Jeremiah 25

The prophet by Gods command setteth before the eyes of the people his own other prophets constant and continual ministry in exhorting them to repentance and on the contrary on their continual disobedience verse1 &c wherefore God will plague them as also other nations by the king of Babel with seventy years bondage 8. but then he will also recompense the king of Babel according to his deserts and according to his prophesies 12 a confirmation of these prophesies by a vision concerning the cup of Gods wrath of which the nations must by turn drink round 15. a representation of the terribleness of these judgments 30.

1. The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the forty year of Jojakim the son of Josiah king of Judah that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel.

2. Which [word of the Lord] Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying:

3. From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon the king of Judah unto this day this is the three and twentieth year [or hese three and twenty years] the word of the Lord hath come unto me and I have spoken unto ye being up early and speaking [that is very diligently seasonable and constantly compare above chapter 7 on verse 13 and here the next verse] but ye have not hearkened [that is obeyed as also in the sequel and elsewhere often.]

4. Also the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets being up early and sending [compare above chapter 7 on verse 13] but yet have not hearkened nor inclined your ear to hear [compare above chapter 11.7,8,10 and 13.10,11 and 16.12 and 17.23 and 18.12,19,15 and 22.21.]

5. Saying turn again now everyone from his evil way [see Genesis 6 on verse 12 2Kings 17.13 Jeremiah 18:11 and 35.15 Jonah 3:8] and from the wickedness of your dealings and dwell [that is then ye shall surely dwell I will make that ye c see Psalms 37 on verse 3] in the land which the Lord hath given unto ye and your fathers from age to age .

6. And walk not after other Gods to serve them and to bow down yourselves before them and provoke not your anger by the work of your hand that I may not do ye evil [meaning the evil of punishment that is that I may not send mischief and calamity upon you as often .]

7. But ye have not hearkened unto me saith the Lord that ye may provoke me to anger by the works of your hands to your own hurt.

8. Therefore thus saith the Lord of host because ye have not heard my words.

9. Behold I will send and take all the families of the North [that is all nations that dwell north-wards compare above chapter 1.15 the meaning is I will by my secret divine providence cause them to gather together themselves and to come up as if they came upon express order and command compare below chapter 49.14] saith the Lord unto Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel [namely shall I send as the former words exprest or Nebuchadnezzar &c to wit will I take c] my servants [whom I am resolved to make use for the executing of my judgments upon my nations compare Isaiah 44:28 and 45.1 so below chapter 27.6 and 43.10 compare also below chapter 29.4,7,14,20 and 51.7] and I will bring them upon [or against and so in the sequel] this land and upon inhabitants thereof and upon these nations all round about and I will ban them[see Deuteronomy on verse 34] and make them an astonishment [or terror oth. Desolation see above chapter 18.16 and below verse 18] and a whistling [as above chapter 19.8] and everlasting desolation[Heb. Desolations of eternity that is long lasting desolations .]

10. And I will cause to perish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness and the voice of bridegroom and the voice of the bride [as above chapter 7.34 compare also Isaiah 24:7 and above chapter 16.9 Ezech 26.13] the sound of the mills [or mill stones meaning of the hand-mills which is so great and populous a city were many in number see Exodus 11 on verse 5 and Deuteronomy 24 on verse 6 likewise Revelations 18.22 the meaning is that God will take away all accommodation of lively hood] and the light of the lamp [or candle whereby maybe understood that God will cause their feasts and banquets which they kept late in the night by great lamp light or candle and torch light to cease or simple that they should be no more night watches in respect whereof there was wont to be light all the night long in so great a city or in general that there should be no more prosperity joy nor comfort as the same is understood in scripture by darkness and want of light.]

11. And this whole land shall become a desolation astonishment [or unto astonishing or affliction so verse 18] and these nation shall serve the king of Babel seventy years.

12. But it shall come to pass when the seventy years are accomplished then will I visit upon the king of Babel and the upon all nations saith the Lord like the iniquity as likewise upon the land of Chastens ] everlasting desolation [Heb. Desolation of eternity .]

13. And I will bring upon that land all my words which have spoken over it all over that is written in this book which Jeremiah prophesied against all nations.

14. For of them shall cause them to be served those that are also mighty nations and great kings;[Heb. Have saved themselves that is shall assuredly cause themselves to be served of them using them as slaves and bond-men the meaning is as the Chaldeans and the Babylonians have subdued other great nations and kings and have compelled them to be slaves or bond-men so shall it be don to them by such nations and king that are mighty and great as well as they to wit the Persians and Medes see the same phrase above chapter 22 on verse 13 and below chapter 27.7 and 30.8 Exodus. 34.27c.] thus will I recompense them according to their doing and according to the works of their hands .

