Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Jeremiah · Chapter 26 – Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVI.
HEre the Prophet is hidden to threaten them, that the House of God should Vers. 1, 2. 3, 4. 5, 6.be like Shiloh, unless they turned to the Lord by true repentance; to which effect he had spoken before in the time of Josiah, Chap. 7. in 13. or 14 Verses together. But now threatning them with the same in the first year of Iehojakim, his son, he was hereupon conspired against by the Priests and People, that would have murthered him. Whereby we may see how wickedness aboundeth under a wicked King. In saying that it was the first year of his reign, he sheweth plainly, that the former Chapter is misplaced; because things done anno 4. of his reign are therein related. When Jeremiah had this tumult raised up against him Vers. 10.by the Priests, Prophets, and people, the Princes hearing it, came and sate in the entry of the new gate of the Lords house: the Caldeans call this the East gate; Lyra and Vatabl. say it was that built by Jotham, 2 Kings 15. 35. which might well be, because it was but lately built, viz. not much above one hundred Lyra. Vatabl.years before; whereas the Temple was built in Solomons time, betwixt whom and Jotham was Ʋzziah 52 years, 2 Kings 15. Amaziah 29. 2 Chron 25. Ioasb 40. 2 Chron. 24. Athaliah 6. 2 Chron. 12. 12. Ahazia 1. Jehoram 8. 2 Chron 21. 5. Jehoshaphat 35. 2 Chron. 20. Asa 41. 2 Chron 16. Alijah 3. 2 Chron 13. Rekoboam 17. 2 Chren. 12. Solomon 16. after the house finished; for he began anno 4. of his reign, and finisht all in twenty years; sunma tot. 228 years. And this new gate was of great note, and called for divers reasons by divers names, as David Kimhi observeth, 1 Sur. 2 Kings 12. 6. because the unclean were there separated, 2 Jesod. a foundation, 2 Chron. 23. 5. because there the foundation of Doctrine was laid, by teaching the rights of the Lords house. 3 Harsith, because it stood East-ward to the Sun rising, Ier. 19. 21. 4. The gate Ithon; that is, of entrance. 5. Hatanath, the middle, because it was between two gates. 6. Asharahalta, the upper, for the height thereof, and because it was over the Court, the place of Prayer, 7. The new gate, as here. To this the Princes come and sit, to hear the matter betwixt Ieremiah and the Priests, Prophets and People; so that it seemeth here was a place to sit, and hear, and determine causes concerning God, betwixt one man and another; and herein the Princes had a power. And it is to be noted, that when they heard the cause of Ieremiah, they judged truely without respect of persons, for him, a despised Note. Prophet alone, against all the other; yea, the Priests, that were of great authority, who neither being moved with reverence of good, whose servants in a peculiar manner they were, nor by this consideration, that Ieremiah was one of themselves, were carried altogether with envy and wrath, rashly to destroy him; so impetuous a thing is wrath and malice for reproof, although never so just. For hereby Ieremiah first incensed Pashur, Chap. 20. and then all of them, Ch. 23. where he most bitterly inveighed against them, not sparing the Princes also But they could easilier forget it, than the Priests, who indeed should have been examples of all vertue to them. But even the Princes soon after turned his cruel enemies also, Chap. 37. 15. for his free reproving of them for their sins, Chap. 34. and threatning their destruction.
Then rose up certain Elders of the Land. When the Princes had spoken, certain ancient men, here called Elders, that best knew what had been done long Vers. 17.agoe, took courage to themselves to speak for Ieremiah also: for so Calvin understands Calvin.Elders in this place, Elder-men; and reason makes it most probable, and that they were not of the Elders preferred by Moses, Numb. 11. of whom the Synedrion magnum consisted, for they were the Princes of the Land. And they alledge the example of Micah, threatning that Ierusalem should be ploughed, Mich, 3. 12.that is, so destroyed, as it should have none appearance of a City, but be as a field ploughed and sown with Corn; as the Poet said of Troy, Et seges est ubi Troia fuit; as now Ieremiah threatned ruine likewise; but Hezekiah, in whose dayes he lived, did nothing against him, but feared before the Lord, and besought him, and so the Lord repented of the evill, and did it not. This was done above eighty years agoe; for between Hezekiah and Iehojakim was Manassah 52, Amon 2, Josiah 32: yet there might be old men then living, that might remember it, especially being godly, as it seems these were; and therefore such as kept a Record of such famous passages betwixt Prophers and Kings.
