Jeremiah 23
DortA prophesy against wicked pastors with a promise concerning the gathering and restoring of the flock of God by Christ our righteousness verse1 c. a large prophesy against false prophets and dreamers with faithful admonition and fore threatening 9 against those that mocked at Jeremiah and at the charge of the Lord 33.
1. Wo unto the pastors that slay [or destroy cause to perish spoil bring to destruction] and scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the Lord [compare this prophesy with Ezech 34.]
2. Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel concerning the pastors that feed my people ye have scattered my sheep and have driven them away and have visited them [not looked to them not regarded their prosperity] behold I will visit [that is punish see Genesis 21 on verse1] upon ye the wickedness of your dealings saith the Lord .
3. And I myself will gather the remnant of my sheep out of all countries wither I have driven [as I will gather my people out of Babel and afterwards which is chiefest of all and is typified by the former my church both out of Jews and Gentiles by the Messiah who shall make of both one sheep fold see Job 10:16] and I will bring them again to their folds [Heb. Dwelling folds] and they shall be fruitful and multiply .
4. And I will raise up [or appoint set] shepherds over them which shall feed them [see Ezech. 34.11,12] and they shall fear no more nor be afraid neither be lacking [that is none of them shall be wanting oth. Be visited that is be punished be plagued as above verse 2] saith the Lord.
5. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise until David a special SPROUT [or sprouting shooting namely the Messiahs our Lord Jesus Christ who being God eternal and only begotten son in the fullness of time and wonderful and incomprehensible working of Holy Ghost took our nature upon him sprout forth from the virgin Mary who was of the house of David as a new sprig from a stem stock or trunk which seemed to be quiet withered or dead compare Isaiah 4:2 and 11.1 and see below chapter 33 .15 Zach3.8 and 6.12 Hebrews 7:14 where a Greek word is used which is properly and for the most part answereth to the going up rising up or springing up of the sun but is used by the Greek translators here and elsewhere for the rendering of the word sprout as it is also retained by the evangelists Luke ,Luke 1:7,8 when Zacharias calleth the Lord Christ the day spring on the high so do we like wise use this word going up coming up rising not only of the sun and stars but also of herbs and fruits on the ground : whereunto the Hebrew word Tsechmach sprout or spring properly hath respect hath respect although the Greek word Luke 1:7,8 they seemeth to have respect to the rising of the sun in the east as some gather from verse 79 he is called righteous being without sin and unspotted holy and righteous yea our righteousness as followeth which God hath caused abundantly to bud and blossom as it were in him for us] he the same being King [the same phrase is below chapter 37.1 see the annotate there and compare Hosea 3:4,5] shall reign and be prosperous and do judgment and justice in the earth.
6. In his days [in Lord Christ days that is in the time of the New Testament see acts 3.24] Juda shall be delivered and Israel shall dwell safely [being justified by faith and consequently having peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5:1 understand by Judah and Israel the church of God called Jerusalem below chapter 33.15 and the people of Jesus Christ Matthew 1:21] and this shall be his name whereby men shall call him [Hebr. He shall c. that is men shall call him or shall be called as elsewhere often to wit by his people as the following word our sheweth] THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUNESS [compare Deuteronomy 11 on verse 16 and Judges 6 on verse 24 and further 1Corinthians 1.30 and Daniel 9:24 also chapter 33.16 Hebr. Jehovah Tziidkenu: which by some translators is so put in the text as proper name.]
7. Therefore behold the days come saith the Lord that they shall say no more as true as the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel of the land of Egypt.
8. but as true as the Lord liveth that brought up the true seed off Israel and led them out of the Land of the North [see above chapter 16.14,15 and the annotate there] and from lands wither I [that is the Lord] hath driven them for shall dwell in their own land .
9. As touching the prophets mine heart in my inmost parts is broken [for grief and disquietness compare Psalms 51. on verse 19or mine heart c is broken because of the prophets these are the words of the prophets] all my bones quake I am like a drunken man and like a man whom wine overcometh [so that he can not use his understanding or memory rightly] because of the Lord and because of the word of his holiness [that is his holy words which the false prophets despise and esteem as prophets and esteem as lies.]
10. For the land is full of adulterers[see above verse 5,7,8and c 9.2] for the land mourneth because of the curse [or cursing it may be applied either to the curse of God upon the land or to the cursing and false swearing of the inhabitants see chapter 5.2 and 12.4 and the like use of the Hebrew word Hosea 4:2] the pastures of the wilderness wither because their course [that is their manner of life the course of their dealings or their violence see of the Hebrew word above chapter 22 on verse 17] is evil and their power not right [they abuse it to mere wrong.]
