Jeremiah 41
DOYLY— of wheat, &c.] In Barbary, when the grain is winnowed, they lodge it in subterraneous repositories: two or three hundred of which are sometimes together, the smallest holding four hundred bushels. Dr. Shaw. These are very common in other parts of the East: as, near Aleppo; Dr. Russell: in Turkey; Sir J. Chardin: in the Holy Land; Le Bruyn and Rauwolf: and in many places the people bury in them, not their corn only, but their wine; Sir J. Chardin: and other effects that are not portable. Hist. of the Piratical States of Barbary. The “treasures in the field” which Jeremiah speaks of, were doubtless laid up in the same kind of repositories. Harmer.
— of oil.] The modern Greeks keep their oil in large earthen jars, sunk in the ground, in the areas before their houses. Dr. Chandler. The ancient Jews appear to have had the same custom of burying their oil in the earth: this being a time of danger, it is to be supposed that they chose the most unlikely places, where such concealment would be least suspected. Harmer.
Jeremiah 41:5
- — having their beards shaven, &c.] These were tokens of great mourning, by which these persons expressed their grief for the destruction of the city and temple. Such expressions of sorrow were forbidden to be used at funeral obsequies; see Lev. xix. 27, 28; but might be lawfully used upon other mournful occasions. W. Lowth. See the note on 2 Sam. x. 4.
— to bring them to the house of the Lord.] Though the temple was destroyed, it may be presumed that the people continued to offer up sacrifices and offerings on the spot where it stood, as long as they continued in the land; for we find this began to be their practice soon after their return, before the temple was rebuilt. See Ezra iii. 2, 3, &c. Dr. Blayney.
Jeremiah 41:6
- — weeping all along as he went.] Counterfeiting a mutual sorrow with them, and expressing it very passionately all the way. Bp. Hall.
Jeremiah 41:8
- — Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field.] Intimating, that they would make him master of what they possessed, if he would spare their lives. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 41:9
- Now the pit—was it which Asa the king had made] The word, rendered “pit,” signifies a basin, cistern, or reservoir; a large pit for receiving rain water, which Asa, who built and fortified Mizpah at the time he was at war with Baasha king of Israel, (1 Kings xv. 22,) caused to be made in the midst of the city, in order that the people might not be in want of so necessary an article in the case of a siege. Reservoirs of this kind
Before CHRIST 588. The captives are recovered. The captains promise obedience. Before CHRIST 588. the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done.
Jeremiah 41:12
- — the great waters that are in Gibeon.] Called “the pool” or lake of Gibeon, 2 Sam. ii. 13. Dr. Blayney.
Jeremiah 41:17
- — the habitation of Chimham.] A parcel of ground which David had settled upon Chimham, the son of Barzillai, 2 Sam. xix. 38. 40. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 41:18
- Because of the Chaldeans.] They were afraid lest
the Chaldeans should impute this insurrection to the whole body of the Jews, that were left in the land, as if they were desirous of restoring the government to the royal family, to which Ishmael belonged, ver. 1. W. Lowth.
Chap. XLII. ver. 3. That the Lord thy God may shew us the way] It is the constant method of hypocrites to pretend a profound submission to the will of God, till it crosses their inclinations or interest. W. Lowth.