Jeremiah 13

Gods bounty, the people unthankfulnesse, and future judgments are represented by the token of a linen girdle, verse 1 &c.and by the similitude of filling all wine – bottles full with wine, is shewed, that God will make them altogether drunk in miseries with the cup of his wrath, 12 God yet exhorteth them to prevent these judgements, by humble repentance, 15 (wherewith the Prophet sheweth affection, 17) especially the King and Queen, 18.But knowing that they should little change themselves, as an Ethiopian can change his skin or a Leopard his spots, he foretelleth their utter confusion and destruction, 22.

1. The LORD said unto me , Go thy wayes, and buy the linen, and put thy lion [That is gird thy lions with it. See the exposition, verse 11.] but it not into the water. [lest it should be spoiled: as l have taken care for Israel,that they might not perish, nor corrupt.]

2. And l bought me a girdle, according to the word of the LORD, and put it upon my loins.

3. Then came the word of the LORD unto to me the second time; saying:

4. Take the girdle which thou hast bought, which is upon thy lions, and get thee up, (and) go thy ways to the Phrat, [The great river Euphrates, over which the Babylonians should passe, and carry the Jews over it captive way. See Gen 2. on verse 14] and bide it there in the clist of a rock.

5. So I went my ways, and hid it by the Phrat, according as the LORD has commanded me.

6. Now it come to passe, at the end of many days, [That is, after the expiration of a long time] that the LORD said unto me, get thee up, go thy wayes to the Phrat, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.

7. Then I went to the Phrat, and digged, and took the girdle from the place, where I have hide it: and behold the girdle was spoiled, and good for nothing.

8. Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying :

9. Thus said the LORD, so will marre the pride [Or, excellency, eninency, as the Hebrew word is also elsewhere used. Compare below, v.11.] of Juda, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10. This same evil people, which refuseth to hear my words, which walketh [Hebr, which refuse, which walk, etc] in the imagination [see above, chap 3. on v. 17.] of their (own) heart, and followeth other god, to serve them, and to bow down before them, the same shall become as this girdle, which is good for nothing]

11. For like as a girdle cleaveth to the lions of man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel, and the whole house of Juda saith the LORD, to be unto me for a people, and for a name, [see Deut, 26. on v.9.] and for praise, and for glory, but they have not heard, [that is, obeyed, as often.]

12. Therefore say unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; All bottles shall be filled with wine: [Hebr. all bottle shall,&c. that is, every bottle. As in the Prophet should say , Ye expect a plentiful year of wine, that ye may drink your selves drunk and mad, &c. Understand here, not leather bottles, but stone bottles , or vessels, as may be gathered from vers.14. Compare a Lament 4.2.] then shall they have say unto thee. Do we not know very well, [Hebr knowing, do we not know?] that all bottles shall be filled with wine? [It seemeth that this hath respect to the promises of the false Prophets, that made the people believe, that they should have peace and plenty of all things, which they willingly believed, but prophesieth unto them quite otherwise Compare Mich 2.11. with the annotat.]

13. But thou shall say unto them; Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the Kings that sit upon David throne, [That is, in the room of David, their forefather] and the Priests, and the prophet, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness. [giving them to drink out of the cup of my wrath; that is, punishing them in that manner, as that though amazement and anguish they shall know no more what to do, or what to leave undone, then a drinketh mand doth. See below, ch.25. 15.18.27. and 51.7. Isaiah 51:17, 21. and 63 6, &c.]

14. And I will beat them in pieces [To wit,against another, as followeth, like some bottles. Compare Judg. 7. on v. 19. and Psal. 2. on v.9. Oth. scatter them, as the pieces of bottle, that is dashed in pieces, are scattered here and there] the one against the other, both the fathers and the children together, saith the LORD, I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.

15. Hear, and give ear, and do not lift up yourselves [Through pride and loftiness of your heart, despising and rejecting that which is in truth Gods word, and shall assuredly (unless you do repent in time) so come home to you, as I have foretold you in the former words Some thus : the LORD hath spoken ; to wit, the following words.]

16. Give glory to the LORD your God, [Acknowledging his judgement and threatings to be righteous, and heartly turn your selves. Compare Joshua 7:19. Hosea 11:7. and the annotat there.] before making it dark, [that is bring these miseries and plagues upon you, see Gen 15. on v. 12.] and before your feet stumble against the glimmering mountains. [Heb mountains of glimmering; that is, which is the time of the twilight are as it were covered with darkeness. This simulitude seemeth to be taken from those that travel by night rugged hilly places] that while we look for light, [that is, prosperity, comfort and joy.See Job 18. on v.5,6.] he make it [to wit the light] a shadow of death, [that is, that God should instead of light, surprize you with a shadow of death. See Psalm 23. on verse 4.] and make (it) darknesse.

