Jeremiah 4

An exhortation to true repentance, v 1 ,&c. A large declaration and represantation of the future destruction of the land of Juda by the Babylonians , for their sins, contrary to the prediction of the false Prophet, 5,27. Whereat the Prophet bitterly lamenteth, 19. In the meanwhile God promiseth a gracious moderation of the plagues ,27.

1. If thou will return, Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me :[As if God should say: If thou at any time art minded to return, as thou often times pretendest thou shalt mind to do , then do it now , and do it sincerely without hypocrisie and mixture of any Idolatry, as is shewed in the sequel] and if thou will put away thine abominations[that is, thy abominable and horrible Idolatry,or dung-gods which are joyned with the abominations, Deuteronom,29.17. See 2 Chron.15 on verse 8.] from my face , then wander not about.[Upon mountains and hills , to commit idolatry. See above , chap 2.20. and 3.6,13. Or, then thou shalt not wander about ; that is ,go into exile; and in the sequel ,And thou shalt swear.]

2. But swear (As true as as) the LORD liveth [shewing thereby that thou knowest and honourest me as thine onely God, and that sincerely, withou falshood or hypocrise, as followeth. Compare below chap 5.2] in truth, in judgement and in righteousness: [These three things comprehend all that is requisite to an holy oath and worship of God, in respect to God , a mans self and his neighbour , both in his general and particular calling .Compare the former annotat. And Genes.18. On verse 19, 1 Kings 10 o verse 9 .]so shall the heathen [ that now mock both at you and me because you behave yourself so shamefully as that lam fain to punish you by the heathen themselves by the honour of my Name.bless themselves in him , and glory in him [Namely, the LORD; beholding your piety , and there upon God's blessing upon you , they will be invited to turn unto the true God , and to seek their happinesse onely in him, to ascribe it to him alone , and to account themselves blessed and happy in him Compare Gen.22 on verse 18 , Deuteronomy 29:19 Psal 10.3 and 49.19,20.]

3. For thus saith the LORD to the men of Juda ,[Hebr, the men, etc. That is, the men, or every man , or those of Juda , so verse 4 and chap.11.9 and 17.25. and 18.11 and 32,33, & c.] and to Jerusalem [that is , the inhabitants of Jerusalem,as verse 4.]Break up unto yourselves a fallow ground :[As a fallow ground must be well ploughed up and cleansed anew , that it may be fit to receive good feed, and to bear good fruit : so purge yourselvev throughly from all uncleanesse, and be renewed as new creatures , and put on the new man ,&c Compare Hebr.6.7 , Gal 6.15Ephes. 4.22,23 ,24] and sowe not among thorns . Compare Matth.13.7,22.]

4. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD ,[see deut.10 on verse 16 and 30 on verse 6 and furthur Genes.17 also below chap.9.26.] and put away the fore-skins of your heart , ye men of Juda , and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my wrath come forth like a fire [compare Deut 4. on v 24] and burn, that none can quench (it) because of the wickednesse of your dealings

5. Declare it in Juda, and cause it to be heard at Jerusalem,and say,ye blow the trumpet in the land:cry with a full (voice),[Heb. Cry,fulfill. Of such a connexion of two words, see Psal.45. On verse 5. The meaning is, cry out to the fool everywhere, let all places be filled with proclamation. Others cry,gather together,lay,make a full Congregation, that everyone may hear and know it: for it shall be a general calamity thorowout the whole land] and say,Assemble yourselves and let us go into the defenced Cities. [Against the enemies coming. Hebr. Cities of defence.

6. Set up the standards towards Zion [For a token that they must all flee to Jerusalem as a Royal fort] flee in heaps, [or, mightly strengthen yourself for the flight. So below, chap 6.1 and Isai 10.31. Oath heap yourselves together,gather yourselves together,flock together (as we say) as Exodus 9:19. to wit, to flee altogether. The Hebrew word ( that is found in the forementioned places) hath the signification of fleeing, departing,retiring to some other place, and of gathering together] stay not: for I bring evil [ that is, great mischief,misery,and calamity,as the last words of this verse do shew} from the North, [from Chaldea, or Babylon] and a great breach. [ or ,breaking: that is, misery,calamity,destruction,desolation,as below, v.20 and chapter 6. 1 ,14 and 6. 11,21 and 10. 19 & 14.17. Compare also chap.17.18 and 22.20 and 48.3,4,5. and elsewhere often in this Book. So Isai 1. 28, & c

7. The Lion is come up frpm his thicket [Nebuchadnezar, King of Babel with his host , will break forth as a Lion out of his den ,or cave . Compare Isai 5.26,,27,28,29.] and thebdestroyer of the Gentiles is marched up , he is gone forth from his place; to make thy land [ O Zion or Jerusalem ,as may be gathered fromm what goeth before, thy cities shall be destroyed, (so)that none shall dwell in them [compare Isai 5.29. above , chap.2.15 and below , chap 5.6.]

