Jeremiah 12

Jeremiah 12:1

RIghteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee]

Or, though I should contend with thee. Isaiah 50:8. Chap. 2. 12. & 10. 2. Thou wouldest be found so to be: he acknowledgeth God to be just in his dealings; though man be not able to conceive, or render, a reason of his doings. Psalms 51:5. and Psalms 73:1.

let me talk with thee of thy judgements] Or, let me reason the case with thee. Heb speak judgements with thee. Chap. 39. 5.

Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper] This consideration hath from time to time much troubled the godly, Job 21. 7,-14. & Psalms 37:1. & 73. 2,-12. Habakkuk 1:4-5. and the wicked have thereby taken occasion of encouragement unto evill, Malachi 2:17. and Malachi 3:15.

that deal very treacherously] Heb. dealing treacherously deal treacherously. Chap. 5. 11.

Jeremiah 12:2

they grow] Heb. they go on. Genesis 26:13.

thou art neare in their mouth, &c.] They professe thee in word; but denie thee in heart and deed, Psalms 14:1. & Psalms 53:1. Titus 1:16. Or, professe themselves to be thy people, a people neer to thee, Psalms 148:14. when as they bear no hearty affection to thee, Isaiah 29:13. & Isaiah 48:1. & Isaiah 58:2. Psal. 78. 34, 37.

and] Or, but. as Isaiah 29:13. Chap. 1. 19.

Jeremiah 12:3

thou, O LORD, knowest me] Thou knowest my sinceritie. Chap. 15. 15. & 17. 16. Psalms 17:3.

tried mine heart towards thee] Heb. with thee. 2 Kings 10:15.

pull them out like sheep for the slaughter] The issue and upshot of the prosperitie of the wicked; James 5:5. by the consideration whereof the godly recover, and are strengthened against the former temptation, Psal. 37. 2, 20, 36, 38. & 73. 17,-22. Malachi 3:18. and Malachi 4:1.

prepare them for the day of slaughter] Heb. sanctifie them. as Isaiah 13:3. Chap. 6. 4.

Jeremiah 12:4

How long shall the land mourn] Either by reason of the drought, and dearth then ensuing, Chap. 14. 1. or, in regard of the wast and havock to be made of all by the enemie, Chap. 4. 25, 26. vers. 10, 11.

for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein] Psalms 107:34.

the beasts are consumed, and the birds] Chap. 4. 25. and 7. 20. and 9. 10.

because they said] Or, though. as Chap. 10. 2.

He shall not see our last end] Or, he will not see it. Either God; who, they thought, would be better then his word; and not destroy them, notwithstanding their sinnes. Deuteronomy 29:19. Or, the Prophet; whose words they esteemed but as wind, Chap. 5. 13. Genesis 19:14.

Jeremiah 12:5

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses] Heb. close with them. Chap. 22. 15. Gods words to the Prophet, as most take them, reproving him, as farre unable to dispute with God, when he is not able to deal with man: or, demanding how he will be able to bicker with those mightier and more masterfull ones of Jerusalem, when he cannot brook those meaner and more despicable inhabitants of Anathoth. Yet may it well be Gods speech to the people, demanding of them, how they will endure a mightie enemie invading them, when as they are not safe in quiet times from their own neighbours and friends. Chap. 9. 4.

in the land of peace] When the land is quiet, in comparison of what will ensue, Chap. 22. 21.

in the swelling of Jordan] When all shall be in confusion, and in danger to be utterly destroyed, through the enemie overruning it: Isa. 8. 7, 8. & 59. 19. as it is with the low lands bordering upon Jordan, when the river swelleth above his banks, Joshua 3:15. 1 Chronicles 12:15. Chap. 49. 19. & 50. 44. Zechariah 11:3.

Jeremiah 12:6

even thy brethren, and the hous of thy father] Chap. 9 4. The men of Anathoth, thy countreymen, allies and kindred, though they make shew of love and good liking to thee outwardly, yet are covertly plotting thy death, and nforming and inciting the State against thee. Chap. 11. 21. & 20. 10. Or, thy confederates, O Judah, and kinsmen in regard of descent; the issue of Lot, Psalms 83:8. the Moabites and Ammonites; Gen. 19. 37, 38. and the Edomite, of Isaac; Genesis 35:29. & Genesis 36:1. Malachi 1:2. though they seem to comply with thee; Chap. 27. 3. yet are inwardly fall-hearted; and will joyn with the enemy against thee. Chap. 4. 30. Vers. 14. 2 Kings 24:3.

they have called a mutitude after thee] Or, a full assemblie. Heb. fulnesse. Isaiah 31:4. Or, they cried, or, will cry, after thee fully; or, with full throat. Isaiah 58:1. as Psalms 73:10. See Psalms 137:7.

beleeve them not, though they speak fair words] Heb. good things. Chap. 52. 32. Proverbs 26:15.

Jeremiah 12:7

I have forsaken mine house] My people, that were sometime my possession: Chap. 10. 16. Hebrews 3:6. and the place of my speciall residence, Psalms 78:60. Chap. 50. 11.