17. If ye then will not hear it, then my soul shall weep in secret places, because of(your) pride: [That even to your own ruine and destruction you are so abominably proud and obstinate, and will by no means bowe not humble your selves before the LORD, by true conversion see v.15.] and mine eye shall weep bitterly , [Heb. weeping weep] and come down with tears, [as above chapter 9. 18.] because the LORD stock is carried away captive. [That is, because Juda (being indeed the Lords own people, ) which he hath severed and set apart for himself out of all nations, shall assuredly be carried away captive. so in the sequel]

18. Say unto the King and to the Queen, [They are the words of God unto Jeremia, or, as some the Prophets words unto the people. See of the Hebrew word tendered here Queen , 1 Kings 11:19.] humble your selves. [Or, set your selves down low; to wit, in the dust,upon the ground] set yourselves down: for your whole Diadem, the crown of your glory, [That is,your glorious crown, where with you were wont to take pride] is come down.[Hebr. Your head-ornaments,or, head-attires,is come down; that is, all Royal head attire, is come down; that is, and changed with a low estate. Oth your excellencies, bignesses.]

19. The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them:[To wit, the cities of Egypt, lying in the South of Canaan. Whither the Jews were wont. and perhaps now also intedent, to repair for refuge, but all in vain. Some understand the Cities of Juda lying in the South-end, as if the Prophet should say: even the outermost cities of Juda, that lie furthest off from Babel, are bereaved of men , so that none goeth out, nor in at them] all Juda is carried away, it is wholly carried away. [Hebr, in perfections. That is, wholly and universally. Oth.(the city) of them that sate in peace. That is, of those that were carelesse, looking for nothing but peace]

20. Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the North: [From Babel] where is the flock, [that is, the people of the LORD] was given thee,[That is, was commited to thy charge, to govern, and protect them according to my laws] the sheep of thy glory? [Or, beauty; that is, wherewith thou wast beautified]

21. What wilt thou [O Juda, or, Daughter of my people] say, when he [To wit, God] shall visit thee? [To wit, by the Babylonians, whom they by requiring of help, had accustomed and enticed, to be Lord and master over Juda, as followeth. Compare 2 Kings 16:7, etc.] whereas thou hast taught them to be Princes, to be an head over thee? shall not sorrows take hold on thee, as on a women in travel? [Heb a women of bearing, or, of travel: that is, a woman that is in travel, or in pain of child–bearing. Compare above chapter 6. 24.]

22. When thou shalt then say in thine heart, [That is, think with thyself] wherefore have these things be fallen me? [Compare above chapter 5. 19. and below chap 16.10.] for the multitude [Or, greatness] of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, [That is, art thou publickly put shame before all the World, by shameful flight, and by most shameful carrying away into captivity and slavery. This is Gods answer to such thoughts, as are mentioned in the former clause. The phrase is taken from the high listing up of womens clothes, whether by force of others, or for their own necessity, when the same must be done to flee the more readily to passe thorow waters, etc. See below vers,26. and Isai 20.4. and 47. 2,3. also Ezech. 16. 37. and 23. 29. Hos.2.9 Mich.1.11.] (and) thine heels have suffered violence.[That is, are violently made bare, or unshod. Or , thine heels are handled violently, that is , put into the stocks, or laid in fetters or, carried away into capativity]

23. Shall also an Ethopian change skin? or a Leopard is spots? [Which he beareth in his body joyned together one close to another in great abundance, whereunto the Hebrew word properly hath respect. A question, which implieth a strong denial: as if God should say, The Blackamoor and the Leopard can by no means do it. Compare Isa 55.20.] (Then) shall ye also be able to do good, that are taught [That is, accustomed, as above vers. 21. and chap 2.24. Hos 10, 11, etc.] to do evil.

24. Therefore will I scatter them, as stubble , that passeth away, by a wind of the wilderness. [A full, smooth, piercing winde. See above chapter 4. 12. which the light stubble is not able to withstand . This signifieth the seveing of the Jews from their own Land, which by the seducing of the false Prophets they held to be a thing incredible and impossible]

25. This shall be thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD: [that is, the punishment, that I have measured out unto you, according as my justice, and you deserts require. Compare Job 20:29. Psal 11.6 and 2 Kings 21:13. Isaiah 65:7. also Psal 78.50. with the annotat] who hast forgotten me, and trusted in lying.[False Prophets, idols, strong holds, and vain humane help]

26. Therefore will I also make bare thy skirt [see above vers.22. and Ezech 16. on verse. 37.] upon thy face and thy shame shall be seen.

27. Thine adulteries, and thy neighings, [see above chapter 5.8.] the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills, [see above chap 2.20.] in the field; I have seen thine abomination: [see 2 chron.15. on verse. 8. and Ezech 20. on vers. 7.] wo unto thee, Jerusalem, wit thou not be made clean? how long yet after this (time?) [Hebr. after when yet? That is, after how long time yet, will thou cleanse thy self. As if the Lord should say, how long time yet, will thou cleanse thy self? As if the Lord should say, how long shall I wait for thy cleansing? It will be but all in vain, seeing thou groweth daily worse and worse, therefore I must needs go on with my judgement. Compare Hosea 8:5]