Jeremiah 27

Ver. 1. - Jehoiakim] There is a difficulty in the date of this prophecy, because it plainly relates to the times of Zedekiah: see ver. 3. 12. 16. The least forced way of solving the difficulty is to say, that Jehoiakim is crept into the text instead of Zedekiah, by the negligence of the scribes, who might have their eyes upon the beginning of the last chapter or section. This emendation is confirmed by comparing this verse with the 3rd, 12th, and 20th of this chapter, and with the beginning of the next. W. Lowth, Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 27:2

2. • Make thee bonds and yokes, &c.] The Prophets foreshewed things by actions as well as by words. So Isaiah went “naked and barefoot,” Isa. xx. 3. Ezekiel prophesied in like manner by signs, chap. iv. 1, &c.; xii. 3; xxiv. 17-19. W. Lowth. And even in the

of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;

Jeremiah 27:3

3. And send them to the king of Edom, &c.] Jeremiah probably made several yokes, and put one of them upon his own neck, when he delivered his errand: and his so delivering his prophecy was “sending the yokes” to the princes mentioned: for we cannot reasonably suppose, that the ambassadours took the yokes at his hands, and carried them to their respective masters. Deluded as they were by the blandishments of their diviners, (ver. 9,) it is not to be supposed that they would have either chosen, or dared, to carry to their masters the yokes presented to them by Jeremiah. God revealed his design to the Prophet in such figurative, metaphorical language; and the Prophet reported the same as he had received it; these affecting images making the message more awful and solemn in the delivery, and giving it the advantage of a deeper and more durable impression. Dr. Waterland.

• the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah] Ambassadours, who came from the kings before mentioned, either to congratulate Zedekiah on his accession to the throne, or to engage him in a confederacy against the king of Babylon. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 27:7

7. • him, and his son, and his son’s son,] Belshazzar, the last king of the Babylonian monarchy, (Dan. v. 30, 31,) was grandchild to Nebuchadnezzar, who is called his father, (Dan. v. 2,) that is, his grandfather, by an usual Hebraism. See 1 Kings xv. 3, compared with ver. 10; and 2 Kings viii. 26, compared with ver. 18. W. Lowth.

• until the very time of his land come: &c.] Until the time be expired which God hath fixed for the period of that monarchy; and then many nations

Jeremiah exhorteth the kings to yield, JEREMIAH. and not to believe the false prophets.

not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Jeremiah 27:16

16. — Behold, the vessels of the Lord’s house &c.] Several of the vessels belonging to the temple were carried away by the Chaldeans in the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah: see 2 Chron. xxxvi. 7—10; Dan. i. 2. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 27:19

19. — the pillars,—the sea,—the bases.] See 1 Kings vii. 15. 23. 27; and compare chap. lii. 17, &c.

Jeremiah 27:22

22. — there shall they be until the day that I visit them, &c.] Until the time of their restoration and restitution by Cyrus, whom I will stir up to be gracious unto my people. Bp. Hall.