Jeremiah 12

The prophet complaineth to God the prosperity of his wicked country men, and prayeth him to take them away, that the land may not suffer any longer for their wickedness verse 1 &c Against which the Lord instructeth him and foretelleth him yet more persecutions, 5. complaining of the desperate rebellion of his heritage , which he must therefore lay waste by the Babylonians and to punish it with barrenness yet in the mean while not intending that the heathenish neighbor nations should not go unpunished who upon his occasion would be likewise be ready to fall upon Israel with promise of the deliverance of his people and grace unto Gentiles that with his own people should turn unto him,14.

1. Thou wouldst be righteous, O LORD when I should contend against thee: [the meaning is thou wouldst be justified in all thy doings as Psalms 51:6 if I should reason or plead with thee or dispute with thee about thy judgment , manner or course of providence which thou keepest both with the wicked and the godly whereof in the following words compare Psalms 73:2,3 c] yet will I talk with thee of thy judgments [or yet let me reason or plead with thee that is make my complaint unto thee compare above chapter 4 verse 12 Hebrew speak judgment with thee]wherefore is the way of the wicked [that is their purposes and actions see Genesis 6 on verse 12] prosperous ? [This hath respect especially to the man of Anathoth whereof is spoken in the former chapter and below verse 5 but may also be further applied to other like wicked men in general] wherefore have they rest all those that treacherously commit treachery ? [Compare Job 21:7 Psalms 73:11,12 Habakkuk 1:3.]

2. Thou hast planted them they have also taken root they have gone [that is shoot up grow spread themselves out] they also bear fruits [Hebr they make fruits se Psalms 1 on verse3 and Hosea 8 on verse 7] thou indeed art near in their mouth [they speak and boast of thee see Isaiah 29:13 Matthew 15:8] but far from their reins [see above chapter 11 verse 20.]

3. But thou O LORD knoweth me [by this consideration the prophet raiseth himself up strengthening himself by his good conscience and faith on God’s providence compare Psalms 17 verse 3 and 139.1] thou seest me and triest mine heart that it is with thee [or it is with thee or how the same is towards or with thee: that is thou knowest that I do sincerely and faithfully keep close unto thee and do separate myself from falsehood and wickedness and that therefore I must suffer compare Hosea 9:8 and Genesis 5:8 Mich.6.8with the annotate] pull them out like the sheep for the slaughter [other but thou pullest them away to wit as sheep unawares as the flock to slay them] and hallow them [that is set them apart ordain them prepare them compare above chapter 6 on verse 4] for the day of killing [this prayer of the prophet is indeed a prophecy and doctrine concerning the sudden and unexpected change of the temporal happiness and prosperity of the wicked persecutors and hypocrites of the godly prophets especially of his country-men of Anathoth.]

4. How long shall the land mourn? [That is being in such a miserable condition] the herbs of the whole field wither? because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein the beasts and the birds do perish [compare above chapter4.25 and 7.20 and 9.10] because they say he seeth not our end[Hebr. Hind most utmost last see Deuteronomy 32:20 and Proverbs 14:12 he to wit the Lord or Jeremiah who daily tell us of the approaching desolation but they will say they are both ignorant if it for which contempt ,obstinacy, security and heinous denial of Gods providence the land itself is so miserable wasted.]

5. When thou runnest with the foot men they weary thee how wilt thou then mangle thy self with the horses?[to wit the battle and controversies that is have to do with them God intendeth here and in the sequel to comfort and cheer up in his troubles as if he had said art-thou so saint hearted and troubled because thy country-men of Annotate that are but like foot men do deal so ill with thee how wilt thou then be able to stand it out against the unbridled proud great ones of Jerusalem that are like horses or horse men ?this must not grief thee for thou must yet undergo and overcome far greater and fore persecution then thou hast already done] if thou only trusteth in a land of peace how wilt thou do then in the listings of Jordan ?[in a land of peace and rest in comparison of that which is to come how wilt thou do then when the waters do overflow on every side ? here by lifting up or swelling of Jordan may be understood the pride of inhabitants of Jerusalem or the approaching desolation of the whole land of the swelling of Jordan see Josiah 3.25 1 Chronicles 12:15 below chapter 49.19 and c 44 oth. If they weary thee in a land of peace compare Psalms 41:10 where thou trusteth thy self that is in thine own country where thou concieveth that thou oughtest to be out of danger and where they are not altogether so rude as they are at Jerusalem and at court.]

