Jeremiah 2

In this Chapter Ieremie directs his speech and Sermon to the whole body of the State, as in the name and person of God, debating the case, and expostulating with them, thus, viz. minding them of Gods mercies and favours towards them; taxing them for their base and unworthy thy carriage towards him; convincing them of their extreme folly and madnesse, in bringing mischief and misery upon themselves; and forewarning them of the sorry successe they should finde by relying on such as would not be able to relieve them.

Jeremiah 2:2

the kindnesse of thy youth] What kindnesse, and love, God then had shewed them; As, Psal. CVI. 4. Esay XLVI. 3.

when thou wentest] Gods kindnesse to them then, even though they then did but ill deserve it, Psal. CVI. 7, 32, 33. Amos V. 25, 26.

Jeremiah 2:5

what iniquity] No fault in God, that he is now changed towards them.

Jeremiah 2:7

mine heritage] As dear to me, as mine heritage; and by me assigned to you for an heritage.

Jeremiah 2:9

and with your childrens children will I plead] As I formerly pleaded the cause with your forefathers, chap. VII. 25. 2 Chron. XXXVI. 14, 15. Pleads here upon a new ground, verse 10, 11. Though they had no cause to plead with him, v. 29.

Jeremiah 2:10

Kedar] In Arabia; a kinde of savage people.

Jeremiah 2:12

desolate] Lose your lustre.

Jeremiah 2:14

Is Israel a servant] That he is so servilely, slavishly, used by his enemies?

Jeremiah 2:15

The young lions] Former judgements upon them; as by the Syrians, and Assyrians.

Jeremiah 2:16

Noph and Tahapanes] Cities in Egypt.

Jeremiah 2:18

Sihor] Nilus.

river] Euphrates. The two broken Cisterns, v. 13.

Jeremiah 2:20

when upon every high hill] Notwithstanding thy Promises and engagements.

Jeremiah 2:23

see thy way in the valley] God points them, as it were, with his finger, to the particular places of their idolatries.

dromedarie] A swift beast, whence in Greek it hath its name. A lesser and lower kinde of Camel, very rife in Arahia; and much used by Curriers there. Strabo l. 15. Diodore l. 2. c. 54. Leo Afric. l. 9.

Jeremiah 2:24

A wilde Asse] Male, or female. For Genders in the names of beasts, are often promiscuously used by the Hebrews. And we finde both Genders used sometimes of the very self-same thing; as, Ezek. II. 9. Jonah. I. 17. and II. 1.

snuffeth up the winde] Of lust, after the male or female.

in her moneth they shall finde her] When she is heavie with young, goeth near her time, and cannot so easily shift for her self.

Jeremiah 2:25

withhold] A wholesom admonition and Caveat; to break off their wicked courses in gadding after strange people, and strange gods, lest they suffer for it.

will I go.] Whatsoever comes of it. And so they are past cure, and past care.

Jeremiah 2:27

to a stock] The ignorant idolatrous Jew no worse then the ignorant idolatrous Papist: And the learned Papist not much differing herein from the learned idolatrous Jew.

Arise, and save us.] Judges X. 10, 13, 14, 15.

Jeremiah 2:28

of thy Cities, are thy gods] Tutelar gods. As Papists had their Tutelar Saints, to every Citie, Parish, Corporation, trade, sicknesse, &c.

Jeremiah 2:31

See the Word of the Lord] As, hear the rod, Micah VI. 9. See Deut. XXIX. 2, 3, 4. Prov. XX. 12. Eccles. I. 16. Psal. XVII. 2. and LXVI. 18. Jer. II. 19.

we will come no more unto thee.] We have no further need now of thy support; we can do well enough without thee.

Jeremiah 2:32

forgotten me] Their ornament, and attire.

Jeremiah 2:33

Why trimmest] Esay LVII. 9, 10.

thou also taught] Wicked Harlots may learne of thee; by thy evil example.

Jeremiah 2:34

but upon all these] The skirts of thy garments, it is openly to be seene.

Jeremiah 2:36

to change thy way] Ranging up and downe, to seek aide and auxiliaries abroad.

Ashamed] 2 Chron. XXVIII. 20.

Jeremiah 2:37

from him] Heb. this; place: into captivity.