15. For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel unto me [in a vision] take this cup of wine in indignation at mine hand and give to all the nations to whom I send thee to drink it [or the cup of wine of this indignations &c whereby were typified Gods wrath judgment and plagues which he had prepared for these nations and intended to bring upon them with a command to Jeremiah to shew and declare openly all these things unto them to the honor of God instruction and admonition of his people and conviction of the wicked compare Psalms 75:9 Isaiah 51:17 Revelations 16.19.]

16. That they may drink and tremble and be made because of the sword [that is war with all bitter consequents thereof compare Psalms 22 on verse 21 so below verse 27.29] that I will send among them.

17. And I took the cup at the Lords hand and I gave drink to all the nations unto whom the Lord had sent to me :

18. Namely to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah and their kings and to their princes and to make them their desolations [as above verse 9.11] a whistling and a curse as it as this day [compare Deuteronomy 4:20 ,38.18 1 Kings 8:24 hence it is gathered by some that Jeremiah wrote this at the time of accomplishment of this prophesy oth. As if it were this day that is it shall be as surely come to pass if as we now beheld with it our eyes the attentive reader may also compare 2 Chronicles 29:8]

19. To Pharaoh [see Genesis 12 on verse 15 and be low chapter 46] the king of Egypt and his servants and his princes and to all his people.

20. And to all the mingled heap [some understand hereby a mixture of all sorts of nations dwelling among one another without distinction or limitation of all city or particular borders so verse 24] and to all the kings of the land of Uz [see Job 1 on verse 1 and Genesis 10 on verse 10] and to all kings [meaning petty kings princes governors deputies lieutenants compare below verse47. 4 c and see Judges 3 on verse 3] of the line of Philistine Ashkelon and Gaza [cities of philistine known in scripture] the remnant of Ashdod [because a great part was already wasted & destroyed by long lasting siege of Psammeticus king of Egypt who was the father of Pharaoh Necho as some histories mention see of Ashdod 1 Samuel 5 on verse 1.]

21. To Edom [see below chapter 49.27c] and to Moab [see below chapter 48] and to the children of Amon [see blow chapter 49.1c.]

22. And to all the king of Tyrus [successively one after another and to all rulers princes governors and exceeding rich and wealthy merchants and inhabitants that carried themselves like kings see Isaiah 23:8 and below chapter 47.4 and likewise Josiah 19 on verse 29] and to all the kings of Zidon and to the kings of isles that are beyond the sea [Heb. For the isle &c see Psalms 72 on verse 10 oth. The country that is by the seashore compare below chapter 49.23]

23. To Dedan and to Thema [people of the stony Arabia descended from Kethura see Genesis 25:3,15 Isaiah 21:13 of another Dedan descended from Cham by cusch in rich Arabia or Ethiopia see Genesis 10 on verse 7 and of Dedan in Edom see below chapter 49.8] and to Buz [see Genesis 22:21] and to all that are cut short to all corners [see above chapter 9 on verse 26.]

24. And to all kings of Arabia [Or to wit or namely &c meaning that these kings are understood these that are cut short at the corner verse 23] and to all the kings of the mingled heaps [as above verse 20] that dwell in wilderness [meaning the Arabian that dwelt on the sensed cities but in tents see below chapter 49.31 c and Judges 8:11.]

25. And to all the kings of Zimri [that is as some conceive where the posterity of Simran dwelt who was Abraham son by Kethura Genesis 25:2] and to all kings of Elam [see Genesis 10 on verse 22 and below chapter 49.34c.] and to all the kings of Media.

26. and to all kings of north that are near and far off the one with the other [Heb the at by or with his brother that is the one as the other or which lie by one another]yea to all the kingdoms of the earth that are upon the earth and the king of Sesach [Heb Scheschach that is Babel or some other of the chiefest cities of the kingdom of Babylon as may be gathered from below chapter 51.40 the original of the name is uncertain] shall drink after them.

27. Thou shalt say unto them thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel drink [to wit of that cup of indignation whereof above verse 15] and be drunken and spew and fall down that ye rise not again [or and rise not again] because of the sword which I will send amongst ye.

28. And it shall come to pass when they shall refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink that thou shalt say unto them thus saith the Lord of hosts ye shall drink [Heb. Drinking drink.]

29. For lo in the city [namely Jerusalem called city of God as followeth] which is called by name [upon which my name is called or proclaimed compare above c 7 on verse 10] I begin to plague [Heb properly to do evil] should ye in anywise do be held guiltiness ? [Heb being guiltiness or held guiltiness be held guiltiness that is any wise go unpunished ? compare below chapter 30.11and 46.28 and 49.12 and see 1 Kings 2 on verse 9] ye shall not be held guiltiness for I call for the sword [that is Jordan by my divine providence it shall come as by a special command so Ezekiel 38:21 compare also Isaiah 13:3 and 46.11 and 48.15 Ezekiel 36:29 Amos 5:8 and 9.6 and Haggai 1:11 hence it is also called sword of the Lord as having command from him below chapter 47.6,7 see further 2Kings 8 on verse 1] upon all the inhabitations of the earth saith the Lord of hosts .

