Jeremiah 14

phets &c.] The ministers of the Lord ought seriously to reflect upon what is here said of the crime and punishment of those false prophets, who promised peace to the Jews at the very time their ruin was approaching; that it may be a warning to them never to flatter sinners, nor lull them into security; but to speak always with zeal and sincerity what God has commanded. And the people ought likewise to learn from hence to hearken diligently to those who declare the truth to them sincerely and without flattery. Ostereald.

Ver. 1. — Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, &c.] Moses obtained pardon for the people after their sin of making the golden calf, Exod. xxxii. 34; and again, after their despising the promised land, Numb. xiv. 20: Samuel’s intercession prevailed for their deliverance out of the hands of the Philistines, 1 Sam. vii. 9: and these two persons are mentioned together.

The utter rejection and manifold judgments of the Jews. Before CHRIST about 601. d Chap. 45. 11. Zech. 11. 9. e Lev. 26. 16. families. give them for a removing. f Deut. 28. 25. ch. 24. 9. 21. 11. of thy peace? out of my sight, and let them go forth.

Jeremiah 14:2

2. — the gates thereof languish.] The gates of cities, being places of publick resort, where the courts of justice were held, and other common business transacted, seem here to be put for the persons that meet there: as when we say, “the court is in mourning,” we mean the persons that attend the court or king’s palace. So by this passage we are to understand, that all the persons who appear in publick are dejected, and put on black or mourning, on account of the national distress. Dr. Blayney. Or, that they look black and ghastly, and cast themselves down upon the ground out of grief and despair. Compare chap. viii. 21; xiii. 18. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 14:3

3. — their little ones] The meaner people. Bp. Hall. The younger members of their family, or their children. Dr. Blayney.

— to the pits.] Or, “to the cisterns.” Jerusalem was supplied with water by two lakes or pools, called “the upper pool,” and “the lower pool;” see Isa. vii. 3; xxii. 9; whence the water was conveyed in cisterns for the use of the city. W. Lowth.

— they were ashamed and confounded.] At the disappointment. W. Lowth. See Job vi. 20.

— covered their heads.] See note on chap. ii. 37.

Jeremiah 14:4

4. Because the ground is chapt.] See note at Ps. cxliii. 6. The Prophet, by speaking of ploughmen, shews that he is speaking of the autumnal state of those

countries: and if the cracks are so deep from the common dryness of their summers, what must they be when the rains are withheld, as in the present case, beyond the usual time? Sir J. Chardin.

Jeremiah 14:5

5. — forsook it.] Namely, what she had just calved; (Dr. Blayney;) to seek for sustenance in some other place. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 14:6

6. — they snuffed up the wind like dragons.] They sucked in the air for want of water to cool their internal heat. Boehart observes, that the comparison to dragons or great serpents is very just; for Ehan describes these animals as standing daily for some hours with their heads erect and their mouths wide open towards the sky, and drawing in the air. Boehart adds, that the eyes of the wild asses are properly noticed, as being by nature extremely sharp-sighted. But for want of nourishment these must fail and be exhausted. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 14:7

7. — do thou it for thy name’s sake.] Deal not with us according to our deservings, but so as not to give occasion to strangers to speak evil of thy name, to question thy power, wisdom, or goodness. So God says, Ezek. xx. 9. 14. 22. 44, that amidst the various provocations He had received, He had still acted uniformly upon that principle. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 14:8

8. — why shouldst thou be as a stranger in the land.] Thou that wert wont to dwell and continue among thy people, why shouldst thou now be as a stranger that passes through the land, and lodges there a night, and away? Bp. Hall. As one who, having no permanent interest in the land, is little concerned for its welfare. Dr. Blayney.

9. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the pro- Jeremiah is moved to complain for them.

in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

Jeremiah 14:17

17. — the virgin daughter of my people] Those cities are called “virgins” which never came into a conqueror’s hands. In the same sense the Prophet here calls Jerusalem “a virgin,” because she had been hitherto under God’s immediate protection, and preserved by Him from all attempts of her enemies: compare Amos v. 2. The dissolution of a government or body politick is called a “breach,” by way of allusion to the breaking or disjointing of the limbs of a human body; see chap viii. 21; Lam. ii. 13. W. Louth.

Jeremiah 14:18

18. — both the prophet and the priest go about] Or, wander “into a land that they know not.” The priests and prophets confirmed the people in their corruptions and impenitence, thereby seeking to advance their own interest and authority; see chap. ii. 8; v. 31. To which sense the marginal reading renders the former part of the sentence thus, “The prophet and the priest make merchandise against a land;” and now they receive the reward of their prevarications, by going into captivity with those they have misled. See ver. 15. W. Louth.

Jeremiah 14:21

21. — do not disgrace the throne of thy glory.] Jerusalem is called the “city of God,” Ps. xlviii. 1; lxxxvii. 3; as He was in a peculiar manner the King of the Jews, and this was his royal city, or chief seat of his

healing for us? e we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!