Jeremiah 6

Jeremiah Chapter Six Verse 1 Jeremiah 6 FROM THE NORTH; THE SIEGE OF ; OF number of such titles as the ones cited here are assigned to this chapter by various authors. There is very little in the chapter that requires any extensive research; and we shall depart from our usual procedure by giving our own paraphrase of this tragic prophecy. True to the pattern throughout Jeremiah, the three subjects treated here, namely, (1) a description of the tragic fate of the city, (2) the character and identification of the instrument (the destroyer) God would use in the execution of his judgment against the city, and (3) a summary of the reasons why God judged Jerusalem and Judah to be worthy of the penalty about to fall upon them, Jeremiah jumbled all of these topics together. In our paraphrase, we shall reorganize them topically. THE AWFUL FATE TO BEFALL JUDAH AND The daughter of Zion (a poetic name for Jerusalem) shall be cut off (Jeremiah 6:2); she shall be encircled with tents (Jeremiah 6:3); the lengthening shadows mark the closing of the Day of God’s Favor upon racial Israel (Jeremiah 6:4); her palaces shall be destroyed (Jeremiah 6:5); the military shall cast up a mound against her (Jeremiah 6:6); she shall be uninhabited, a desolation (Jeremiah 6:8); the vine of Israel shall be stripped and gleaned (Jeremiah 6:9); the wrath of God shall be poured out upon her children, the young men, the husbands and wives, and even upon all the old people (Jeremiah 6:11); the houses, fields, and wives of the people shall be taken away from them and given to the invaders (Jeremiah 6:12); the nation shall fall; it shall be cast down (Jeremiah 6:25); God will bring evil upon her people (Jeremiah 6:19); God will place stumblingblocks in their way; fathers and sons, friends and neighbors shall perish (Jeremiah 6:21); the power of the defenders shall be feeble, and anguish shall overwhelm them (Jeremiah 6:24); the people will fear to go outside, for the sword of the enemy will be everywhere (Jeremiah 6:25); they shall clothe themselves in sackcloth and ashes, mourning as for an only son; destruction shall descend suddenly upon them (Jeremiah 6:26). AND OF This had been accomplished already by the specifics Jeremiah gave in the preceding chapter, which made it certain that God’s instrument in the fall of Jerusalem and the deportation of the people was to be Babylon; but some of the same clues are mentioned again. It will be a military destruction from the north with tents, military equipment, trumpets, etc. (Jeremiah 6:1; Jeremiah 6:4; Jeremiah 6:17, and Jeremiah 6:22); the result shall be accomplished by a siege, as indicated by the tents and the mound against the city, earmarks of an all-out war (Jeremiah 6:4); the great nation from the north will have skilled bowmen, cruel, merciless horsemen who shall bring death to thousands (Jeremiah 6:23); their approach to Jerusalem shall be like the roaring sea-surge of a mighty hurricane (Jeremiah 6:23); the merciless swords of the enemy, lurking everywhere, shall spare no one (Jeremiah 6:25); they will strike suddenly (Jeremiah 6:16), as already indicated in Jeremiah 5 by the comparison with the leopard, the swiftest of animals; they shall burn Israel as a refiner burns metal to remove the dross; only Israel is all dross (Ezekiel 22:18). WHY OF ISRAEL WAS God made it perfectly clear why it was required by the Divine justice that punishment and destruction were to be meted out to racial Israel. Jerusalem was producing nothing but wickedness, violence, and oppression (Jeremiah 6:7); they would not hear the Word of God (Jeremiah 6:10); they hated the word of God (Jeremiah 6:10); all of them were covetous and dealt falsely (Jeremiah 6:13); they loved their false prophets who cried, Peace, peace, when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:14); they refused to be ashamed of their sins (Jeremiah 6:15); they declared, “We will not listen to God” (Jeremiah 6:17); their thoughts were evil, and as for God’s Law, they rejected it (Jeremiah 6:19); their hypocritical and insincere offerings were not acceptable to God (Jeremiah 6:21); Israel had become a nation of grievous revolters, all of them habitual slanderers, and dealing falsely (Jeremiah 6:28); after God had repeatedly pleaded with and corrected his people, and after the exercise of near-infinite patience, and after it was perfectly clear that Israel had no intention of returning to God or in any sense mending their ways, God finally summarily rejected them and consigned their nation to destruction and captivity (Jeremiah 6:30). Jeremiah 6:1-2 We shall now examine the text of this chapter. “Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem. and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looketh forth from the north, and a great destruction. The comely and the delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off.