30. Thou shalt prophesy all these words unto them and thou shalt say unto them the Lord shall roar [like a lion it is spoken figuratively to express the fearful consequents of Gods anger see Joel 3:16 Amos 1:2] from on high and lift up [Heb give] his voice from his habitations of his holiness [that is his holy habitation to wit heaven] he shall terrible roar [Heb roaring roar] upon his habitation [or against his habitation that is the temple as Psalms 79:7] he shall utter a shout [Heb headed almost agreeing with hed that is an Exodus Ezekiel 7:7] as the traders of grapes against all the inhabitants of the earth [or he shall cause them to cry out or cause them to cry to one another that trade grapes or that tread the presses who in the time of vintage while they are at their labor cry to one another and sing to one another by turns to rejoice and encourage one another in their work see Isaiah 16 on verse 9,10 so God implieth he will cause the Babylonians to encourage and hearten one another on to fall on as it were common shout and alarm of war or to destroy both land and people without sparing Jerusalem itself or the temple compare below chapter 48.32 and 51.14 some take it thus he shall answer himself with a joyful cry as if the Lord would say that he had no need that anyone should instigate or put him in this judgment he is forward or prone enough thereto of himself his own zeal putteth on upon him on upon it.]

31. The sound shall come to the end of the earth [or there shall come a crackling great or terrible noise &c] for the Lord hath contention [or suit controversy] with the nations he will keep judgment [or enter into judgment dispute plead] with all flesh [that is men see Genesis 6 on verse 12] the wicked them he will deliver to the sword saith the Lord.

32. Thus saith the Lord of host behold there goeth forth evil [evil of punishment that is mischief misery see Genesis 19 on verse 19] from nation to nation [that is from one nation to another] and there shall be a great tempest raised up from the sides of the earth [oth. Of the land so in the next verse]

33. And the slain of the Lord [that is those that by the just judgment and providence of God perished] shall lie at the day from one end of the earth unto the other end of the earth they shall not be lamented [as above chapter 16.4] neither taken up [Heb. Properly gathered see Psalms 26 on verse 9]nor buried they shall be for the dung upon the ground.

34. Howl ye shepherds [rulers in church and common wealth] and cry and wallow yourselves in the ashes [this is here inserted from above chapter6.26] ye glorious ones of the stock [so God calleth the chiefiest and mightiest among the people so verse 35.36 see of the Hebrew word Psalms 8 on verse 2] for your days [which are ordained or allotted unto ye by God see Psalms 37 on verse 13]are accomplished that they shall slay [to wit ye or to one another] and of your dispersions [meaning the days of your dispersions that is that ye shall be scattered and dispersed abroad into foreign countries or your dispersions are near at hand] then ye shall like a precious vessel [Heb. Vessel of desire or of delight or wishing that is fair pleasant precious desirable see 2 Chronicles 32 on verse 27 the meaning is that all their beauty and glory shall perish as for example a fair and precious glass or some hat else that being made of very brittle matter falleth in pieces and is good of nothing more neither can it be joined together or repaired]

35. And the flight shall perish from the shepherds the escaping from the glorious ones of the stock[or shall be left unto that is there shall be no fleeing for the rulers nor escape for the great one s of the land compare Psalms 142:5 Amos 2:14,15,16 &c.]

36. There shall be a voice of the cry of the shepherds and the howling of the glorious ones of the flock because the Lord destroyeth their pasture .

37. For the pastures of peace [or shepherds tents or huts pleasant habitation because the Hebrew word is so taken of peace that is where they afore time went and fed peaceably and dwelt in all safety and prosperity and thought to dwell and continue so still]shall be cut off because of the heat of the Lords anger.

38. He [namely the Lord of whom is spoken in the end of the former verse]hath forsaken his hut [or hole] as a young lion [this may be understood thus that God like a lion went forth out of his hole as it were for prey to destroy land and great wrath and as it were to rent in pieces or devour them that he had now forsaken the place of his residence to wit Zion and temple from whence he like a young lion was wont to frighten the enemies and to tear them in pieces and in that respect it will be easy for the enemy now to conquer & subdue the land of Judah c] for [or sure] their land is become a desolation because of the heat of the oppressor [or spoiler which may be applied unto God and likewise to the Babylonian Heb. Oppressing to wit sword as below chapter 46.16 and 50.16 or land or city as Zeph 3.1some render it because of the heat of the dove because the Hebrew word signifieth also a dove see Psalms 24. on verse 8 as if god should have said he that before was as loving and friendly as a dove is now become like a young devouring young lion and that for the great sin of the people some understand by the dove the Assyrians whom some do write that they bare in their ensigns the picture of a dove then by the Assyrians must be understood the Babylonians as bearing rule at that time over the Assyrians compare Ezra 6:22]yea because of the heat of his anger.