8. For this gird on sacks ,[see Genes .37. on verse 34.] lament and howl, for the heat of the LORD's anger is not turned away from us .

9. And it shall come to passe at that time, saith the LORD,(that the heart of the King , and the heart of the Princes shall perish: [That is , all their courage shall fail. See 2 Kings 25,&c and below chapter 39 and 52] and the Priests shall be astonished , and the Prophets shall wonder .[to wit, the false Prophets . See following annot. On v 10.]

10. Then said I, Ah Lord,LORD, Truly, thou hast greatly deceived [Hebr. Deceiving deceived] this people and Jerusalem, saying , Yea shall have peace ; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul[Compare below verse 18 The meanig is,thu hasr greatly deceived ,&c. To wit by the false prophets , whom thou suffereth to promise falsely unto the people, under the pretence of thy Name and Service, all happinesse and prosperity ,whereas indeed utter misery and destruction is at hand . Compare 1 kings 22.21,22,23, and the annotat. there, also Ezech.14.9. And below chap 6.14 and 7. 4,10, and 23.1.]

11. At that time shall it be said to this people , and to Jerusalem;A dry winde from the high places in the wildernesse, by the way of the daughter of my people ; [That is, towards the land of Juda, and Jerusalem]not to fan, nor to cleanse [But to waste, will the LORD say ;A dry, or thin, oth. Smooth winde .That is, that will go thorow smoothly and wothout opposition , to cast all things down to the ground : Meaning the Babylonians that should come from the North , upon the mountain of Libanus. See below v.15.]

12. There shall come unto me the winde that shall be too strong for them [Hebr. Full; that is, too strong, that they shall be not able to indure and with-stand it.Hebr.fuller then they.Oth. A full winde from those .(places) to wit, that are describe before] now will l also uter judgements upon them [that is , pass my doom or sentence upon them .That is , l will hold a Court for the trial of them .See above chap.1.16. Another use of this phrase is below, chap.12.1]

13. Behold he cometh as clouds[The Babylonians shall come as swifly against thee ,as clouds ,&c] and his charets are as whirl-winde, his horses are swifter, {Hebr.lighter]then eagles : wo unto us , for we are waste .[they are the word of the Jews as being sensible of feeling Gods judgement: or, the words of the Prophet,as lamenting the misery of the people .]

14. Wash thine heart from wickednesse, O Jerusalem ,[compare Isa.1.16] that thou mayest be saved , how long shall ye suffer the thoughts of thy vanity [that is, thy vain thoughtsreby tho reliest on vanity and falsehood , or iniquity]to over-night[or to lodge, to abide]in the innermost (part) of thee?

15. For a voice declareth from Dan ,[The coming of the Babylonians, that march from thence thorow Israel towards Juda .Dan was the outermost border of Cannan in the North] and causeth misery to be heard ffrom mount Ephraim.[The innermost border of Israel in the North of Juda .]

16. Make mention to the Nations, behold, cause it to be heard against [that shall beseige and environ Juresalem, and shall take diligent heed that bnone shall escape. See 2 Kings 25:4,5 .] from a farre countrey;[to wit, frrom Babylon] and they lift up their voice [Hebr, give their voice ; that is , make a noise, as above, chap.2.15.] against the cities of Juda.

17. As the watchmen of fields [that beset the fields on evey side , that the wild beasts that are hunted may no where escape] are they round about against her : beseiging Jerusalem on every side , 2 Kings 25:1&c] because she [to wit, Jerusalem, as appeareth ,vers.14.] hath been rebellious against me , saaith the LORD.

18. Thy way, [That is , thy bad condition and practise , see Genes.6 on vers.12.] and thy dealings have done these things unto thee ;[occasioned and caused all these palgues] this is thy wickednesse [thai is , the fruit and reward of thy wickednesse] that is(so)bitter : [Oth , therefore it is so bitter ; to wit, the suffering that is nigh at hand .Oth, that he (to wit, the enemy) is so bitter, and seeketh thy life, and utterly undo thee, compare v.10.]

