Jeremiah 11

God causeth his covenant with Israel to be proclaimed by the Prophet, vers.1, etc. He punisheth the former, and the present breach of covenant, committed by Israel and Juda, by manifold idolatry, 8. Therefore he intendeth to bring a great and an unavoidable mischief upon them,11,16,17. He forbiddeth the Prophet to pray for them, 14. He complaineth of the people by hypocritical services, and carelessness, 15. The prophet complaineth unto God, of the murderous conspiracy of his Country – men of Anathoth, against him, and defireth Gods vengeance on them, which God foretelleth him, that he will bring upon them,18.

1. The word, that come to Jeremia, from the LORD, saying

2. Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak to the men [Hebr. man. See above chap.4. on vers.3. So below vers.9.] of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. [Thou Jeremia, and other godly Prophets and Priest, that yet remain among the people, (as some do take it) hear this , and present it afterwards unto the people]

3. Say [Thou Jeremia] then unto them; thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man, [Or, every man, as Psal.1.1. and elsewhere often. See convenant, [That is, that obeyeth not the law of God. See Deut.27.26. Gal.3.10.]

4. Which I commanded your father in the day when I brought them forth out of the Land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, [See Deut.4. on vers.20.] saying, Be obedient unto my voice, [That is, word, commandments] and do them, [To wit, the words of the convenant, as vers.3.and below vers.6.] according to all that I command you: then shall ye be a people unto me, [As above chap.7. vers.23] and I will be a God unto you

5. That I may confirm the oath, which I sware unto your father; to give them a Land slowing with milk and honey, [See Exod.3. on vers.8.] as it is this day: Then answered I, and said, Amen, [See Numb.5. on vers.22.and Deut.27.15. etc.] O LORD

6. And the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all words in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear the word of this covenant, and do them

7. For I earnestly testifies [Hebr. testifying testified] unto your father, in the day [That is, from that time] when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, unto this day; being up early, and testifying [See above chap.7. on vers.13.] saying; Hearken to my voice.

8. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked, every one after the opinion [See Jerem.3. on vers.17.] of their evil brought upon them [That is, I will surely bring upon them] all the words of this covenant [That is, the threatening added unto it; that is, judgments threatened. See thereof Levit 26. and Deut 28.] which I commanded (them) to do, they did (them not.

9. Moreover the LORD said unto me: There is a combination found the men of Juda, and among the inhabitation of Jerusalem. [That is, a league, conspiracy together, to do evil, directly opposite and repugnant to the covenant, which they have made with me, and sworn to confederacy.]

10. They are returned to the iniquities of their fore fathers, [Which were disobedient in the wilderness, and consequently in after times] which refused to hear my words; and they [As a wicked posterity of their wicked fore father] walked after other Gods, to serve them: the house of Israel, and the house of Juda have broken [Or, made void] my covenant, which I made with their father [See Genes.15. on vers.17.18.]

11. Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring an evil [That is, punishment, mischief, misery etc. as vers .12] upon them, out of which they shall then cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. [Compare Prov.1.28. Isai.1.15. below chap.14.12. Ezech.8.18. Mich.3.4.

12. Then shall be the cities of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the Gods, unto whom they have burnt incense: but they shall not be able to deliver them at all [Heb. Delivering not deliver] in the lime time of their evil. [Which I will bring upon them, vers.11. So ver.14.17,23]

13. For (according to) the number of thy Cities, were thy God, O Juda: [As above chap.2.28.] and (according to) the number of streets of Jerusalem, have ye set (up) altars for that shame; [That is, shamefull Idol Baal. See above chap.3. on vers. 23.]to burn incense unto Baal

14. Thou then, [O Jeremia] pray not for this people neither lift up a cry,or a prayer for them.(see above chap.7.16 and below chap.14.11) for I will not hear,in the time when they cry unto me for this evil.