““Ye children of Benjamin …” (Jeremiah 6:1). “The reason that Benjamin is mentioned here is that Jerusalem geographically belonged to the territory of Benjamin."[1]“Out of the midst of Jerusalem …” (Jeremiah 6:1). In Jeremiah 4:6, the people were warned to flee “to Jerusalem”; but here, they are warned to get out of Jerusalem. The capital of Judah is doomed to destruction. “The capital being doomed, and the destruction coming from the north, the only safety would have been toward the south."[2] Also, it may be supposed that some sought the safety of the rugged mountains toward the Dead Sea. “Tekoa… and Beth-haccherem …” (Jeremiah 6:1) These towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem were mentioned to indicate the near approach of the enemy, Tekoa being “only ten or twelve miles south of Jerusalem,"[3]and Beth-haccherem being only “four and a half miles west of Jerusalem."[4]Verse 3 “Shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed everyone in his place. Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.““Shepherds shall pitch their tents against Jerusalem… shall feed every one in his place …”(Jeremiah 6:3). The armies of Babylon are here compared to the large numbers of shepherds that once pastured the area around Jerusalem; but this verse, “Describes the soldiers, eager to feed upon the richness of the area."[5]“Prepare ye war against her …” (Jeremiah 6:4). “This expression derives from the ancient institution of Holy War."[6] In ancient times, one nation making war against another always undertook the venture by extensive preparations, making sacrifices to their gods, consulting so-called oracles, and making all of the preparations that in later years came to be associated with a formal declaration of war. Verse 5 “Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces. For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down her trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.““Hew ye down her trees …” (Jeremiah 6:6). This does not refer to fruit trees, which would be utilized for feeding a besieging army, but to all the other trees, which according to Clarke, would have been utilized “to build towers, for overlooking the city, and for the mounting of their machines."[7]The siege which is certainly prophesied here, “means that this description cannot fit the Scythians, who did not have engines for besieging cities; but it is appropriate in describing the Babylonians."[8]Verse 7 “As a well casteth forth its waters, so she casteth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction are found in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds. Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from thee; lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.“The meaning of Jer 6:7 is that, “just as a water well maintained its waters at a constant level, no matter how much was taken out of it; in the same way Jerusalem maintained its full level of producing wickedness, violence, and destruction, continually. “Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem …” (Jeremiah 6:8) “This seems to indicate that the tragedy might be averted if the people would repent."[9] Maybe the passage does indicate such a thing; but, even if it does, it was purely a theoretical premise suggested by the prophet. Not only did Israel not repent, they despised and rejected God’s law. Verse 9 “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, they shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn again thy hand as a grape-gatherer into the baskets. To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of Jehovah is become unto them a reproach, they have no delight in it. Therefore I am full of the wrath of Jehovah; I am weary with holding in: pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the assembly of the young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. And their houses shall be turned unto others, their fields, and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah. For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest everyone dealeth falsely.