Jeremiah 22

Jeremiah 22:1-10

This chapter contains some warnings that in the preceding reigns God had given the kings of Judah. 1. A message is sent to the royal family, as it should form, in the reign of Jehoiakim, relating partly to Jehoiakim, who was carried away captive into Egypt, and partly to Jehoiakim who succeeded him, and was now upon the throne. The king and princes are coherent to execute judgment, and are aforesaid that if they did so, the royal family should flourish, but otherwise it should be restored, ver. 1—10. Jehoiakim is lamented, ver. 10—12. Jehoiakim is repressed, ver. 13—19. 2. Another message sent them to the reign of Jehoiakim. He is charged with an infirmity refuted to bear, threatened with defractions, and it is foretold that in him Solomon’s body should fail, ver. 20—30.

1. THUS faith the LORD, Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word. 2. And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that fittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates; 3. Thus faith the LORD, 4. Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. 4. For if ye do this thing indeed, 5. then shall there enter in by the gates of this house, kings fitting, 6. upon the throne of David, riding in chariots, and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. 5. But if ye will not bear these words, 6. I hear by myself, faith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation. 6. For thus faith the LORD unto the king’s house of Judah, Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited. 7. And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons, and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire. 8. And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, 9. Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city? 9. Then they shall answer, 10. Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.

Kings are God’s vicegerents, accountable to him for their conduct; and when they abide the power wherewith they are entrusted, or neglect the duties of their station, may expect his rebukes. Jeremiah is here sent to the king of Judah Jehoiakim, the successor of David, and fitting on his throne, but grievously degenerated from his virtues. He and his servants are summoned to attend.

1. Their duty is set before them. To administer judgment with impartiality, to vindicate the oppressed and injured; to do so

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wrong themselves, nor permit others to do it with impunity; to protect the stranger, the fatherless, and widow; and shed no innocent blood, either by lawless violence, or under the cloak of justice. Very opposite to which had hitherto been their conduct, v. 17.

2. This would secure their prosperity, and entail a blessing upon their posterity; preserving long the crown of Judah to the royal race of David, and enabling them to live in splendor, answerable to their high dignity, v. 4.

3. On the contrary, if they perished in their disobedience, by an oath, to make the sentence more awful and tremendous, God swears to make the house of the king of Judah a desolation, and that his kingdom should be involved in his ruin. Though thou art Gilead unto me, and the Lord of Lebanon, full of riches, and strongly fortified, yet such ravages should be made in the land, that it should be wholly depopulated, and its fertile plains become an howling wilderness: nor should infirmers be wanting to execute the threatened vengeance; I will prepare, or facultify destroyers, raise them up, and give them a commission of most righteous judgment. In consequence of which, they shall at efully cut down and destroy the mighty men of Judah, as the cedars fall before the axe of the hewer, and are cast into the fire. With astonishment the neighbouring nations behold the defractions, and enquire into the cause, that a people once so favoured of God, should now be so abandoned; and the answer is ready, because they have apoplained from God’s worship, and sunk into foul idolatry. Note, They who forsake God, are justly forsaken of him.

4. ¶ Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him, but weep fore for him? that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor for his native country. 11. For thus faith the LORD touching Shallum the Son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place, He shall not return thither any more: 12. But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more. 13. ¶ Wo unto him: that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that uleth his neighbours service without wages, and goeth him not for his work: 14. That faith, I will build me a wide house, and I large chambers, and cuteth him out windows, and it is cled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. 15. Shalt though reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? 16. He judged the cause of the poor and needy, then it was well with him: was not this to know me? faith the LORD. 17. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence to do it. 18. Therefore thus faith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the Son of Josiah king of Judah, They shall not lament for him, lying, 19. Ah my brother, or, ah sister: they shall not lament for him, lying, Ah lord, or ah his glory. 19. He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

5. THE word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that 1. Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard, had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in 2 chains among all that were carried away captive unto Babylon. 3. And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 4. Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said, 5. because ye have finned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. 6. And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which 7 were upon thine hand: if it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will 8 look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. 8. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, 9. whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wherefore it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. 10. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and dwell with him among the people that were left in the land.

The chapter begins with, The word which came to Jeremiah, not that this chapter contains any prophecy, but it is a general title to all the following part of this book.