15. What hath my beloved (to do) in mine house,(compare the Phrase with 2 Sam.16.10. and the annotat there. (beloved) To wit, this people, (The Hebrew word is put in the masculine gender, but the following words in the feminine) that so call themselves, or boast of it, that they are my people. Or, God calleth them so notwithstanding their unthankfulness, because of his covenant, which he had made them, their fathers, and the mercies that he had bestowed on them. Compare below chap.12. 7,8 Romans 3:3. and 11.28. Some understand hereby, the Prophesied daily in the Temple to this wicked people. Compare chapter 7.2. As if God should say; What have servants any more to do in the Temple among this rebellions people, to instruct them, or, to pay for them? See vers. 14 (mine house) The Temple: as if God should say; To what purpose do they run so much, and so often in the Temple, whereas they are so full of all kinde of wickedness.] Seeing the [Meaning the daughter of my people, or city of Jerusalem; that is, the inhabitants thereof] that lawd act [Oth. Gross lewduesse; because the Hebrew word, which signifieth an abominable fact, or plot, (See Prov.31. on vers.16.) hath here a letter more then ordinary, serving to heighten the signification of it. Compare Psal.3. on vers.3 Understand hereby, the abominable idolatry, mentioned, vers 13, etc] with many,[To wit, with many idols, as above vers.13. Or, it may be understood of the multitude, or great company of those, that commited these abominations, thus: seeing many of them commit thus heinous act. Some put in instead of with many (yea even) the Great ones. Compare Eze.8.11. and 23.39] and the holy fesh is passed from thee? [Hebr. The flesh of holiness, or, of the sanctuary, are passed from thee. As the word flesh is not in use among using the plural number, so neither is it used more then once in the whole text of the Hebrew Bible in the plural number, to wit, Prov.14.30. The meaning is, All thy offerings, O Jerusalem, are no more of any value, thou offerest no more an holy offering, because thou profanest all thy things by thy wickedness. Some understand it thus: that God threateth them, that the time is at hand, that the time is at hand, that they being punished, and driven out of their Land for their wickedness, shall come no more into the Temple, nor sacrifice, nor keep their wonted joyful feats with the flesh of the offerings as they did at present, but with an horrible profentation of Gods holy institutions, therefore God would caft them out of the Land. Some understand by the holy flesh, the true sincere Israelites, who were circumcised both outwardly inwardly] when thou (doest) evil, then thou leapest up joy; [Or, when (in) thy wickedness, &c. Oth. When evil (that is, thy punishment, misery) is at hand, or is fore – told or threatened by Prophets) then thou rejoycest; that is, thou despisest my threatening so extremely, as that even to vex and spite me as it were, thou doest the more rejoice, to shew that thou carest not at all for them]

16. The LORD had called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, of pleasant – fruits: [Hebr. fruit of form] (but now) with a sound of great cry [Compare Ezec. 1.24.] be hath kindled of fire [Meaning the desolation, destruction, and consumption of the land people, by the Babyloan] about it, [The olive – tree. Oth. A fire hath kindled the leaves thereof] and the boughs [Or, branches, twings, sprigs] thereof shall be broken.[Oth. They shall break.]

17. For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, [As an olive- tree, as was said in the former verse] hath thee: because of the wickedness of the house of Israel, and of the House of Juda, which they commit among themselves, to incense me, [Or, to provoke me anger] burning incense unto Baal.

18. Now the LORD made it known unto me, [When in simplicity of the heart my calling, according to God command, and thoygth not of any evil] that I might know it.: Then thou causeth me to see their dealings. [Jeremia speaketh this unto God, whom he callethto record, that he speaketh this not out of humane suspicion or passion, but onely by divine revelation in a vision. Compare below, chap.24.1.]

19. And I was like a Lamb (like) an ox, that is led to be slain, [To the daughter, to be killed, that he may be slain] for I know no that they thought against me, [That is, intended wicked devices and practices and practices against me] (saying) Let us destroy tree with fruit thereof, [To wit, the Prophet Jeremia with his Doctrine and Prophecy. Hebr. properly bread; that is, meat, and consequently fruit, serving for meat] and let us cut him off from the Land of the living, [See Psal.27. on vers.13.] that his name may be no more remembered.

20. But, O LORD of Hosts, thou righteous Judge, [Heb. Judge of righteousness, or, that judgest righteousness] that trist the reins of the reins of the heart, [The innermost and secret thoughts and motions of the heart. See Job 19.on vers.27. and Psal7. on vers.10. and 26.2. 1 Sam.16.7. 1 Chron.28.9. revel.2.23.] let me fee thy vengeance on them, [Which thou will take of them, or excute upon them] for unto thee have I discovered [Presented and committed as to mine Advance and Judge] my cause.

21. Threfore, thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, [See above chap.1.1.] that seek thy soul, [Seek thy life. See Exod.4. on vers.19. and 2 Sam.4. on verse.8.] saying: Prophet not in the Name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hands.

22. Therefore, thus saith the LORD of Host; Behold, I will visit them; [That is, punish them See Genes.21. on verse 1.] The young men shall die the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine.

23. And they shall have no remnant: [That is, none of them shall remain: they shall all perish and be cut off: meaning if they do not repent] for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, (in) the yeer of their visitation. [Or, to wit, the yeer of their visitatio; that is of their punishment. So below.23.12. etc.]