““Glean the remnant of Israel… turn again … as a grape-gatherer …” (Jeremiah 6:9). “God here authorized the enemy to search out even the remnant of Israel and take them captive … The enemy will not be satisfied with one invasion, but will repeat it."[10]Not even this gleaning of Israel, however, could nullify God’s promise of there remaining a “righteous remnant” who would return to Jerusalem from Babylon (Jeremiah 4:27; Jeremiah 5:10; Jeremiah 5:18). This is a terrible paragraph. The judgment of God will fall upon all segments of human life, from children playing in the streets to aged men, five different categories being cited. Notice also that houses, fields, wives, etc. in fact, everything shall be stripped away and become booty for the invaders. What a horrible destruction of the people! Verse 14 “They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith Jehovah.““They have healed the hurt of my people slightly …” (Jeremiah 6:14) This appears to be a reference to the reforms so vigorously pressed by king Josiah, but they were reforms that did not at all reach the hearts of the people. The false prophets were the ones who cried, “Peace, peace, when there was no peace.” “They were not at all ashamed …” (Jeremiah 6:15). The hardened sinners of Israel had lost all sense of shame and had no feelings either of regret or remorse for their transgressions. There remained absolutely nothing else for God to do except to visit the people with divine punishment. Verse 16 “Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk therein.“James Hastings made this verse the text of one of his sermons on “Great Texts of the Bible."[11] This is indeed a great text. SEEK YE THE OLD PATHSThe title is a little misleading. One of the oldest paths is that of rebellion and licentiousness; thus a better title would be “Ask for the good way!” I. There is a challenge for serious thought. “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask.” What a stupid folly it is for men to proceed through life without a thoughtful, careful examination of “the way” they have chosen. II. In this text, the ancient ways were the ways of faith, devotion, and honor of the One True God of Israel, as revealed and certified unto the people in the Pentateuch. In our own times the “good way” is the way of the Gospel of Christ. III. There is the call for action. It is not enough to know about the good way; let men “Walk in it!” IV. Those who walk in the good way, “Shall find rest unto your souls.” Jesus Christ surely identified himself with this good way in the glorying words of the Great Invitation (Matthew 11:28-30). V. Today, no less than in the times of Jeremiah, the people are vainly searching for “something new” in religion. “Give us anything except the way our father’s did it!” is the motto adopted by some. A church in our community recently appointed a committee with instructions to come up every week with a novel way of structuring the Lord’s Day services! Why not try jumping out the windows after church, some Sunday, instead of using the normal exits? “Idolatry and apostasy are the `modern way’; the worship of God is the old way."[12]It is a remarkable fact that Geoffrey Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales, has one that is called Chaucer’s Tale, the same being a sermon on this very text, a sermon which Adam Clarke called, “an excellent sermon."[13]Verse 17 “And I set watchmen over you saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet; but they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth; behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.““We will not hearken …” (Jeremiah 6:17). One needs to read this with the similar response in the preceding verse, where Israel rejected God’s invitation to walk in the good way, saying, “We will not walk therein.” The meaning is simply that the Chosen People had lost all desire to continue in the favor of God. “Hear, ye nations, Hear O earth …” (Jeremiah 6:18-19). This solemn invitation to the whole Gentile world, as well as the whole earth itself to hear what God will do is such an introduction that requires a special understanding of God’s promise here to “bring evil upon this people.” The Dean of Canterbury, quoting Cyprian, stated that: “A decree so solemnly proclaimed can be of no light importance; and therefore the Fathers (the Ante-Nicenes) not without reason understood it as referring to the rejection of the Jews from being God’s Church."