11. For both prophets and priests [Heb. Also prophets also priest] are hypocrites [or are unholy profane dealing hypocritically compare above chapter 6.13 and d8.10 and 14.18] even in mine house do I find their wickedness saith the Lord.
12. Therefore their way hall unto them as smooth places [Heb. Slipperiness see Psalms 35:6 and 73.18] in the darkness they shall be driven on and fall therein [in the darkness] for I will bring evil [evil of punishment mischief misery] upon them in the year of the visitation [as above chapter 11.23] saith the Lord.
13. I have indeed seen absurdity [Heb. Properly unsavouriness that is absurd foolish things see Job 1:22 with the annotate] in the prophets of Samaria that prophesied by [or from of] Baal and seduced my people Israel [that is the ten tribes.]
14. but in the prophets of Jerusalem abominableness [as above chapter 5.30] they commit adultery and converse with falsehood [Heb walk in or with falsehood] and strengthen the hands of the evil doers [encourage hem promising them God blessing and peace see below verse 17 and compare Ezech 13.22]that they should not return every one from the wickedness they are all unto me as Sodom [that is the inhabitants of Sodom were formerly to wit exceeding wicked compare Isaiah 1:9] and the inhabitants thereof [of Jerusalem]as Gomorra [that is the inhabitants of Gomorra.]
15. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts [see 1 Kings 18 on verse 15] concerning the prophets but behold I will feed them with wormwood [as above chapter 9.15 see there] and make them drink the water to gall [as above chapter 8.14 and 9.15] for from prophets of Jerusalem is hypocrisy [or ungodliness profaneness] gone forth into all lands.
16. Thus saith the Lord of hosts hearken not unto the word of prophets that they prophesy unto ye they make ye vain [deceiving ye by vain promise so that ye shall be deceived in the end when so ever ye rely on them compare Psalms 62 on verse 11] they speak the vision of their own heart not out of the mouth of the Lord [the vision which themselves have invented or devised and have not received it of me compare Ezech 13.2.]
17. They say still [Heb. They area saying] unto them that slander me [or reproachfully despise me provoke me] the Lord hath spoken it ye shall have peace: [it shall go well with ye] and they say to everyone that walketh after the opinion of his own heart no evil shall come upon ye.
18. For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord:[who else but we they will say compare verse 22 or they will say that none can know God secret counsel and consequently neither Jeremiah thus wickedly mocking at Gods faithful warnings which God gave them by his prophet some understand here the assembly of the holy angels with whom God is said as it were to take counsel 1 Kings 22:19 c] and seen or heard his word ?[seen that is perceived or to whom that is was is revealed in the prophetical vision ? Compare Amos 1:1 Mich1.1] who hath marked his word and heard it?
19. Behold a tempest of the lord a fierce wrath is gone forth yea a painful [or smarting for grievous also appearing compare below chapter 30.23] tempest it shall upon the head of the wicked [compare 2 Samuel 3:29 oth. It shall fall grievously &c.]
20. The anger of the Lord shall not b turned away until he shall have done and till shall have set there the thought of the hearts in the last days [in the time to come as Genesis 49:1 when these prophesies shall be fulfilled which ye now deride] ye shall consider it with understanding [or get understanding of it Oth. Ye shall plainly understand it compare below chapter 30.24.]
21. I have not sent those prophets yet they run I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied [compare above chapter 14.14.]
22. But if they had stood in my counsel [whereof above verse18] then they have caused my people to hear my word and should have turn them away from their evil way [see genesis 6 on verse 12] and from the wickedness of their dealings.
23. Am a God at hand saith the Lord? and not a God a far off ?[by no means will the Lord say but I am both a God at hand afar off this is cleared that which followeth .]
24. Should any man hide himself in hidden places that I should not see him saith the Lord? Do not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord? [Compare Psalms 139:7&c Amos 9:2, 3.]
25. I have heard what he prophets say that prophesy lie in my name saying I have dreamed I have dreamed [God hath revealed this or that thing unto me in a dream see Numbers 12:6 and Genesis 20 on verse 3 and 28 on verse 12.]
26. How long? [Shall they speak thus and deceive my people] is there then a dream [meaning a divine dream this word is here inserted from the former and following words] in the hearts of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea they are prophets of deceit of their own hearts.
27. Which think to cause my people to forget my name [which design and practice they may bring my people to a wicked neglect and ignorance of me my word will and works compare Judges 3:7 and 8.33] by their dreams which they tell everyman to his neighbor like as their father have forgotten my name by Baal?