6. For even thy brethren and the house of thy father even they deal unfaithfully against thee also they call after thee with a full voice [or with a full assembly by troops compare above chapter 4 on verse 5] believe them not [or do not trust them see above chapter 9.4] when they speak friendly [Hebr. Good tings as 2Kings 25.28 and below chapter 52.32] to thee.

7. I have forsaken mine house [the temple that is I will assuredly forsake it and so in the sequel] I have let mine heritage [that is my people see above chapter 10.16 so in the next verse] go I have given the beloved of my soul [Heb. The love of my soul that is she whom I loved as an husband doth love his wife compare above chapter 11.15 so injustice for unjust Job 24:20] into the hand of the enemies.

8. Mine heritage has become unto me as a lion in the forest she hath lifted up [Heb. Given] her voice against me [that is she is stout, proud, idle, and untamed roaring against me and my commandments warning and threatening like a lion in the forest] therefore have I hated her [and consequently put her away from me and cats away and forsaken her as verse 7.]

9. Mine heritage is unto me a speckled bird the birds round about are against her [that is the strange unknown bed which hath not my livery but many strange colours to whom all other birds shall flock to destroy her oth. this not mine heritage unto me a fingered or clawed bird to prey against whom the birds of prey fly round about against her compare Isaiah 18:6 Ezech. 39,17&] come assemble all ye beasts of the field come to eat [compare above chapter 7.33.]

10. Many pastors have destroyed [that is princes of Babel shall &c compare below chapter 49.19,20 with the annotate] my vine yard the people of the Jews as Isaiah 5:1 &c ] they have trodden my field [or for lion of land] under foot they have made desirable field [Heb. Portion of wish of desire] a desolate wilderness[Heb. A wilderness of desolation.]

11. They have made [Heb he hath made that is everyone of the enemies or they have &c]it [my field]a desolation being desolate in mourneth unto me the whole land is made desolate because there is no man that taketh it to heart [Heb layeth or putteth it upon or to or in the heart compare 2 Samuel 13:33 c to wit that what is preached by Jeremiah and other faithful prophets of Gods commands .]

12. The destroyers are come upon all the high places [where commonly at other times and also at present they thought themselves to be safe and secure] in the wilderness for the sword of the Lord [compare below chapter 25 on verse 29 and 47.6] shall consume from the one end of the land to the other end of the land there is no peace for any [Heb. All] flesh [that is no rest prosperity for any living soul or any man sees Genesis 6 on verse 12.]

13. They [The Jews] have sworn wheat but reaped thorns [see Levit 26.16 Deuteronomy 28:38] they have tormented themselves [or put themselves to pain but great labor] but have not profited be so ashamed [that is ye shall be so surely ashamed compare Psalms 37 on verse 3and Proverbs 3 on verse 4 God speaketh in the promises and threatening in regard of the certainty thereof] because of your revenue which ye see do fail ye] because of the beat of the Lords anger.

14. Thus saith the Lord concerning all mine evil neighbors [that dwell round about my people as namely the Syrians the Ammonites the Moabites the Philistines and see who upon this occasion that I do chastise my people Israel will perhaps therefore fall upon them] that touch [see Genesis 26 on verse 11] mine inheritance[Canaan see above chapter 2.7] which I have hereditarily given in unto my people Israel behold I will pluck them out of their land [by the enemies see below chapters 47,48 and 49 see also Deuteronomy 30:3 and below chapter 32.37but I will pluck out the house of Judah from the midst of them so that these wicked neighbors must not wreck their malice on Judah see the like use of the same word above chapter 1.17]

15. And it shall come to pass after that I shall have plucked them out [to wit those evil neighbors] then I will return and have compassion on them [compare below chapter 48 on verse 47] and I will bring them again everyone to his heritage and everyone to his land.

16. And it shall come to pass if they shall diligently learn [Heb. Learning shall learn] the ways of the people [the saving religion which I have prescribed unto my church and which is in use among them compare Isaiah 2:3 &c this looketh at the calling of Gentiles] swearing by name as true as the Lord liveth [that is knowing and saving me aright according to my word compare above chapter 2.4 &c] like as they have taught my people to swear by Baal then shall they be built in the midst of my people [being converted by the preaching of the gospel and engrafted into my church they shall with them enjoy the blessing of the covenant of grace see Ephesians 2:18,19,20,21,22.]

17. But if they will not hearken then will I utterly pluck up [Heb rotting out root out or plucking up pluck up compare Isaiah 60:12] and destroy that nation saith the Lord.