Jeremiah 24

that is the three and twentieth year.] For Jeremiah prophesied nineteen years under Josiah, who reigned thirty-

one years; and this was the beginning of Jehoiakim’s fourth year. W. Lowth.

—perpetual desolations.] It is a common observation, that the Hebrew word, rendered “perpetual,” does not always signify eternity or perpetuity in a strict sense. Here the sense of the word is to be restrained to the period of seventy years, mentioned ver. 11. See the note on chap. xxxii. 40. W. Lowth.

10. — the sound of the milstones, and the light of the candle. In the East the people grind their corn at break of day; and on going out in a morning, one hears every where the noise of the mill, accompanied with the voice and songs of those that grind. Sir J. Chardin. There is an affecting contrast in the text. Gloomy shall be the silence of the morning, melancholy the shadows of the evening: no cheerful noise to animate the one, no enlivening ray to brighten the darkness of the other. Desolation shall every where reign. Harmer.

—the light of the candle.] Jeremiah here makes the taking away of the light of the candle, and a total desolation, the same thing. The houses of Egypt at this time are never without lights. Maillet assures us, they burn lamps, not only all the night long, but in all inhabited apartments in a house: and that the poor would rather retrench part of their food than neglect it. Harmer.

11. — shall serve the king of Babylon. That is, Nebuchadnezzar and his successors. The word “king” is elsewhere used collectively for a succession of kings in the same family or kingdom. See the note on Isa. xxiii. 15. W. Lowth.

— seventy years.] This period of the servitude of the “nations” must be computed from the defeat of the Egyptians at Carchenish, in the same year that this prophecy was given, when Nebuchadnezzar reduced the neighbouring nations of Syria and Palestine, as well as Jerusalem, under his subjection. At the end of seventy years, (see the notes on 2 Kings xxiv. 1; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 21; Ezra i. 1.) on the accession of Cyrus,

LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

Jeremiah 24:4

4.—all his servants the prophets.] There were several Prophets contemporary with Jeremiah; two of

whom are mentioned in Scripture, the Prophet Zephaniah, and Urijah the son of Shemaiah, concerning whom

see chap. xxvi. 20. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 24:9

9.—Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant.]

Kings and princes are the great instruments of Providence with respect to human affairs. Some of them

God raises up to be executioners of his judgments upon sinful people; such was he of whom God saith, Hos. xiii. 11. “I gave thee a king in mine anger.” Such was Nebuchadrezzar here spoken of, whom God calls his “servant,” because he “wrought for him,” as God speaks concerning him, Ezek. xxix. 20; that is, he executed God’s judgments upon Tyre; God making

use of his ambition and desire of conquest, and prospering his arms, in order to the punishment of the

neighbouring countries for their sins: see a like instance in the king of Assyria, whom God calls “the

rod of his anger.” Isa. x. 5. W. Lowth. Almighty God so orders the devices of men by his overruling providence, as to make them subservient to his everlasting counsels: for “all things serve him,” Ps. cxx. 91. Happy, thrice happy they, that do Him

Jeremiah 24:12

12. — I will punish the king of Babylon, &c.] God often punishes the persons whom He makes instruments of his vengeance upon others, for those very things which they did by his appointment; because their intent was purely to carry on their own ambitious and cruel purposes, and not to fulfil God’s will, or advance his glory. So that the evil they did was altogether their own, and the good that was produced out of it was to be ascribed to God. See a remarkable passage to this purpose relating to Sennacherib, Isa. x. 5—16. W. Lowth.

— and will make it perpetual desolations.] See the notes on chap. 1. 3, &c.

Jeremiah 24:13

13. — all that is written in this book.] Those prophecies are meant which are to be found altogether from chap. xlvi. to li. inclusively; and which the Greek version has introduced in this place. W. Lowth, Dr. Blayney.

14. For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: Or, “shall exact service of them,” or “make use of their service.” Dr. Blayney. Those proud and imperious Chaldees, which hold my people in servitude for many years, will I give to be a prey to other great kings and nations, and they shall share their dominions among them. Bp. Holl.

Jeremiah 24:15

15. — Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand.] Those circumstances which constitute the good and evil of human life are often represented in Scripture as the ingredients of a cup, which God, as Master of a feast, mixes up, and distributes to the several guests as He thinks fit. See Matt. xx. 22; xxvi. 39. Accordingly, by this image of “the cup of the wine of God’s wrath,” we are to understand those dreadful and afflictive judgments which an incensed God was about to inflict on the objects of his displeasure. And Jeremiah the Prophet, who announced them, is considered as acting the part of a cupbearer, carrying the cup round to those who were appointed to drink of it; the effects of which were to appear in the intoxication, that is, the terror and astonishment, the confusion and desolation, which should prevail amongst them. See Bp. Lowth’s note on Isa. li. 21; and compare Rev. xiv. 10; xvi. 19. Dr. Blayney.

— cause all the nations,—to drink it.] This must e Chap. 37. 7. f Isa. 51. 17. Ps. 75. 8. b Job 21. 20.