The rendezvous of the captives, it seems, was appointed to be at Ramah, about seven miles from Jerusalem. Thither, among others, Jeremiah was led, chased with the roh, probably through mistake of some inferior officer; who, after he had been discharged, chap. xxxiv. 14. finding him at large, and not knowing the exemption granted him, joined him with his countrymen. But Nebuzar-adan, on the review of the captives, immediately discovered, unbound, and discharged him with the greatest respect and kindness.

1. Nebuzar-adan, though a heathen, could not but acknowledge the truth of Jeremiah’s mission and prophesies now so exactly fulfilled; and, to the shame of those who rejected his warning, addresses the captives, reminding them of their fate and disobedience to the prophet’s voice, which had provoked God’s wrath, and brought this righteous judgment upon them.

2. He gives him his choice. Either to go to Babylon with him, and be treated with all kindness, and provided for to his heart’s will; or if he had rather flay in his native country, he was at his full liberty to chuse his abode, and perhaps to raise possession of what estate in the country he pleaded, the whole being at the disposal of the conquerors. Note, They who sacrifice all for God, even in this life are often found no losers by their fidelity to him.

3. Jeremiah appearing, it should seem, irresolute where to fix, Nebuzar-adan advised him to join Gedaliah, a prince of Judah, who seems early to have followed the prophet’s advice, and fallen to the Chaldeans; and now as a reward was made governor of the land: yet he would not prescribe to him, but left the matter to his own consideration, having supplied him with victuals, which, in the exhaustion of the country, were necessary for his present subsistence, and made him a handsome present besides; a noble influence of generosity in a heathen officer towards a holy prophet. With his advice Jeremiah complied, and joined Gedaliah at Mizpah, rather chusing to sustain the hardships he might be exposed to in God’s heritage, among his poor people, than dwell in affluence in the land of the heathen.

c. Kings xx. 12.

7. 8. Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, were they and their men heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; 8. Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ithmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Sernaish the son of Lanhumeth, and the sons of Ephal the Netophaehle, and Jeremiah the son of a Muschahle, they and their men. 9. And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of

Shaphan, swore unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10. As for me, Behold, I will dwell at Mirpah 9 to serve the Chaldeans which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer-fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. 11. Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; 12. Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer-fruits very much. 13. Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, 14. And said unto him, Dail thou certainly know that 15. Beall the king of the Ammonites hath sent 16. Ithmael the son of Nethaniah 17 to say thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. 18. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah fiercely, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will say Ithmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he say thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be fastened, and the remnant of Judah perish? 19. But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, ‘Thou shalt not do this thing, for thou speaketh a fallacy of Ithmael.’

A scene of more complicated villainy and unprovoked barbarity can hardly be found than is here recorded.

1. Gedaliah is affaffinated. Disobjections of Ithmael, and the princes with him, who came with a pretence of paying a visit of Swendolyn, he kindly and generously entertained them; when, at a signal given, Ithmael, and the rest of the conspirators, suddenly rose on Gedaliah and flew him; nor sheathed their swords till they had in cold blood massacred all the men, both Jews and Chaldeans, which were in Mizpah. And to this they seem to have been infligated by their revenge, because Gedaliah and the Jews had fallen to the Chaldeans; or by their envy, because Ithmael, of the feed royal, and the princes, could not bear to see Gedaliah preferred before them. Such horrid work do the Satanical tempers of fallen sinners make, when left without restraint.

2. Not content with all the blood they had shed, their wanton cruelty forks now objects. Fourfoure men from Shechem, Samaria, and Shiloh, wholly ignorant of what had puffed, were on their way to the temple at Jerusalem, with deepest signs of expensive woe to lament its desolations; and prelons, if but on the ruined altar, their oblamors; to draw to them was the very dull thereof. These, with hypocritical tears, Ithmael went forth to meet, that he might decoy them to Mizpah, under pretence of an invitation from Gedaliah, as if he was yet alive; v. 6. and they, unsuspicious of his design, went with him into the

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might of the city, where they were instantly flain, and their bodies cast into one pit with those who fell with Gedaliah. This pit was dug by Ala, where he fortified Mizpah against Basha, 1 Kings xi. 22. Ten men only escaped, by pleading the treasures they had concealed in the field; and covetoufnees prevailing over cruelty, they permitted them to live to discover them. Whilst we read such scenes of horror, what reason have we to bless God for his refraining grace upon the hearts and hands of wicked men: but for this the world would be an Aeeldama, a field of blood.