28. The prophet with whom there is a dream [to wit a divine dream sent by me] let him tell the dream [shall tell and expound it as his own fiction and invention not as being come from God] and with whom my word is let him speak my word truly [or faithfully Heb. Properly in or with truth or faithfulness] what hath the straw to do with the corn saith the Lord? [What fellowship has false doctrines or means inventions which cannot profit with my saving word and truth? see the phrase 2 Samuel 16:10&c.]
29. Is not my word so like a fire saith the Lord? And like a hammer that beateth a rock all to shivers? [that beateth it so in pieces are scattered or that the rock is scattered like dust or powder whereof the signification of the Hebrew word hath respect compare above chapter 22 on verse 28 and below chapter 51 on verse 19 with the annotate.]
30. Therefore behold I will be upon the prophets [as above chapter 21. 13] saith the Lord that steal my words everyone from his neighbor [or companion that is that secretly or by stealth combine together and teach one another that they shall propound unto the people as my word and in my name or which know full well that the true prophesies are my word and yet deny it before the people and keep it down thus stealing my words out of heart of men and depriving them of the good opinion that they might have thereof that it might be set at naught and neglected some conceive that this hath respect to the chasteness of the false prophets that stole some words and phrases which the true prophets were wont to use in their prophecies from them and for a cloak or covering of their deceit used the same the same in their false prophesies and so like apes imitated the true prophets whereof in the sequel.]
31. Behold I will be upon the prophets saith the Lord that take their tongue [that is abuse their tongue presumptuously hereunto or catch with their tongue that is ensnare and entice man by sweet flattering words boldly and falsely saying as followeth that it is my word that is their own device and invention] and say he hath spoken it [that is the Lord hath has spoken it just as the true prophet with and in the relation of the words of God were wont very often to use these words speaketh or saith the Lord Heb properly the saith or spoken of the Lord in Matthew 22.44out of Psalms 110:1 it is said there according as it is said here hath said or spoken or spake in these words the Lord hath said or spoken unto my Lord where this word is also used in the Hebrew text.]
32. Behold I will be upon that prophesy false dreams [Heb. Dreams of false hood or of lying dreams] saith the Lord and do tell them and seduce my people by their lies and by their lightness whereas I sent them not nor commanded them neither do they profit these people at all [Heb profiting do not profit] saith the Lord.
33. When this people then when a prophet or priest shall ask thee [to wit in a dividing way and not out of a holy care or desire] saying what is the burden of the Lord? [So were the prophesies called that contained Gods threatening judgments and plagues see 2Kings 9 on verse 25&c as if they have laid hast thou again some mischief in thine head? Hast thou nothing else to prophesy but misery and calamity?] thou shalt then say unto them what burden? That I will forsake you, [As below verse 39.] saith the Lord.
34. And as for the prophet, or the priest, or the people, [That is, those of the people, that, &c] that shall say, The burden of the Lord [calling the word of the lord so out were mockery wickedness and perverseness as if there were no faithful instruction and bounding comfort in the word of the Lord God but mere threatening curses and plagues to make men desperate] that I will visit [by punishment see Genesis 21 on verse 1] that man and his house.
35. Thus shall ye say [in godly zeal and humility enquiring about the word of the Lord] everyone of his neighbor and everyone of his brother what hath the Lord answered and what hath the Lord spoken?
36. But the burden of the Lord shall ye remember no more [that is mention no more have such words no more in your mouth as ye have daily in a mocking a deriding way] for every man own word shall be burden to him [by this mocking and persevering of the word of God he will bring a curse and destruction upon himself as surely as if an express prophesy were prophesied against him] because ye pervert the words of the living God of the Lord of host of our God.
37. Thus shalt thou say to the prophet [to the true prophet as Jeremiah was] what hath the Lord answered thee? And what hath the Lord spoken ?
38. But sith ye say the burden of the Lord [or will ye then still say the burden of the Lord? Do ye still continue as obstinate as ye were not caring for all the warnings and threatening that have been tendered to you?] Therefore thus saith the Lord because ye say this word the burden of the Lord whereas I sent to you saying ye shall not say the burden of the Lord.
39. Therefore behold I will also utterly forget [Heb. Forgetting forget] ye and let ye go [or let ye depart such signification of the Hebrew word is common and frequent in scripture Oth. By changing of a letter in the Hebrew pluck you out or away roll you out] from my face together with the city that I gave to ye and my father.
40. And I will bring upon ye [or lay upon ye] everlasting reproach [Heb. Reproach of eternity and so in the sequel] and everlasting shame which shall not be forgotten [so above chapter 20.11.]