[14] This is a profoundly true observation, provided only that it should be understood as a removal only of the racial angle of God’s favor to Israel. After the captivity of the Jews, the racial Israel never again enjoyed the status of being the wife of God. All of the promises to Abraham would afterward be fulfilled in the New Israel, which is Christ; but no Jew was ever rejected because of his race; but at the same time, he would never again be automatically a member of the true Israel on account of his race. Verse 20 “For what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me. Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.““Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable …” (Jeremiah 6:20). “This does not mean that Jehovah was against sacrifices per se; he was only against unethical sacrifices."[15] When habitual sinners, insincere, hypocritical, and rebellious against God brought sacrifices to God, they were not merely unacceptable but were an abomination to the Holy God. There was nothing capricious or vindictive on God’s part who is represented here as placing “stumbling blocks” in the way of Israel. “The stumbling blocks confronting the people were of their own making,"[16]when they had deliberately refused to walk in the good way (v. 17). Yes God had placed the stumblingblocks in the way of evil which Judah elected to take with such disastrous consequences. It is, as if God had said, “Take your choice; choose your way, either (1) the ancient paths, the good way, or (2) the way with the stumbling-blocks."[17]Verse 22 “Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, a people cometh from the north country; and a great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. They lay hold on the bow and the spear, they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Zion. We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us; and pangs, as of a woman in travail.““Everyone set in array, as a man for the battle …” (Jeremiah 6:23). This reference to an army marching in closed ranks “could not apply to the barbaric Scythians."[18]The Babylonians indeed were a merciless and cruel invader, but perhaps not so terrible as the Assyrians; and some have found an element of mercy in God’s deliverance of Judah to Babylon instead of Assyria; but either nation was more than terrible enough. Feinberg noted that the use of cavalry in a military charge, as contrasted with the use of horses in drawing the chariots such as those used in Egypt, was apparently a new thing here.[19]Verse 25 “Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way: for the sword of the enemy and terror, are on every side. O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.““O daughter of my people …” (Jeremiah 6:26). The pathos in the heart of the prophet with such a tragic message shows in this pathetic remark; the very words seem to drip with tears. Note in the final clause the pronoun “us.” Jeremiah surely identified himself with the miseries coming upon the beloved city. “Wallow thyself in ashes …” (Jeremiah 6:26). “It was the custom of Jewish mourners to cast ashes only upon their heads; wallowing in them therefore refers to something far more than ordinary grief."[20] Actually, there was no adequate manner for symbolizing the horrible grief that overcame the people of God in their capture and captivity. Verse 27 “I have made thee a trier and a fortress among my people; that thou mayest know and try their way. They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.““Going about with slanders …” (Jeremiah 6:28) “This means going about with the intention of spreading slanders."[21]Verse 29 “The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire; in vain do they go on refining; for the wicked are not plucked away. Refuse silver shall men call them, because Jehovah hath rejected them.“Scholars admit the difficulty of these verses, suggesting that the text might have been damaged; but the general meaning is clear enough. The figure is that of a refiner of silver; and the admonition here is that, “The silver (a metaphor for Judah) is so full of alloy as to be utterly worthless."[22]

