Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Jeremiah · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
Ver. 1. IN the beginning of the raign of Jehojakim] By the date of this Prophecy compared with ver. 12. of this Chapter, and chap. 28.1. it ſhould ſeem that it lay dormant for fourteen or fifteen years, ere it was recited.
Ver. 2. Make thee bonds and yokes] i. e. Yokes with bonds, ſuch as they are wont to be faſtened with.
A Lapide.And put them upon thy neck] This was to the Prophet, ſaith the Jeſuite, moleſta & probroſa poenitentia, a troubleſome and diſgraceful pennance: but this was no will-worſhip, ſay we; and much handſomer then the pennances they put the people to in Italy: Bee-hive of Rome.where you may ſee them go along the ſtreets, ſaith mine Author, with a great rope about their necks, as if they were dropped down from the Gallowes: and ſometimes they wear a Sawſedge or a Swines-pudding in place of a ſilver or gold chain, for a ſign of their mortification, and that they may merit.
Ver. 3. By the hand of the meſſengers] i. e. Embaſſadours of thoſe neighbouring States, who might come to Zedekiak, to confederate with him againſt Nebuchadnezzar's growing greatneſſe: but all in vain, and to their own ruine. Deus quem deſtruit dementat. The wicked oft run to meet their bane, as if they were even ambitious of deſtruction.
Ver. 4. Go tell your Maſters] But they would not be warned, and were therefore ruined. So true is that of an Ancient, Divinum conſilium, dum devitatur, impletur: humana ſapientia, dum reluctatur, comprehenditur.
Ver. 5. I have made the earth] And am therefore the great Proprietary and Lord Paramount of all; to transfer Kingdoms at my pleaſure. This, Nebuchadnezzar, after ſeven years prentiſhip ſerved among the beaſts of the field, had learned to acknowledge,Oecolamp. Dan. 4.
Ver. 6. And now have I given all theſe lands] Nebuchadnezzar ſhall be Monarch, contra Gentes. Dicunt nugatores equitaſſe Nabuchodonoſor ſuper Leonem, & infraenaſſe Draconem.
Ver. 7. And all Nations ſhall ſerve him] All the neighbouring Nations, and ſome others more remote: but never was any man foreign Ʋniverſal Monarch: though ſome have ſtiled themſelves ſo, as did Seſoſtris King of Egypt,
Qui Pharios currus regum cervicibus egit.
Ʋntil the very time of his land come] The greateſt Monarchies had their times and their turns: their riſe and their ruine.
And then many Nations and great Kings ſhall ſerve themſelves of him] As the Chaldaeans had ſerved themſelves of the Aſſyrians: ſo did the Perſians of the Chaldaeans, the Greeks of the Perſians, the Romans of the Greeks; the Gothes and Vandals, and now the Turks of the Romans; ſuch an aeſtuaria viciſſitudo there is in earthly Kingdoms, ſuch a ſtrange uncertainty in all things here below. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may ſerve God acceptably with reverence and godly feare, Heb. 12.28. Let us ſerve Him, and not ſerve our ſelves upon him, as ſelf-ſeekers do.
Ver. 8. And it ſhall come to paſſe that the Nation, &c.] It is better then, to ſerve a forrein Prince, then to periſh by the ſword, famine or peſtilence. It ſhould not be grievous to any man to ſacrifice all his outward comforts to the ſervice of his life.
And that will not put their neck under the yoke] The Lord diſpoſeth of the Kingdoms of the Heathens alſo, though in ſuch a way as may ſeem to us to be meer hap-hazard.
That Nation will I puniſh] By ſeeking to ſhun a leſſe miſchief, they ſhall fall into a greater: if they eſcape froſt, the ſhall meet with ſnow.
Ver. 9. Therefore hearken not ye to your Prophets] Whom the devil ſetteth a work to perſwade you otherwiſe, to your ruine; as he is an old man-ſlayer, and hath his breathing devils abroad, as his agents, ſuch as are here mentioned.
Ver. 10. To remove you far from your Land] So it would prove: and ſuch would be the event of their falſe prophecies.
Ver. 11. But the Nations that bring their neck] When God bids us Yoke, it is beſt to ſubmit. In all his commands there is ſo much reaſon for them, that if God did not enjoyn them, yet it were beſt, in ſelf-reſpects, for us to practiſe them: ſith in ſerving him we ſhall have the creatures to ſerve us, &c.
Ver. 12. I ſpake alſo to Zedekiah] See on ver. 1.
Bring your necks under the yoke] Better do ſo then worſe: if ye will not be active in it, ye ſhall be paſſive; and that becauſe ye would not take upon you the lighter yoke of mine obedience.
— Deus crudelius urit
Quos videt invitos ſuccubuiſſe ſibi.Tibul. Eleg. 1.
Ver. 13. Why will ye dye, thou and thy people?] Ecquae haec pertinacia? If thou haſt no mercy on thy ſelf, yet pitty the State which is like to periſh by thy pertinacy. Joſephus highly commendeth Jeconiah for his yeelding to go into captivity, for the ſafety of the City. Tertullian giveth this counſel to Scapula the Perſecutor, If thou wilt not ſpare us, yet ſpare thy ſelf: or if not thy ſelf, yet thy Country Carthage, which is like to ſmoke for thy cruelty▪ for God is the avenger of all ſuch.
Ver. 14. Therefore hearken not unto the words of the Prophets] Quantâ opus operâ, ſaith Oecolampadius: what a buſineſſe it is to beat men off from fale Prophets and Seducers? but let the end and the evils they lead to be remembred. Cavete à Melampygo.
Ver. 15. For they propheſy a lye] When they ſpeak a lye, they ſpeak of their own, as it is ſaid of their father the devil, Joh 8.44. See chap. 23.21, 22.
Ver. 16. Behold the veſſels of the Lords houſe, &c.] Notorious impudency! but it hath ever been the lot of the Church to be peſtered with ſuch frontleſſe rakeſhames, who dare affirm things flat oppoſite to the truth, and flatter men in their ſin to their utter ruine. Thoſe who are of God, can do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth, 2 Cor. 13.8.
Ver. 17. Harken not unto them] Life and death is let in by the eare, Iſa. 55.3. Take heed therefore what ye hear.
Serve the King of Babylon] And ſo long as ye may have liberty of Conſcience upon any reaſonable terms, be content: and not, as the bird in the cage, which becauſe pent up, beateth her ſelf.
Ver. 18. Let them make interceſſion to the Lord of hoſts] Let them pray in the Holy Ghoſt, by whom they pretend to be inſpired: Let us ſee, what anſwer. So Elias called upon the Baalites, to call aloud unto their god: and foraſmuch as he heard them not, the people were ſatisfied that they were falſe Prophets: God will fulfil what he hath foretold; but then he looketh that his ſervants ſhould make interceſſion. Elias had foretold Ahab that there ſhould be ſtore of rain after a long drought: but then he went up into Mount Carmel to pray for that rain. I came for thy prayer, ſaid the Angel to Daniel. Gods Prophets are his favourites, and may have any thing of him.
Ver. 19. Concerning the ſea, and concerning the pillars, &c.] Of theſe ſee 1 King. 7.15, 23, 27.
And concerning the reſidue of the veſſels] All the goodly plate, whether ſacred or prophane, that the moderation of the Conquerour had leſt in the City.
Ver. 20. Which Nebuchadnezzar—took not] See on ver. 19.
Diod.Ver. 21. Ʋntil the day that I viſite them] Till by my providence I appoint a great part of them to be brought back again, and to be new conſecrated to my ſervice, Ezr. 1.7. & 7.19.