Jeremiah 30

5 a voice of trembling, etc. This seems to refer to the Medo-Persian invasion of Babylon; which, though necessary to the restoration of the Jews, threatened them, as well as other subjects of the king of Babylon, with severe sufferings.

8. I will break his yoke. The yoke of the king of Babylon.

9. David their king. As the Jews have never since their return from Babylon had a king named David, nor indeed any king, this must refer to the Messiah. The Targum has “the son of David their king.”

13. That thou mayest be bound up. Moffatt translates: “there is none to bandage you, no salve for your bruise.”

14 thy lovers. The allies whom Israel had made.

16. Therefore, etc. This is really the continuation of vers. 10 and 11, where the restoration of Israel is promised. The parenthesis vers. 12-15 indicates what their sufferings have been. Now their punishment is complete, and “they that devour thee shall be devoured.”

18 and the city shall be builded, etc. “Towns shall be built on their own sites, and buildings stand where once they stood” (Moffatt).

20 as aforetime. As they were in the prosperous days of David: see note on ver. 9.

21. And their nobles, etc. Rather. “And their Prince shall be from themselves, and their Ruler shall come forth from the midst of them” (R.V.). This also evidently must refer to the Messiah, as the restored Jews were no more governed by a ruler of their own nation in Palestine than in Babylon, where they appear to have had a “Prince of the captivity.”

23. Behold, the whirlwind, etc. See xxiii. 19. The judgement there denounced against sinners in Israel is here threatened to Israel’s enemy.

a continuing whirlwind. R.V., “a sweeping tempest.”

24 ye shall consider. Or, “ye shall understand,” R.V.

should be the re-union that the birthright should be recognised.