Jeremiah 6:1

Jeremiah 6:1. The kingdom of Judah was composed of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The latter was one of the least and had its possession adjoining the former on the north. It is not commonly mentioned separately by the writers but does receive special notice in this verse. Gather yourselves to flee is a form of prediction that the people of that part of the kingdom were going to be taken away from their homes and from Jerusalem their capital city. Blow the trumpet is an allusion to the ancient practice of notifying the public that some move of importance was about to be made.

Set up sign of fire was another practice for the same purpose (Judges 20:38). The towns named were in the territory of Judali, but being near Jerusalem they were significantly mentioned in connection with the exile from the capital. Out of the north 1b explained by the historical quotation at Isaiah 14:31, Vol. 3 of this Commentary.

Jeremiah 6:2

Jeremiah 6:2. Daughter of Zion is a figurative reference to Jerusalem and the expression occurs some 18 times in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. In the present passage the city is further compared to one who is beautiful and likely to attract strangers.

Jeremiah 6:3

Jeremiah 6:3. The comparison is continued in order to account for the literal prediction that is to be made soon. This daughter is so attractive that the shepherds will bring their flocks to be near her so they can attend to their duties at the same time they are paying attention to her.

Jeremiah 6:4

Jeremiah 6:4. The language is becoming more literal in that it predicts war against her (Jerusalem). Prepare ye is the divine order for the shepherds (the Babylonians) to come against the city. The figurative terms of the verse are noon and evening. The shepherds are represented as bewailing the shortness of time they have left. The meaning is that the siege by the Babylonians is near at hand.

Jeremiah 6:5

Jeremiah 6:5. The “day of grace” was gone and the “ night” had come when the invasion and siege would begin. The figure was literally true for when Jeremiah began to write there were only about 20 years until the first attack from the Babylonians was to take place, and much of that time was past when this passage was written.

Jeremiah 6:6

Jeremiah 6:6. An inspired prediction is often made in the form of a command for the Ihing to be done. In fact, the Lord did decree that the Babylonian army should come against bis beloved city although it did not realize that it was carrying out such an edict. A mount is a military position prepared for conducting a siege. Such a position needed to be supported by a rampart and that called for the trees, hence the prediction hew ye down trees. She is wholly oppression refers to the injustices that Jerusalem (through her leaders) bad committed against the people, and for which the siege and captivity was to be a punishment.

Jeremiah 6:7

Jeremiah 6:7. The Lord tells us the meaning with which he uses the word fountain by the other word continually in the same connection. It is bad enough for one to do wrong once or just, occasionally, yet It might be through forgetfulness and the common weaknesses of the flesh. No such explanation can be offered for one who does wrong continually tor he is bound to be doing so deliberately and by his own choice. Thus the very appropriate illustration of a fountain is used in reference to the conduct of Jerusalem. A Jet would discharge the water occasionally while a fountain is continually flowing. The grief and wounds means the injustices imposed on the common people by the leaders who took advantage of their authority or position as teachers.

Jeremiah 6:8

Jeremiah 6:8. Let my soul depart and lest I make thee desolate would ordinarily mean for Jerusalem to he instructed in order to prevent those misfortunes. We know it cannot have such a bearing here on the nation as a whole, for the teaching all along la that nothing can be done to avoid the captivity. So if the phrases are applied to the whole nation the meaning is to be prepared in mind for the instruction that the captivity will give. If the application is made to Individuals the explanation may be seen in the long note offered in comments on 2 Kings 22:17, Vol. 2 of this Commentary.

Jeremiah 6:9

Jeremiah 6:9. The vine industry is again used as an illustration. After a man has gathered the main crop of grapes he will go back over the vines to see if he has overlooked a cluster here and there and he will probably And one. But in the case of the nation of Judah it has become so corrupt that a gleaner will not be able to find a man (among the leaders) who Is true to the Lord,

Jeremiah 6:10

Jeremiah 6:10. To whom shall I speak is a continuation of the thought in the preceding verse. The leaders have gone so far away in their iniquity that they would not listen If the Lord would speak a warning word to them. Ear is uncircumcised means they are unconsecrated to the Lord. Logically such an ear cannot hearken to the words of God The further reason for their attitude is given in the words have no delight in it. It a man finds no delight in a thing he certainly will not consecrate or devote himself to It. That is why David pronounces the blessing on the man whose ‘‘ delight’ 1 is in the law of the Lord (Psalms 1:2).

Jeremiah 6:11

Jeremiah 6:11. Every word in the Bible is the word of the Lord and as such it may he in the form of the first person grammatically in some passages. In others the writer will assume the first person in his speech and that will place the Lord in the third person. In this verse the prophet expresses his personal interest in the situation. Weary with holding in indicates the intensity of feeling the writer has and serves as a warning against the corrupt people regarding the fate soon to come Upon them; when it does there will be no sparing of any classes of society.

Jeremiah 6:12

Jeremiah 6:12. This has direct reference to the Babylonian invasion into and capture of Judah whose fulfillment Is recorded in 2 Kings 24:14-16.

Jeremiah 6:13

Jeremiah 6:13. The main reason why the Lord caused the captivity is stated in this verse. The same statement was made and commented upon in ch. 5: 31.

