Jeremiah 20

For the former prophesy Jeremiah is smitten by Pashur the priest and put in prison verse1 2 being released he denounced against him his friends and all the people and God terrible judgments by the king of Babel 3. He complaineth unto the Lord of his sufferings grief and inward conflicts 7 he comforteth himself in Gods assurance and vengeance even unto rejoicing 11 he relateth how impatient he was 14c.

1. When Pashur[Heb. Paschihur] the son [that is of prosperity] of inner [upon whose family the sixteenth lot fell in the division of the priest see 1 Chronicles 24:14] the priest now this man was the appointed leader in the house of the Lord [or one appointed or ruler or leader c that is as some expound it the second after the high priest as Eleazar in his father Aarons life time was made overseer and ruler in the house of God Numbers 4:16] heard Jeremiah prophesy in the words

2. Then Pasour smote the prophet Jeremiah [see 1 Kings 20 on verse 35] and he put him into prison [Heb. Properly as tending to the subversion or overthrow of the welfare of the offenders see further 2 Chronicles 16 on verse 10 some conceive that this prison was so called because of the straightness or narrowness of the place wherein a man could scarce and turn himself about so below chapter 29.26] which is in the uppermost gate [Oth. High gate as 2 Chronicles 23:20 compare below chapter 26 on verse 10 concerning this name uppermost or high gate there be divers opinion] of Benjamin [that is standing towards the land of Benjamin] which is by the house of the Lord.

3. But it came to pass on the next day that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of Prison then said Jeremiah unto him the Lord doth not call thy name Pashur but Migor-missabath[that is terror or fear round about for the reason that followeth.]

4. For thy saith the Lord I make thee a terror to thy self [or I give thee over to terror and fear] and all thy lovers [or friends so verse 6 and elsewhere] they shall fall by the sword of thy enemies that thine eyes may behold it and I will give all Judah into the hand of the King of Babel who shall carry them away captive to Babel and shall smite [that is slay see Genesis 8 on verse 21] them with the sword.

5. Also I will give the substance of this city and all the labor thereof [that is all that they gotten of their labor] and all the preciousness thereof and all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give them into the hand of their enemies who shall spoil them and shall bring them to Babel [compare above chapter 15.13 and 17.3]

6. And thou Pashur and all the inhabitants of thine house ye shall go into captivity and thou shalt come to Babel and die there and be buried there thou and all thy friends to whom thou hast prophesied falsely [Heb. In or with falsehood]

7. Lord thou hast persuade me [or allured enticed moved me some understand this of his calling and of the charge that was given him compare above chapter 1.6,7 and see of the Hebrew word Judges 14:15 and compare below verse 10 the same word is used of the just judgment of God in persuading the false prophets Ezech.14.9 see there] and I was persuaded thou hast been too strong for me and hast prevailed [compare the phrase with verse 10] I am a derision all the day long everyone of them mocketh me.

8. For since that I speak [prophesying to the people] I cry out I cry violence and destruction [compare Job 19:7 and the annotate there] because the word of the Lord is unto me a reproach and derision all the day long [compare Isaiah 57:4]

9. Therefore I said [with myself that is I thought] I would not remember him nor speak anymore in his name [that is mention the Lord no more make no more mention of the command] but it was [to wit the Lords words or his command by the powerful working of the holy ghost or there was and c] in mine heart as a burning fire [see such a comparison Job 32:18 Psalms 39:4] and I wearied myself to forbear but could not [or I was wearied with forbearing and could not to wit keep it longer to wit or resist the spirit of the Lord I was constrained to go on in ministry]

10. For I had the defaming [or railing evil reports] of many Mogor-missabib [see verse 3 this name may be taken for the leading man unto that whereof there is further spoken in this verse oth. Terror or fear surpriseth me round about they say] saying report it to us and we will report it [that is enquire after it and heed it well whatsoever ye hear of Jeremiah and acquaint us with it that we may acquaint our rulers both ecclesiastical and civil therewith that they may take counsel against him] all that are peace with me [Heb. All the men of my peace so below chapter 38.22 compare 2 Samuel 8 on verse 10 and Psalms 41 on verse 10] observe my halting [to see if I should anyway offend or stumble in my calling or course of life and that for it they might bring to ruin or cause me to suffer compare Psalms 35:15 and 38.18] they say peradventure he will be persuaded [suffer himself to be seduced by fair speeches for to contradict himself or to offend some other way and to give occasion and himself to ruin and destruction] then we s hall prevail against him and take our revenge on him.

11. But the Lord is with me as a terrible champion [compare above chapter 1.8,19 and 15.20] therefore my prosecutors shall stumble and prevail nothing [compare above chapter 17.18] they were greatly ashamed [it is spoken in the prophetical manner of the time to come for they shall be ashamed of the prophet by faith exceeding rejoiceth as appeareth verse 13 relating in the meanwhile how he was on the other side assaulted by the weakness of the flesh] because they dealt not understandingly [compare above chapter 9.24 because they have not been or shall not be successful and prosperous because their plots will fail them]it shall be an everlasting shame [or an everlasting shame as an abrupt kind of speech by way of admiration compare below chapter 23.40] it shall not be forgotten.

12. Thou then O Lord of host [see 1 Kings 18. on verse 15] that triest the righteous,[compare above chapter 11.10 and 12.3] that seeist the reins and the heart [as above chapter 11.20 see there] let me see thy vengeance on them [compare above chapter 11.20 and 15.15 and 18.18] for I have discovered my cause unto thee [as to mine advocate and patrons .]

13. Sing unto the Lord praise the Lord for he hath delivered the soul of the needy unto the hand of the evil doers.

14. Cursed be the day wherein I was born let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed [compare this complaint through impatience with Job 3:3 and see the annotate there the prophet relateth here how impatient he was when all the world cursed and reproached him see above verse 8and chapter 15.10.]

15. cursed by the man who brought tidings to my father saying a young son [or man child or son] is born unto thee rejoicing him greatly [Heb rejoicing he rejoiced him]

16. Yea let that man be as the cities that the Lord overthrew [this seemeth to have respect unto cities of Sodom Gomorra c Genesis 19] and it repented him not [Genesis 6 on verse 6] and let him hear a cry[a wailing of his fellow citizens or neighbor that are slain or are in danger of their lives as is wont to be made at the time of the enemies invasion]in the morning [that is early unaware then he thinketh not of it compare Hosea 10:15] and a noise of noon tide [when they were wont to feast and to take rest.]

17. Because he shew me not from the womb or because my mother was not my grave or her womb as of one that is everlastingly with a child [Heb. As one with a child of eternity that is continuing always with child and never bringing forth as if he had said why did it not happen thus wherefore hath the Lord not killed me as in the next verse].

18. Wherefore now am I come forth out of the womb to see [that is to experience see Job 7 on verse 7] trouble and sorrow? And that my days should perish in shame?