3. The bloody work being done, Ithmael attempts to secure the plunder and the prisoners, the king’s daughters, and others, by a retreat to Basha, king of the Ammonites, who seems to have infligated him to perpetrate this horrid deed.

4. ¶ But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with them, heard of all the evil that Ithmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12. Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ithmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. 13. Now it came to pafs, that when all the people which were with Ithmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. 14. So all the people that Ithmael had carried away captive from Mizpah, cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah. 15. But Ithmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. 16. Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ithmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah (after that he had flain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam) ever mighty men of war, and the women and the children, and the eunuchs whom he had brought again from Gibeon. 17. And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimbam, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt. 18. ¶ Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ithmael the son of Nethaniah had flain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

Jeremiah 22:7-16

A sudden gleam of unexpected prosperity prepares but for the last stroke, which should ruin the miserable remnant which was left.

1. Under Gedaliah’s government, notwithstanding the late desolations, things seemed to wear a promising aspect. The captains of the forces, who had not been able to throw themselves into the city during the siege, and had forked in some retreat; or rather had escaped with the flattered remains of the soldiery, when Zedekiah was taken, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah; and as he had, it seems, full power left him from the king of Babylon to receive all who quietly subscribed, he gave them a solemn oath of protection on condition of their fidelity, and assures them, that their fears were groundless of being delivered up to the Chaldeans, because they had been in arms against them; but if they now lived peaceably, they might live comfortably. He himself would reside at Mizpah, and thanked all the matters of tribute to be paid the Chaldeans; or to stand before them, to surrender for them if any enquire was made after them; to convey to them any orders, and render homage on their behalf, which they had nothing to do but to occupy the land, to gather the vintage, the summer-fruits, and oil, lay up their winter’s fours, and enjoy the plenty God and once more restored to them. The rapture of this peaceable re-establishment of the government, under so good a man as Gedaliah, soon reached the neighbouring nations, and defies a vast concourse of Jews, who had taken refuge there, to return and submit to the Chaldean government, to that the country was again replenished with inhabitants, and they gathered wine and summer-fruits very much. Thus once more they began to take God’s goodness, if that at last might lead them to repentance.

2. A dark scheme appears framed to interrupt and destroy this short-lived prosperity. Johanan, one of the captains who had resorted, got intelligence of a plot contrived by Baalis, king of the Ammonites, the hereditary enemy of the Jews, and to be executed by Ithmael, who had undertaken to dispatch Gedaliah, envious probably at his advancement, and thinking himself, as of the lead royal, more fit to rule. Of this Johanan informed the governor; and to prevent the threatened mischief, offered privately to dispatch Ithmael; but Gedaliah, being a man of integrity himself, would not entertain a suspicion of Ithmael as capable of so hate a deed, but rejects the intelligence as false, and forbids him to proceed a step farther in the affair. Note, (1.) Charity beepeth all things, thinketh no evil; and they who are conscious of their own simplicity, believe others gulletess as themselves. (2.) No obligations can bind the lordships of ambition; such men would mount the throne over the corpses of those to whom they are even indebted for the very power of destroying them. (3.) It would be highly dangerous to kill by way of prevention; in such a case, no man’s life would be safe from a malicious tongue. (4.) Though it were failed to be suspicious, yet, when advertised of our danger, it were wise to be on our guard.

Behold, Chap. xxxiv. 10. 7. Mat. 7. Read below. 1. 1. 1. CHAP.

It is a very magical fury that is related in this chapter, and flows, that evil purlous sinners. The black cloud that was gathering in the foregoing chapter, here herfs in a dreadful form. 1. Gedailah and all that were with him are herbarm, the fain is Ithmael, ver. 1—3. 2. A pit is filled with their dead bodies, ver. 9. 3. Some devout men that were going to Jerusalem are drawn in, and fain by Ithmael, ver. 4—7. Only ten of them escaped, ver. 8. 4. They that escaped the sword, are taken prisoners by Ithmael, and carried off towards the country of the Ammonites, ver. 10. 5. By the conduct of Yohanan, though the death of the fain is not revamped, yet the prisoners are recovered, and he now becomes their commander in chief, ver. 11—16. 6. His project is to carry them into the land of Egypt, ver. 17, 18.

