Jeremiah 21

Jeremiah 21:4

4.— Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war &c.] I will utterly disable all your forces, and your weapons that are in your hands, from hurting or opposing your enemies, or helping yourselves. Bp. Hall.

Jeremiah 21:5

5. And I myself will fight against you &c.] By the executioners of my wrath, the sword, the famine, and the pestilence. I will plainly appear on your enemies’ side, by the success I will give to their arms. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 21:7

7.— he shall smite them with the edge of the sword;] Zedekiah himself was not put to death, but was carried to Babylon, where he died: see chap. xxiv. 5. But his sons and his great men were slain by the command of Nebuchadnezzar; see 2 Kings xxv. 7. 8. It is common with all writers to express that indefinitely, which is true of the greater part of the persons concerned. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 21:9

9.— he that goeth out,—shall live.] God had declared his purpose of giving up the Jews and the neighbouring countries to the dominion of the Chaldeans, chap. xxv. 9; xxvii. 6. So they, who would comply with his declared will, should preserve their lives; the rest should be destroyed as fighting against God. W. Lowth.

— his life shall be unto him for a prey.] Or, “as spoil.” This is a provostial expression, found also in chap. xxxviii. 2; xxxix. 18; xlv. 5. The meaning is, that his life shall be saved under such circumstances, that he shall have reason to look upon himself as extremely fortunate, or to speak more properly, as indebted to the favour of Divine providence for a singular and extraordinary benefit. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 21:12

12.— Execute judgment in the morning.] The king was supreme judge in all causes and controversies; see 2 Sam. viii. 15. The courts of judicature usually sat in the morning; see note at Ps. ci. 8. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 21:13

13.— O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain.] A description of Jerusalem. The former expression denoting the lower part of the city, which was surrounded with hills; see Ps. cxxv. 2: the latter describing mount Zion; compare chap. xvii. 3. W. Lowth.

He exhorteth the king’s house to repentance. Before CHRIST about 609. upon. e Prov. 1. 31.

say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

Jeremiah 21:14

14. — I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof.] The word “forest” is often metaphorically taken for a city in the prophetic writings: because its stately buildings, or its principal inhabitants, resemble tall cedars standing in their several ranks. See chap. xxii. 7; Isa. xxxvii. 24; Ezek. xx. 46; Zech. xi. 1. W. Lowth.

The Prophet in this chapter declares, that if the people would submit themselves to the Chaldeans, and obey the voice of God, they should be spared; but if not, they should perish. Thus God gave proofs of his goodness, at the same time that He exercised his justice. This shews very plainly, that the perdition of sinners is not so determined, but that they may prevent it. God is always inclined to pardon and spare them, even when He chastises them; and if at last He overwhelms them with his judgments, it is because He is forced to it by their impenitence. Osteroald.

Chap. XXII. The prophecy which follows to chap. xxiii. ver. 9, was evidently delivered in the reign of Jehoiakim; for it speaks of his immediate predecessor as already gone into captivity, and foretels the death of Jehoiakim himself. It is likewise probable, that it followed immediately after what is said, in the 19th and 20th chapters, to have passed in the temple precincts; from whence, as from higher ground, the Prophet is ordered to “go down to the house of the king of Judah.” Compare chap. xxxvi. 12.

The beginning of this prophecy is an address to the king of Judah, his servants, and people, recommending an inviolable adherence to right and justice, as the only means of establishing a throne, and preventing the ruin of both prince and people, ver. 1—9. The captivity of Shallum is declared to be irreversible, ver. 10—12. Jehoiakim is severely reproved for his tyrannical oppressions, and his miserable end foretold, ver. 13—19. His family is threatened with a continuance of the like calamities; the fall and captivity of his son Jeconiah are explicitly set forth, and the perpetual exclusion of his seed from the throne, ver. 20—30. The name of Zedekiah is not mentioned for obvious reasons; but he is no doubt principally intended in the two verses of chap.

xxiii, under the general character of those evil shepherds, who should be punished for dispersing, instead of feeding the flock. In the six following verses, with which the prophecy concludes, the people are consoled with gracious promises of future blessings; of their return from captivity, and of happier times under better governours; of the glorious establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom; and, it may be, of the subsequent restoration of all the dispersed Israelites to dwell once more in their own land. Dr. Blayney.

Ver. 3. Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment &c.] Kings and magistrates are God’s vice-gerichts; their principal business is to “execute judgment” and justice in the earth. If they pervert or neglect this, they abuse the authority they have received of God; they rebel against their own hege Lord and Sovereign, and violate the great end and design of their office; at the same time that they sap and weaken by degrees the foundation of their own power. Wogan.