Jeremiah 23

Jeremiah 23:1

Pastors. Successors of Josias (Calmet) and false prophets. (Menochius)

Jeremiah 23:3

Multiplied. The prophets subjoin tidings of peace to such as might cause affliction. (Theodoret)

Jeremiah 23:4-5

Pastors; Zorobabel, &c., as figures of Christ, and of the pastors of his Church. — No more, as much as formerly. So many expressions must be understood. — Branch. Septuagint, “orient.” — Reign. Zorobabel was not chief governor, (Calmet) though at the head of his tribe. (Haydock) — The kingdom of Christ was not of this world, John xviii. 36. (Calmet) — He alone imparts justice to others. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 23:6

Saved: less disturbed. The world shall be redeemed, Luke ii. 14., and Ephesians ii. 14. — Just. Hebrew, “Justice,” by whom we are made just. He is the true God, Colossians ii. 9, 14. No man could bear this title: and Grotius insidiously attempts to apply it to the Jews, though the Chaldean, &c., clearly speak of the Messias. He [Grotius] must be read with great caution. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “This is his name, which the Lord will call him, Josedech. In the prophets. My,” &c. (Haydock) — Josedech means “the Lord justice.” (Calmet) — Symmachus, “Lord, justify us.”

Jeremiah 23:8

Land. The deliverance from Egypt and Babylon were emblems of man’s redemption, which was accomplished by far greater miracles.

Jeremiah 23:9

Prophets of falsehood. He directs his discourse to them, and afterwards to the priests, being filled with amazement at their impending ruin.

Jeremiah 23:10

Adulterers; impostors or idolaters. — Cursing of the Lord, or the abuse of his sacred name. (Calmet) — Unlike. Hebrew, “not right.” (Haydock)

Jeremiah 23:11

Defiled. Hebrew, “hypocrites.” My priests retain the appearance of religion, to join with impostors in deluding the people.

Jeremiah 23:14

Jerusalem. These were far worse, as they pretended to be inspired by God, whereas those of Samaria publicly adhered to Baal; so that the people must have been foolish to have been deceived by them. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 23:15

Gall, or something mortally bitter, chap. ix. 15. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 23:16

Own. To rely on private judgment, and not on the Church, is a mark of falsehood. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 23:17

Blaspheme. Hebrew, “despise;” or Septuagint, “reject disdainfully the word of the Lord, you,” &c., chap. vi. 14., and viii. 11.

Jeremiah 23:18

Counsel. Hebrew, “secret.” Which of you is acquainted with his designs? I will inform you, that your perdition is at hand, ver. 20. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 23:21

Not send. The want of mission proves a prophet or preacher to be false. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 23:22

I should. Some copies read avertissent, “they would have turned,” conformably with the Hebrew, &c., and we should suspect that this was a mistake of the transcriber, if St. Jerome did not agree with the Vulgate in his commentary, (Calmet) though not in express terms: (Haydock) “I also should not have abandoned them to impurity….Let us behold how heretics, having once given way to despair,…seek the gratification of their sensual appetite.” (St. Jerome)

Jeremiah 23:23

Off? Can you so easily penetrate my designs, or escape my fury? Am I like your idols of yesterday? Septuagint and Theodotion, “I am a God at hand,” &c., which agrees with the sequel. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 23:27

Dreams, as if God had favoured them with his revelations. (Haydock) — Fathers; the false prophets of Baal, whom these imitate.

Jeremiah 23:28

Dream, to those who are really sent by God, (Calmet) and recognized, 1 Corinthians xiv. 29. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 23:29

Pieces? True prophets will have a zeal fo the conversion of souls, chap. xx. 9., and Hebrews iv. 12.

Jeremiah 23:30

CHAPTER XXIII.

Neighbour, causing those whom I have sent to be disregarded.

Jeremiah 23:31

Use. Hebrew also, “sharpen, or render smooth,” and insinuating, Psalm xlix. 16. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 23:32

Wonders. Protestants, “lightness.” Septuagint, “frauds,” or pretended miracles. (Haydock) — False prophets cannot work true miracles: but it is more difficult to distinguish these than the former mark of being lawfully sent, ver. 21. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 23:33

Burden, Massa, (Haydock) denotes a weight, or sometimes a prediction. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 23:34

Burden of the Lord. This expression is here rejected and disallowed, at least for those times: because it was then used in mockery and contempt by the false prophets, and unbelieving people, who ridiculed the repeated threats of Jeremias under the name of his burdens. (Challoner)

Jeremiah 23:35

Answered. I will make you alter your language by chastisements.

Jeremiah 23:39

Take. Hebrew of the Masorets, (Calmet) “I, even I, will utterly forget (Protestants; Haydock) or abandon you.” (Chaldean) But the sense of the Septuagint and Vulgate seems preferable. (Calmet)