Jeremiah 6:14

Jeremiah 6:14. The pronoun they refers to the prophet and priest in the preceding verse. Sealed the hurt slightly is a figure of speech drawn from the act of relieving a wound or disease. A mother may soothe a child’s hurting by some reassuring wordB that the place ‘‘ is not very bad and will soon be all right,” even though the case may be serious and soon is destined to overcome the child. Thus the false prophets and other leaders calmed the corrupt people Into believing that nothing much was wrong and that the present appearances of danger would soon ba gone. The greatest harm from such teaching was from its evil effects upon the people. While they believed It they would not be Inclined to repent of their sinful practices nor listen to God.

Jeremiah 6:15

Jeremiah 6:15. They still has special reference to (be prophets and priests who were encouraging the people in their idolatrous practices. Were not ashamed means they were stubborn and bold in their false teaching and did not seem to regret tile evil influence they were having on the common people. Fan among them that fall denotes that no special favors will be shown to them when the siege and capture takes place. Their position as prophet and priest will be ignored and they will have to go along with them that fall which means the citizens In general.

Jeremiah 6:16

Jeremiah 6:16. Old paths being plural refers to the two items that are mentioned separately in tsa. 35: 8. The comments and definitions ot the original words are given at that place which is In the third volume ot this Commentary. When these unfaithful men were exhorted to follow In the pathway of righteousness they not only refused to do so. but defiantly declared that they would not.

Jeremiah 6:17

Jeremiah 6:17. Many ancient cities were walled for protection and on the walls were towers. These were called watchtowers in which were stationed men whose duty was to be on the lookout for any enemy that might be approaching. Being in that position they would be able to see farther from the city than the citizens on the streets and they were to sound an alarm when any danger appeared. The watchmen referred to In this verse were the faithful and inspired prophets who were able to see into the future and behold an enemy when the people were not able to see him. But they not only refused to heed the warning given by these teatehmen but boldly declared they would not.

Jeremiah 6:18

Jeremiah 6:18, The English word nations generally conveys the idea of organized governments as units of society, and yet at the time Jeremiah was writing God had only one nation in Palestine. But the warning announcement to he made was Intended as Information for the nations of the world.

Jeremiah 6:19

Jeremiah 6:19. Hear, 0 earth is similar to hear, ye nations in the preceding verse and is to have the same comments. Fruit of their thoughts reminds us of Paul’ s statement, that “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:6). These people of God had turned their thoughts to idols and were following idolatrous practices. They were thus to reap the fruit of such a sowing which was to be the captivity in a strange land. The prediction was made by the inspired prophet and recorded, giving an opportunity for all nations of the earth finally to know about it.

Jeremiah 6:20

Jeremiah 6:20, At the same time that the people of Judah were devoting themselves to the service of idols they were professing belief In the true God and were offering Incense and animal sacrifices to Him. But it has always been true that “No man can serve two masters.” After they became so corrupt in their general way of life, the ritualistic acts they performed that even were a part of the divine law became objectionable to God. (See the long note on this subject with the comments at Isaiah 1:10 in Vol. 3 of this Commentary.)

Jeremiah 6:21

Jeremiah 6:21. The central meaning of a stumblingblock is something that will cause one to fall; it does not always mean to fall in sin. If a man were headed toward a precipice a thousand feet deep and only a few yards ahead it would be a favor to stop him by any means possible. If he would not hearken to the warning shouts of a friend, then it would be a favor to trip him and cast him down. It would be better to cause him to suffer a comparatively short fall of his body’ s length than to go on and plunge down the chasm that would completely crush him, So it would be better for Judah to fall nationally into Babylon than to be allowed to remain in the home land and fall into total spiritual ruin toward which the national corruption of idolatry was heading the people at the time the prophet was writing.

