] Isa. 27. 11.
wise to doe evill] All their wisdome and policie tendeth to their own ruine; to carry them from God, and to drive him from them, Rom. 8. 6, 7. Or, they are cunning to plot and practise evil, Luk. 16. 8. See Chap. 9. 3. and the contrarie required, 1 Cor. 14. 20.
V. 23. I beheld the earth] In a vision. Chap. 1. 11. Dan. 7. 2, 6.
it was without form and void, &c.] The whole face both of heaven and earth seemed to be changed: as if all were reduced to its originall chaos, Gen. 1. 2. A description of utter desolation, and extreame distresse, Isa. 8. 22. & 13. 10. 13. & 24. 23. Ezek. 32. 7. Joel 2. 10. & 3. 15.
V. 24. I beheld the mountains] the mountains of Judah, Chap. 3. 23. & 9. 10.
they trembled] As if the very senslesse creatures were more sensible of Gods wrath then his people, Psal. 18. 7. Isa. 5. 25. Hab. 3. 10.
the hills moved lightly] Or, swiftly. Isa. 5. 26. Vers. 13.
V. 25. all the birds of the heavens were fled] Chap. 9. 10. Zeph. 1. 3.
V. 26. the fruitfull place, &c.] Isa. 33. 9. Heb. Carmel. Isa. 29. 17.
by his fierce anger] Heb. heat or, fervor. as Vers. 8.
V. 27. yet will I not make a fall end] Chap. 5. 18. & 30. 11. But reserve a residue for my self, Isa 1. 9. & 24. 13. Chap. 3. 14.
V. 28. the heavens above be black] Wear blacks, as mourner▪ do, Isa. 30. 28. Psal. 38. 6. & 42. 9. Chap. 8. 21. & 14. 2. See Vers. 23.
will not repent] Chap. 15. 6. Zech. 8. 14.
V. 29. bowmen] Heb. those that throw, or, shoot out, arrowes with the bow. Psal. 78. 9.
they shall go into thickets] Or, up to the thick clouds, Job 20. 6. Isa. 44. 22. Get them into the thickets, there to hide themselves, Gen. 3. 8. 2 Chron. 33. 11. Or, up to the highest hills that are; such as seem to reach the clouds; or, as if they would climbe up to the clouds, Chap. 49.16. Amos 9. 2, 3.
every city shall be forsaken] Or, the whole citie. as before.
not a man dwell therein] Vers. 25.
V. 30. when thou art spoiled] Or, thou that art to be spoiled, (as Chap. 30. 24. & 50. 6.) (Jerusalem, or Zion. Vers. 11.) what doest thou, that thou cloathest, &c. to what end doest thou all this▪
Though thou clothest thy self with crimson, &c.] All thine whorish designs and paintings, tricks of allurement and arts of enticement, will stand thee in no stead, will not serve to save thy life, 2 King. 9. 20, 33. Rev. 14. 4. 16.
rentest thy face] Or, cheeks. Heb. eyes.
in vain shalt thou make thy self fair] Or, doest thou, &c.
thy lovers will despise thee] Those, whom thou formerly reliedst upon, and were in league and amitie with thee; Chap. 22. 20. will then leave thee, and joyn with the enemie against thee, Lam. 1. 2. See 2 King. 24. 3. Chap. 27. 3.
they will seek thy life] Heb. soul. Vers. 10. Chap. 11. 21. and 19. 7.
V. 31. a voyce as of a woman in travail] Isa. 13. 8. & 21. 3. Chap. 6. 24. & 30. 6. & 49. 22. 24.
the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child] Who are wont to have hardest labour, and least patience to endure it.
that bewaileth her self] Or, fetcheth deep sighs.
spreadeth her hands] Wringeth her hands for grief. Or, stretcheth them out for relief. Lam. 1. 17.
because of murderers] Mine enemies that murder without merciemercy, 2 Chron. 36. 17.