19. O my bowels, my bowels! [These and the rest that follow on this verse are the words of the Prophet, who is exceedingly troubled in the presense of God, as if he beheld these miseries with his own eyes. Compare Isai.15.5 and 16.11 and 21.3.] Iam in travel , O the walls of mine heart ; that is , in my midriff, heart- covering , in my inner parts in my heart] mine heart maketh a noise in me , l can not hold my peace : [Or be still] for thou, my soul, heareth the sound of the trumpet, and the cry of war.

20. Breach upon breach is cryed out ;[That is , one misery or estruction is no sooner gone , but we presently here tidings of another .Compare Psal.42.8. And se above v.6.] for the whole land is destroyed : suddenly are my tents [that is, the habitations of my people]destroyed ,my curtains in a moment .[that is, very suddenly.]

21. How lond shall l see the standard? Hear the voice of the trumpet?

22. Surely, my people is foolish ,the do not know me;they are foolish children, and have no understanding : they are wise to do evil ,[Crafty and well verst in evil. Compare 2 Samuel 13. on verse 3.]but to do good they know not.[Compare Amos 3:10.]

23. I beheld the land, [To wit the land of Juda] and lo , it was waste and void: [see Genes. 1.2 This is a figurativ description and a lively portraiture of an universal and terrible desolation and ruine of the land of Juda] also the heaven and its light was not .[that is, the heaven was dark and black. Compare Isai.5.30and 50.3 and below vers. 28.]

24. I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled: and all the hills shaked.[Hebr.made themselves light , or swift; that is, moved themselves swifly.]

25. And l beheld, and lo, there was no man: and all the birds of the heaven were flewn away.[Hebr. Properly swerved away , or fled away. See below, ch . 9,10 and 50.3.]

26. I beheld, and lo, the fruitful land,[Hebr, carmel. See above .chap. 2 on vers.7.] was a wildernesse, and all the cities thereof [to wit,of the fruitful land that lay in it]were broken down, because of the LORD ,[Hebr. because of the face of the LORD, which some take to be his anger , his angry face ,see above ,chap. 3 on vers.12.] because of the heat of his anger.]

27. For thus saith the LORD , This whole land shall be a desolation:[That is, everywhere exceedingly wasted] (yet will l also make a full end) [or destruction, consumption . Compare below chap.5.10,18. Ezech.11.13 and 20.17. That is, l will not make an utter desolation, but yet inter-mingle my mercy with my wrath, and reserve me a remnant, and a feedin Jacob. See below chapter 30.11 and 46.28. This God inserteth here , among the terrible threatnings , for the comfort of the elect and believers . Some conceive that the meaning of these words is: There shall not be an end for all this ; my wrath and judgements shall not yet cease for all this, shall still go on , and continue a long while upon this Land:Whereunto they apply the mourning of the earth and Heaven, whereof mention is made in the sequel . This phrase is used in another sense of sinners , that have exremely offended , and filled up the measure of their sins.See Genes. 18 on vers.21.]

28. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heaven above be black:[As wearing mourning-apparel.See Psal.35. On vers.14.] bec ause I have spoken it, I have purposed it , and it shall not repent me , neither will I turn back from it.

29. All the cities flee[Hebr.all the City ,or, the whole City is fleeing; that is,the citizens , or, the inhabitants of the cities (as the following words shew) shall flee and so in the sequel] for the cry [hebr. Voice] of the horsemen and they go into the clouds ,[That is, up to the tops of mountains, that reach to the very clouds , for to hide themelves there .Oth, into thick , or close places, as thickets,etc.] and climb up upon the rocks : all the cities shall be forsaken, so that no man dwell therein .

30. What will thou do then, thou wasted one? [To wit. Daughter of Zion, as in the following verse. That is,thou that shalt be waste or destroyed]though thou shouldst clothe thyself with scarlet, though thou shouldst adorn thy self with golden ornaments, though thou shouldst rent thy face with painting,[though thou shoudst attire and paint thyself so much , and so often, as that thy face and cheeks should come to split and rent by it :To wit, in an idolatrous and heathenish manner, to please and mitigate thine enemies : as harlots do trick up themselves , to please their lovers] (yet) shouldst thou trim thyself in vain: the lovers,[To wit,the Babylonians, that seek to master thee] despise thee ,they will seek thy soul . [That is, seek thy life. See 2 Sam.4. on vers.8]

31. For l hear a voice as of a (woman) that is in a travell , an anguish as of one that is in pain of the first childe. The voice of the Daughter of Zion , she draweth breath painfully,[Oth. Sigheth, lamenteth, by reason of her burden and distresse] she spreadeth forth her hands , [As those are wont to do , that mourn exceedingly, and are in extreme pain] (saying) O wo (is) me now, for my soul is weary because of the murderers.[Tha Babylonians.]