Jeremiah 6:22

Jeremiah 6:22. We know this is the meaning the prophet puts into his use of stumblingblocks, for this verse which follows immediately begins with the word thus which Is a word of comparison. He then makes a literal prediction of what that obstacle was to be; it was the invasion of some people from the north. (See the explanation of thaf last word in a note at Isaiah 14:31 in Vol. 3 of this Commentary.)

Jeremiah 6:23

Jeremiah 6:23. This entire verse is a prediction of the Babylonian siege, with a description of the kind of people who compose that array. Lay hold on bow and spear refers to some of the weapons that will be used against the men of Jerusalem and Judah. The bow was used to shoot arrows and the spear was a larger dart that was cast by hand. The Baby Ion tans are described as being cruel and merciless and secular history bears out the description.

Jeremiah 6:24

Jeremiah 6:24. IVe have heard was true both prophetically and historically. The fame of the Babylonians was so great that all had heard of it, and the prophet could hear it with his Inspired ears. Hands wax feeble refers to the state of fear and disappointment that the people of Jerusalem will feel at sight of the Babylonian army.

Jeremiah 6:25

Jeremiah 6:25. The people of Jerusalem were advised not to try fleeing from the king of Babylon, for It would be in vain. It was the will of God for him to take over the sinful city and to undertake escaping from him would be like fleeing from God. The last king in Jerusalem with his army ignored this advice and fled out of tile city, but he was taken and bis army was dispersed (2 Kings 25:4-5).

Jeremiah 6:26

Jeremiah 6:26. Daughter of my people Is a phrase of close relationship that is found frequently in the prophetic writings to designate the nation of the Jews. Sackcloth and ashes were used in ancient times in conditions of great anxiety or grief or humiliation. This passage is a prediction of the sorrow that was about to come on Jerusalem and her people because of the iniquities practiced by them through the years. The spoiler refers to the Babylonians with their army that would soon come against God’s people and take their possessions away.

Jeremiah 6:27

Jeremiah 6:27. We here have the pronoun thee and the antecedent ia Jeremiah, for the things said of this person were true of the prophet only. The word tower is from BACHOWN and Strong’s definition is, “ An assayer Tiester] of metals.’ ’ Fortress is from an original that means “defender,” and Jeremiah was to test his people as to their faithfulness and defend them as the circumstances might Buggest and justify.

Jeremiah 6:28

Jeremiah 6:28. The Lord gave Jeremiah “advance information” on what the test would prove; that the people were grievous revoltera. Walking with slanders means they were associating with falsifiers and talebearers. Brass and iron are inferior metals (if compared with silver and gold) and are mentioned to illustrate the interior quality of character that the people of Judah displayed. Corrupters is from shachath and Strong defines it, “A primitive root; to decay, i.e. (eausatively) ruin (literally or figuratively).” The leaders in Judah not only practiced sin personally but influenced others to do the same. That, is the thought, in Jeremiah 5:31 which declares that “ the people love to have it so.”

Jeremiah 6:29

Jeremiah 6:29. An illustration is drawn from the work of a smelter or refiner of metal. In that process a hot flame is produced by a bellows or other means and the heat is supposed to melt the mass taken from the mine. The better part of it will run out and leave the dross or coarse part so that the two can be separated. The Lord represents his people as being so completely evil that when the mass is melted there is still no separation between the ingredients for they are all as dross. Bellows are burned, means that a fire is made to glow with intense heat, yet nothing is accomplished because of the condition of corruption in the materials.

Jeremiah 6:30

Jeremiah 6:30. This verse continues the Illustration of the refiner except that a change is made in the kind of ore to he refined. The result, however, is the same as it was with the lead ore. After the heat has done its work the metal will prove to be reprohate which means worthless. If a refiner should have such an experience with a quantity of silver ore he would just abandon the whole mass. A spectator would conclude that (he smelter was dissatisfied with the whole mass since he had gone away and left it. That explains the verse of this paragraph as it shows the men saying the silver is worthless and rejected by the Lord.