There was also a man that prophesied against this Land; then Jehojakim, &c. Vers. 20.Here Expositors differ, some thinking, that in these words the foresaid old men go on still in their speech, and some, that some other man, an enemy to Ieremiah, spake this in opposing what they had said, because they think it not probable, that the same men should bring a contrary example, to make the example before brought lesse moving; and because in conclusion it is added, verse 27. Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam was with Jeremiah, the adversative particle here implying something done in his behalf, notwithstanding the example before going, which tended to frustrate the speech of the old men, and to stir up the people against Jeremiah, by setting before their eyes what the way now was that they had Jehojakim for their King, wherein it stood them in hand to goe whatsoever they had done in Hezekiah his time; for we say, New Lords, new Lawest yet because in some relations, if after some, other some speak, an hint hereof by saying; but others spake thus, or contrariwise there were that said thus; and here is no word intimating a divers speaker; the first Exposition seems most probable, that the foresaid Elders go on in producing this example also; whereas it may be objected, they durst not certainly after they had related, what was done in Hezekiah his time, and made application by speaking of a good event, bring another contrary example of a thing done by the King, under whom they now lived, but as it were, the other day, (for it was the beginning of Jehojakims reign, when these things were agitated, as appeareth verse 1.) For what construction could be made hereof, but that this King for this tyrannicall act against Ʋrijah, together with his Princes, was already upon ruine? I answer, who so shall consider the whole relation, there being none application made as before, must needs hence rather gather, that the same men spake thus also, and not an adverse party; for then they would have been bold to have applyed it by saying, after they had produced the example; yet Jehojakim suffereth no evill for all this. But the old men speaking it, descretion required, that they should suspend an application against the King, leaving this relation barely made to each ones consideration, that they may be the more out of danger. And it was enough after the other, barely to relate it, none being so shallow, but that he must needs gather, that Jehojakim and his mighty men by killing that Prophet Ʋrijah had done too much already, to pull down Gods wrath upon them, and therefore it stood them in hand to beware, how they added more innocent bloud-shed by persecuting Jeremiah, as they did, to break off from this fury, and rather go to prayer. For the adversative Particle, verse 24. the meaning is, say these old men what they could, or the Princes what they could, the Priests and people yet were carried with such a spirit of madness, that they would have killed Ieremiah, but that Ahikam the son of Shaphan, some man of great power with his men about, came and took him with a strong hand away from them, and so he was safe for that time. Of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and what place he was, we may gather from 2 Kings 22, 12. Where he is said to be sent by Iosiah together with Hilkiah, and some others, as being most honourable persons, to enquire of the Lord, when he saw himself in great danger. For Ʋrijah, the Prophet, I finde not any other mention made of him elsewhere; but hereby it appeareth, that when Ierem 5. it was said, that he found not a man, he meant not precisely any one; for this Ʋrias was Cotemporanean with him. And although he fled into Egypt, when his life was sought, yet it was not out of timerousness, but prudence to save himself, as long as he could, to do service to God in this world, as Christ himself did, and Elijah, and the Apostles were bidden, when they were persecuted in one City, to flee to another: for that he was not timerous, appeared, because that being brought back out of Egypt, he retracted not, but stood to that which he had said to the death. Whereas Ieremiah sled not, and yet was preserved; Gods singular providence appeared herein, that the people might not even in the wickedest times be destitute of one to admonish and threaten them, that they might be brought to repentance: Touching Iehojakins sending and fetching him out of Egypt, it may easily be conceived, how he might do this, because Pharoah Necho Hieron.King of Egypt made him King, 2 Kings 23. 34: Thus Ierom. For Ʋriah his being buried amongst the Vulgar sort, it is to be understood, that every man of note then had his severall burying place for him and those of his Family; and because Prophets were most of all such, if they had no such places, the manner was at the publick charge to honour them so far, as to build them Sepulchers, and thereupon to subscribe their names; as we may see 2 Kings 23. 17. and Mat. 23. 22. Ʋriah then was not onelyonly persecuted whilst he lived, but his persecutors to encrease their sin the more, denyed unto him the honour of a Prophets buriall.
CHAP. XXVII.
THis Chapter beginneth as Chapter 26. In the beginning of the reign of Iehojakin. Although this Prophecy concerned the time of Zedekiah, which was not till divers years after. For the Lord bids the Prophet send yoaks to the Vers. 1.Kings about Judah, by their Embassadors that should come to Zedekiah. But Vers. 3.the Lord revealed to his Prophet now, that they should all be subdued; and before also Ch. 25. 19. Where he nameth many more, that should drink, so that this Prophecy was to lye dormant for certain years, but made known now for Ieremiah his comfort, and better satisfaction touching his former threatnings; the execution whereof he saw still to be delayed. But now the time is made known unto him, when they should be executed, even in Zedekiah his dayes. And the Lord goeth on to teach by outward signes, as he did before to affect them, to whom the Prophet was sent, the more. For coming of Embassadors from the Kings about to Zedekiah, it was without doubt to confederate against Nebuchadnezzar, whose power they saw to be very great, that although they were not able each nation alone to withstand him; yet joyning all their forces together they might. But the Prophet sheweth, that this confederacy would be but vain, because all Kingdomes of the earth are the Lords, and to be given to Vers. 5, 6.whom he pleased; and it was now his pleasure to give them all to Nebuchadnezzar and his posterity for a certain time, and then to give them again into the hands of others, as was also said before Chap. 25. 13, 14. Wherefore he perswadeth Vers. 7.them voluntarily to yield unto him, promising that if they did, they should still dwell in their own land; but if they would not, threatning them Vers. 9, 10, 11.with destruction by the sword, famine and pestilence. Whence note, that whatsoever God commandeth it is wisdome to obey him herein; for in serving him we shall be in the way to have the earth serve us for habitation, and nutriment, but contrariwise ready to spue us out by destructions and consumptions of divers sorts. The time for all to serve Nebuchadnezzar is limited to him; His son and sons son, that is, Evilmerodach and Belshazzar; for he reigned 36 years after Iehojakin his captivity, as appears 2 Kings 25. Evilmerodach, as some say 23, Belshazzar 3; but Beros. hath between the two last, Nenglith Soroores, in whom seventy years may be made up: but of this see more 2 Kings 25 8.
Hearken not to them that say, The Vessels of the Lords house shall be brought back again from Babylon. Of the carrying of these precious Vessels into Babylon, see 2 Kin. 24. 13. and that more were carried away afterwards in Zedekiah his time, 2 Kin. 25. 13. But none were brought back again, till the time of Cyrus, Ezra 1. according to this Prophecie, verse 19, 20, 21, 22. yet so impudent were the false Prophets of the Jewes, that they dared to promise the bringing of them shortly back again. So at all times there be Prophets, that flatter the state and make it secure, when God is resolved upon nothing but destruction and ruine for sin.