1. NOW it came to pafs in the seventh month, 1. that Ithmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Eishama of the feed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. 2. Then arose Ithmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and 3. soon Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and flew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 4. Ithmael also flew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war. 5. And it came to pafs the second day after he had flain Gedaliah, and no man knew it. 6. That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourfoure men having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. 7. And Ithmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, 8. weeping all along as he went: and it came to pafs as he met them, he laid unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. 9. And it was so when they came into the midst of the city, that Ithmael the son of Nethaniah flew them, 10. and call them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him. 11. But ten men were found among them that said unto Ithmael, slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbars, and flew them not among their brethren. 12. Now the pit wherein Ithmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men (whom he had flain because of Gedaliah) was it, which Asa the king had made for fear of Basha king of Israel; and Ithmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were flain. 13. Then Ithmael carried away captive all the residue of the people, that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, and Ithmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

Jeremiah 22:10-19

Kings are not too high for God to humble, nor for his prophets to reprove. We have here the sad doom of two read, who reigned successively in Judah, the sons of good Josiah, from whose steps they shamefully departed.

1. Shallum, the same as Jehoahae, the immediate successor of Josiah, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 1. After a short reign of three months, see 2 Kings xxiii. 34. he was carried captive into Egypt, and from thence he must, by the divine decree, never return, but die in ignominy. Him therefore the people are called upon to beware, and rather weep over the captive son, than bedew with their tears the corpse of his pious father, who was at rest, and removed from beholding the evil to come. Note, Dying saints may be justly envied, which living sinners are to be pitied.

2. Jehoiakim, his successor, has not a more favourable judgment. His five were great, and though he now sat on the throne, the prophet faithfully dares to rebuke him. Proud, and affeeling to rival the greatness of his most illustrious predecessors, during the most flourishing state of their kingdom: tho’ himself no better than a viceroy, first to the king of Egypt, and then to the Babylonish monarch, he was building or enlarging his palace, in the most magnificent taste, and with the most expensive decorations; and as the revenues of his kingdom probably were insufficient, he became tyrannical and oppressive, extorting money from his subjects, or constraining them to serve and supply him with materials, without paying them for their labour. Sour, and self-confident; he promised himself many long years to enjoy his house of cedar, and that his pomp would

M m Julius Christ 1st. 1. Chron. xxx. 11. 2. Kings xxx. 24. book. xx. Ver. 18. 3. See, no. 19. Decr. xxv. 14, 15. Vol. II. 16. Nah. ii. 9. 4. See, e. 9. 5. Nah. Through and. 6. Pl. xxxiii. 8. No. do. 10. 7. Post. xvi. 16. 8. Or learn 9. 1 Kings xii. 10. Fullfied xiv. 1. Chron. xxxv. 6.

Jeremiah 22:11-18

A deed so atrocious could not be long concealed; and no sooner doth the report of it reach Johanan, than, fored with indignation, he collected all the forces he could muster, pursued the fugitives, and overtook them at the pool of Gibeon, which though not the direct road, they might have taken to prevent a pursuit, or get the treasures of the men whose lives they had spared; thus oftentimes we see men’s covetoufnees their destruction. No sooner had Johanan and his troops appeared, than those with Ithmael immediately deferred him, and with difficulty he himself, with eight of the affaffins, escaped to the land of Ammon: perhaps now unwelcome guilty, when stripped of that plunder the king of Ammon hoped to share. Johanan with his forces, and those he had recovered, either through his own fiery spirit, or the just judgment of God upon the people, that would give them no rest till they were utterly consumed, resolved hereupon to depart into Egypt; either hoping that under the Egyptian government they should enjoy greater safety, or, as was pretended, fearing the Chaldeans would punish them for the death of Gedaliah; though in fact they might rather have expected commendation from them, as his avengers. The resolution however being taken, they left Mizpah, and pitched in the habitation of Chimbam (so called, probably, as being given by David to that son of Barzilai) near Bethlehem, in the way that led to Egypt, ready to fly thither if any danger threatened them. Note, Men’s unbelieving fears often plunge them into the very miseries they dread.

