Jeremiah 12

bours, &c.] This prophecy threatens chiefly Idumeans, Moshites, Ammonites, and Philistines, against whom Jeremiah prophesies, chap. xlvii, xlviii, and xlix; and Ezekiel, chap. xxv. These are called “evil neighbours,” because of the spite and ill-will which they shewed toward the Jews on all occasions, at this time especially, when most of them joined with the Chaldeans and Syrians in opposing them: see 2 Kings xxiv. 2. This sin is particularly bad to their charge by the Prophets, and they are threatened with captivity chiefly on that account: see chap. xlix. 1, 2; Ezek. xxv. 3. 6. 8. 12. 15; Amos i. 11; Obad. ver. 10; Zeph. ii. 8. W. Lowth. 15. And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out &c.] The captivity threatened to the Jews and their neighbours seems to be confined to seventy years: see chap. xxv. 11; xxvii. 7; Isa. xxiii. 15. We may observe likewise that after Jeremiah had threatened severe judgments upon several countries, he concludes with a general purpose of returning from their captivity in the latter days: see chap. xlviii. 47; xlix. 6. 39. Which promise relates probably to their conversion under the Gospel, called in Scripture “the latter days.” W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 12:2

2. — thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.] The true character of hypocrites, who, according to Isaiah’s description of them, “honour God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him,” Isa. xxix. 13; Mark vii. 6. “The reins” in Scripture signify the thoughts and inward dispositions. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 12:4

4. — because they said, He shall not see our last end.] That is, He will not concern Himself about rewarding or punishing us hereafter. The inference, which had men are apt to draw from God’s past forbearance, is, that He is totally regardless of the moral conduct of mankind. Hence, promising themselves the same impunity in future, which they have hitherto experienced, they are led to a free indulgence of all their vicious inclinations. Accordingly the Psalmist, complaining, as the Prophet does here, of the prosperity of the wicked, represents their behaviour and their principles in terms exactly similar. See Ps. xxiv. 5—7. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 12:5

5. If thou hast run with the footmen, &c.] Here God answers the complaint of the Prophet, and applies a proverbial expression to his case. W. Lowth. The sense of the proverb seems to be, If thou art not able to encounter less dangers, how wilt thou be able to overcome greater? Poole.

— in the swelling of Jordan?] The ravages of war

yet || let me talk with thee of thy judgments: ^ Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

Jeremiah 12:9

9. Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, &c.] My people are become wild and savage, (see ver. 6,) and not to be tamed; and like “a speckled” or “taloned bird,” are only fit for prey and deeds of violence. And as all the rest of the birds flock round such an one, and are ready to pull it to pieces; so I have stirred up all the enemies of my people to annoy them on every side; compared here to so many beasts of prey: see chap. ii. 15; Isa. lvi. 9; Hab. ii. 17. The word here rendered “speckled” is of an uncertain signification, being found but in this one place of the Bible, unless, perhaps, I Sam. xiii. 18, where some look upon it as a proper name. The Septuagint understand it of the hyena, which sense is followed by Bochart. But if we take it in either signification, the sense is much the same. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 12:10

10. Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard.] By “many pastors” are meant the generals of the Chaldean army; so the Chaldee paraphrase rightly explains it; see ver. 12, and compare chap. vi. 3. God calls Judea “his vineyard and pleasant portion,” because of the care He took to cultivate and improve it, and the fruit He might justly have expected from it: see the note on chap. xi. 16. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 12:12

12. — upon all high places through the wilderness:] Rather, “upon all the plains in the wilderness;” that is, the smooth plots of greensward in the waste or uncultivated country, which afford pasturage to the cattle. Dr. Blayney. See note on chap. ix. 10.

Before CHRIST about 608. things. love. and his voice. followed. them to come. portion of desire. e Lev. 26. 16. Deut. 28. 38. Mic. 6. 15. Hag. 1. 6. He promiseth the penitent return from captivity. Before CHRIST about 608. and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

Jeremiah 12:16

16. — then shall they be built in the midst of my people.] I will make one Church of Jews and Gentiles; and if those nations shall frame themselves to the true worship of my name, and to the profession of the religion of my people, then will I establish them in my Church, as true and lively members thereof. Bp. Hall. The acceptance of the believing Gentiles is here clearly intimated; and their union with the Church of God, the middle wall of partition being broken down. See concerning the actual accomplishment of this prophecy, Eph. ii. 13—22. Dr. Blayney. will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD. # CHAP. XIII.

Jeremiah 12:17

17. But if they will not obey, &c.] Those that will not have God and Christ to reign over them, shall in the end be punished with everlasting destruction. See Isa. lx. 12; Luke xix. 27; compared with Rev. xix. 21. W. Lowth. It is never to be believed, that the wicked and the hypocrites shall escape unpunished, or that they are truly happy, because God spares them for a while. The threatenings of the Lord have sooner or later their effect: nor are they less sure, because He defers the execution of them. Ostervald. Chap. XIII. This chapter contains a single and distinct prophecy, which, under two symbols, a linen girdle left to rot, and all vessels being filled with wine, foretels the utter destruction that was destined to fall upon the whole Jewish nation, including individuals of every rank and denomination, ver. 15—21; and the cause of all the ecils is assigned in the general corruption and profligacy of manners that prevailed, without a prospect of amendment, ver. 22 to the end. The particular mention of the joint downfall of the king and queen (ver. 18,) seems to justify the opinion which ascribes this prophecy to the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, whose fate with that of his queen is in like manner noticed together. Dr. Blayney. Ver. 1. — and put it not in water.] God explains at ver. 11 what was meant by the symbol of the girdle or sash worn about the loins, namely, his people Israel, whom He purchased and redeemed of old, and attached to Himself by a special covenant; that as a girdle serveth for an ornament to the wearer, so they should be subservient to the honour and glory of his name. But, it is added, “they would not hear” or conform to his intentions; therefore, being polluted with the guilt of their disobedience, they were in that state, and on that very account, to be carried into captivity; conformably to which the Prophet was directed, “not to put the girdle in water;” that is, not to wash it, but to leave it in that filthiness which it had contracted in wearing. Dr. Blayney.