Jeremiah 15

1. Moses and Samuel. Whose intercessions formerly prevailed (Exod. xxxii. 11, 12; 1 Sam. vii. 9).

3 four kinds. That is, four kinds of destroyers.

4. I will cause them to be removed, etc. Rather, “I will cause them to be a terror among all the kingdoms of the earth.”

7. I will fan them with a fan, etc. That is, scatter them like chaff as they are driven out. The R.V. more correctly reads the words in the past, “I have fanned . . . I have bereaved . . . I have destroyed.”

8. I have brought upon them, etc. Of the various meanings given to this verse, perhaps the best is this: “I have brought upon them, even upon the mother of the choice youth, destruction at noon (i.e., unexpectedly); I have caused anguish and terror to fall upon her suddenly. She that hath borne seven droopeth with grief; her sun is gone down,” etc.

10 every one of them doth curse me. The unwelcome truths which the prophet delivered, caused his countrymen to dislike him as much as they would hate the hard-hearted usurer, or the importunate borrower.

12. Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? Rather, “Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass”? (bronze) (R.V.). “Northern iron” was probably a sort of steel, prepared by the Chalybes, who lived near the Euxine Sea. This probably means the Chaldean power, which was to bring “evil” and “affliction” (11).

15. Thou knowest, etc. Again the prophet’s words.

Take me not away in Thy long-suffering. That is, in Thy long-suffering towards my persecutors, do not leave my life in jeopardy.

16. I did eat them. The Hebrew idiom implies that, as soon as the words of God came to the prophet, he eagerly received them.

17 of the mockers. Rather, “of the mirthful”: cp. R.V. He denied himself even innocent enjoyment.

because of Thy hand. See note on Isa. viii. 11.

18 as a liar. Lit., “a lie.” The sense is as in R.V., “a deceitful [brook]” (Job vi. 15), a dried-up watercourse, bitterly disappointing the thirsty and expectant traveller. So the prophet keenly laments the apparent failure of his mission.

19. If thou return. i.e., to the fearless discharge of duty. God replies to the prophet, that if he will return to his work, he shall again be entrusted with a message; and if he will boldly defend the right and condemn the wrong, his words shall be found to be of Divine authority.

Let them return unto thee. Rather, as R.V., “They shall return unto thee”; i.e., as suppliants, to seek thy favour and good offices. Those who in standing up for the truth will not give way to the world, will often have the world come round to them.

20 a fenced brasen wall. See note on i. 18. The promise repeats the very words in which Jeremiah was first summoned to his work.