Jeremiah 22:20-30

7. 4 Cent. viii. 6. Hag. ii. 25. 8 1 Kings note, 13. 7 Heb. Let up their much Wong. xivii. 5. Hal. xx. 8.

8. ¶ Go up to Lebanon, and cry, and lift up thy voice to Bafsan, and cry from the passages: for all? thy lovers are destroyed. 21. I spake unto thee in thy prosperity, but thou faldst, I will not hear: this hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice. 22. The wind shall eat up all? thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity, surely then shall thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness. 23. O? inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious thalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail? 24. If I live, faith the LORD, though? Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were: the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence. 25. And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whoof face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26. And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born, and there shall ye die. 27. But to the land whereunto they? desire to return, thither shall they not return. 28. Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he? a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? 29. O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. 30. Thus faith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, fitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

We have line upon line, and warning upon warning, yet all insufficient to alarm a stupid people.

1. Their misery and distress are painted in lively colours. When their enemies were advancing, they are experienced as running to the mountain-tops, and calling out for help to the neighbouring nations; but in vain; for all thy lover are destroyed, and none willing to shew them the least kindness in the day of their calamity. They had been deaf to the warnings of the prophets, from the day they came out of Egypt, and disobedient to the voice of God; vain of their prosperity, and confident they should never be removed. But now their desolation approaches, when they should be confounded and abhorred for all their unorthodox; as destitute of holy within, as of assistance from without, because the wind shall eat up all thy pastors, the governors in church and state, kings, nobles, priests, and prophets, as weak to refill the Chaldean holds, as sultides to oppode the furious whirlwind. Though lofty in pride as Lebanon, and dwelling in houses, called with cedar, these would be no security, but be food for the devouring flames; whilst from their enemies they might expect to find no favour, in the day when their despot anguilla should seize them, as the pains of a traveling woman, v. 22. The words, How gracious shall thou be, may be rendered, What proper will thou find? and untanam the degenerates of their case, which seems most agreeable to the context; though they may also be interpreted of the effects their judgments should have upon them, when their distresses should

drive them in penitence to God, and they should find mercy with him in the land of their captivity. Note, (1.) Prosperity is a dangerous state: they who live at safe too often cure not to attend the warnings of God. (2.) Creature-dependence will fail in the day of calamity. (3.) It is well for us, if what we suffer brings us at last in pangs of real repentance to God.

2. Their king’s judgment is pronounced. He is called Coniah, instead of Tsunnah, in contempt. His name is thorned, intimating that his reign should be cut short, and his regal honour depart from him. Doomed to a miserable fervitude, God threatens to give him up into the hands of the king of Babylon, whom he feared, and who fought his life, with his mother and family, v. 28. and pining as vain for the land of their nativity, they should long drip their ignominious chain, and die in the place of their captivity. His pious fathers had been as a figure on God’s right hand; to dear to him, and extend by him, as the ring that bears the picture, or is the gift, of the person we love: but his ill conduct had sold him out of favour, and therefore God in high displeasure threatens he will pluck him thence, and abandon him to ruin: and this his determination is irrevocable, confirmed with no oath: If I don, faith the Lord, who, since he can swear by no greater, favors by himself, v. 24. Note, (1.) They are seldom for ever whom God abandons. (2.) The greatest must not be too confident: they know not what strange calamities may await them.

3. All who behold this monarch faffes would exceedly say, Is this Coniah, a despised broken idol? Yes: so despicable in her crown, who late was idolized. Is he a eagle colorant to so plagier? he that was late the people’s darling, is now disengaged, and cast by as a broken vessel; led, with all that permitted to him, into a strange land, there to suffer the punishment of his iniquities.

4. The earth is summoned to mark his judgment: either the people of Judea in particular, or of the world in general; or, as if the God under their feet would be more attentive than the hardened hearts of the men of that generation, it is called upon to hear the solemn sentence. Thus faith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days; after a short reign of three months, he spent his whole life in captivity in Babylon: for no man of his seed shall prosper, fitting on the throne of Daniel, and ruling any more in Judah. In him ended the race of Judah’s kings, and probably the line of Solomon was now extinct, Salathud being supposed his adopted boy, to whom his pretensions were bequeathed, and, though accounted his son, Mat. i. 12. was a descendant of Nathan, and the son of Nuri, Luke iii. 27.