I have given the dearly beloved of my soul] Heb. the love of my soul. (See Chap. 11. 15.) Or, my beloved. as Chap. 9. 9.

Jeremiah 12:8

Mine beritage is unto me as a lion in the forest] Ever ramping and raging against me and my Prophets. Isaiah 63:10. Chap. 2. 30. Matthew 23:37. Act. 7. 51 53.

it crieth out against me] Or, velleth. Heb. giveth out his voyce. Chap. 4. 16. Joe 2:11.

have I hated it] Or, I hate it. as Malachi 1:2.

Jeremiah 12:9

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird] Or, a tallanted fowl. Either a ravenous fowl; or, a pied one: she is grown wild and fierce. Or, she hath gotten her a garb patched up of divers superstitions, casting off my simple liverie; as not content therewith. Chap. 7. 9, 10. Ezek. 8. 5, 10, 14, 16.

the birds round about are against her] The nations, her enemies, flock about her; as birds about a strange fowl.

come ye, assemble] Or, go, assemble.

all the beasts of the field] Heb. every beast. as Chap. 9. 10.

come to devour] Or, cause them to come to devoure her. To prey upon her, as ravenous beasts upon a flock of theep; Isaiah 56:9. or, to spoil her, as wild beasts breaking into a vineyard; Psalms 80:13. or, to feed upon the carcasses of men slain by the enemy. Chap. 7. 33. & 15. 3. Revelation 19:17-18.

Jeremiah 12:10

Many pastours] The King of Babylons Princes and Chieftains, Chap. 6. 3.

trodden my portion under foot] Isaiah 63:18.

my pleasant portion] Heb. portion of desire. Chap. 3. 19.

Jeremiah 12:11

They have made it desolate] Heb. He hath. that is, God. Vers. 12.

because no man layeth it to heart] Or, though. or, yet. as Isaiah 9:1. See Chap. 11. 15. Because no man layeth my word to heart: Chap. 18. 18. Or, though no man for all this considereth aright of the judgement, or the cause of it: Isaiah 42:25. Chap. 5. 12. and 9. 12.

Jeremiah 12:12

The spoilers are come upon all high places] No place of defence or fortification; such as higher grounds are naturally, in regard of more difficult accesse; is able to withstand them. Chap. 9. 21.

through the wildernesse] Or, in the plain. Lamentations 4:19. That lay between Chaldea and Judea. Chap. 4. 11, 12. Or the plains within the land of Judah.

no flesh shall have peace] Heb. there is no peace to any flesh. that is, to none of the Jewish people. as Matthew 24:22. See Chap. 45. 5.

Jeremiah 12:13

They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns] According to the curse in the law, Genesis 3. 18. Lev. 26. 16. Deuteronomy 28:38. no fruit shall come of all your labours, Genesis 4:12. Job 31:40. Mic. 6. 15. Hag. 1. 6. no good issue of all your vain endevours, whereby ye hope to help your selves. Chap. 3. 23.

and they shall be ashamed of your revenues] Or, be ye even ashamed, &c. Ye may well be ashamed of your crop, Chap. 3. 25. and 8. 15.

because of the fierce anger] Heb. heat of nose. Chap. 4. 8, 26.

Jeremiah 12:14

Thus saith the LORD against all mine evill neighbours] For the comfort of the faithfull, God promiseth yet to restore them again; and to be revenged on their neighbour people, the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, that had wronged them, and invaded their land, taking occasion by their distracted and distressed estate so to do. 2 Kings 24:2. Psalms 137:7. Chap. 49. 1. Obad. 11,-14.

that touch the inheritance, &c.] To wrong it in the least degree. Psalms 115:15. Zechariah 2:8.

I will pluck them out of their land] I will dispeople their land; as they have done to my people, Chap. 30. 11, 16. Deuteronomy 30:3. Chap. 32. 37.

pluck out the house of Judah from among them] Deliver them; as by main might snatching them out of their hands, and bringing them away out of those lands, wherein, as exiles and captives, they shall abide. Ezekiel 20:37-38.

Jeremiah 12:15

I will return, and have compassion n them] Or, have compassion again upon them. as Psalms 71:20. & Psalms 85:6. I will yet again in mercy restore those nations also upon their repentance: Isaiah 18:7. & 19. 22, 24.

Jeremiah 12:16

if they] These nations: under whom is presigured and foretold the calling of the Gentiles in generall. Isaiah 2:2. and Isaiah 24:22.

will diligently learn] Heb. learning learn.

to swear by my name] To give up their names to me; and worship me onely: Isaiah 19:18. Chap. 4. 2.

(as they taught my people to swear by Baal)] Which my people learned from them, Numbers 25:1,—3. Psalms 106:35.

be built in the mist of my people] Or, among my people. Chap. 9. 6. They shall have a settled place and portion among my people, Isaiah 56:5-7. and thrive and prosper with them: as Genesis 16:2. Exodus 1:20-21. Job 22:23. Chap. 33. 7. Malachi 3:15.

Jeremiah 12:17

if they will not obey] Isaiah 60:12.

I will utterly pluck up] Heb. plucking up pluck up.