Jeremiah 6

Chap. VI. Ver. 1—30. An alarm excited by the enemy’s approach.—The prophet, seeing the Chaldeans on their march, bade his people set up the usual signals of distress, spread the general alarm, and betake themselves to flight. The rapidity of the movements and the quickness of the transactions in verse 1, are highly expressive of the great emotion of the prophet’s mind, and peculiarly suited to the alarming occasion: then, by a beautiful allusion to the custom of shepherds moving their flocks to the richest pastures, Jerusalem is singled out as a place devoted to be eaten up or trodden down, by the armies of the Chaldeans who are called up against her, and whose ardour and impatience is so great, that the soldiers, when they arrive in the evening, regret they have no more day, and desire to begin the attack without waiting for the light of the morning.

(See note on ver. 4.) God is even represented as animating and directing the besiegers against this guilty city, which sinned as incessantly as a fountain flows. (Ver. 7.) He intimates also (by the figure of gleaning grapes) that one invasion should carry away the remains of another, till the whole should effect their total overthrow. The Lord then, to justify the severity of his dispensations towards Israel, mentions his having in vain repeatedly admonished and warned them, and calls upon the whole world to witness the equity of his proceedings in punishing his perverse and hypocritical people, by the instrumentality of the cruel Chaldeans. Upon this a chorus of Jews is introduced, (ver. 24, 25,) expressing their alarm, to which the prophet, in the next verse, re-echoes a response of sympathy and tenderness, exhorting to speedy penitence.

The concluding verses, by metaphors taken from the process of refining the precious metals, represent all the methods hitherto used to amend them as ineffectual, and declare their case desperate. They had been long in the refiner’s fire; but instead of being purified, came out mere dross. “Ungodly prosperity, when the Lord is provoked to withdraw his protection, renders men the richer prey to the rapacious and affords them no security against see depredations: and the more admired, indulged, or delicate they are, the more dreadful will they find it to endure hardship. Those who are intent on worldly gain, or glory and dominion, (though by inflicting miseries on others,) are assiduous and indefatigable; they lose no time, deny themselves even ordinary refreshments, and consider hinderances as grievous calamities: how shameful then is it, that we should be so attached to our own ease and indulgence, when the glory of God, the welfare of our neighbours, and the salvation of our own souls, demand our vigorous and patient activity!”—T. Scott.

Chap. VII. Ver. 1—34. The Prophet Jeremiah guardeth Judah against vain confidence.—A new section of prophecy here begins, which continues to the end of chapter x. It is evident that, besides Jeremiah and a few other prophets of the Lord, who warned the people against the danger of self-deception, there was a class of pretended prophets, who endeavoured to counteract their labours, and fill the people with vain confidence and false security. Among all the delusions in the religious world, certainly no one is more fatal than that of trusting to a mere profession, crying, “The temple of the Lord are these,” pointing to its consecrated stones, while men themselves are indifferent, both to the true interest of religion.

Notes on the verses

Chap. VI. Ver. 1. Tekoa, according to Jerome, was about 12 miles from Jerusalem, and Beth-haccerem, a village somewhat nearer. In the latter, surrounded with vineyards, was, according to Kimchi, a very high watch-tower for the keepers, and here they were ordered to place a beacon, or pan of fire, to alarm the country. Ver. 2. I have likened.—Blayney renders this word, “doomed to destruction;” but we are inclined to take the words as they lie in the Hebrew, thus: “A fair and delicate one will I destroy, (even) the daughter of Zion.” See Ver. 3. The shepherds, &c.—That is, the Babylonian army. Ver. 4. Prepare ye war, &c.—These are the words of the invaders, exciting each other to the assault.

“Though it was late in the day, they were eager to march immediately under the scorching noon-day sun; and, though the shadows of evening stretched around them before they reached the place, they were too impatient to wait for morning, and exclaimed, ‘let us go, yet might.’” Ver. 6. Cast (i.e. raise) a mount—for the purpose of placing thereon military instruments. Ver. 8. Lest my soul depart.—See margin. Blayney, “Be alienated.” Ver. 9. Turn back thy hand.—That is, to fill the baskets. Ver. 11. Therefore I am full of the fury (or wrath) of the Lord.—That is, the prophet had imbibed the spirit of his master. Ver. 17. Thus saith.—Blayney, “Said.” The old paths.—That is, which God of old appointed.

Ver. 20. Sweet cane.—[The calamus aromaticus, or sweet cane, (see on (Exodus 30:23);) which when cut down, dried, and pulverized, forms an ingredient in the richest perfumes. This plant was a native of Arabia; and grew particularly in Sheba, or Saba, as we are informed by Strabo and Diodorus Siculus, which also was famous for the best incense.]—Bagster. See note on (Isaiah 43:24). Ver. 21. Stumbling blocks—alluding, perhaps, to some military instruments cast in their way, to prevent their flight. Ver. 27. I have set thee a bid tower, &c.—Taking our authorized translation, it is very natural to refer back to chap. i. 18. But Dr. Blayney, agreeably to the LXX. and Vulgate, renders, “I have appointed thee to make an assay among my people;” referring to the office of an assayer of silver and gold: to separate which from the alloy they added a portion of lead, before the use of quicksilver was known; and when all was fused together, and brought into a state of ebullition, the cupel absorbed the lead, and with it the dross or alloy; and the silver was left pure on the top.—Bagster. Which is partly adopted by Dr. Boothroyd. But Betser is used for both the precious metals, (Job 22:24-25); and by verse 30, should be here confined to silver. Ver. 28. They are brass and iron—not pure gold or silver. See (Ezekiel 22:18). Ver. 29. The bellows are burned—with perpetual use—The lead is consumed.—Lead was used in the refining of silver, and when this was expended, refining was stopped.

(See note, ver. 27.) Ver. 30. Reprobate silver.—See margin; scoria.