Explanatory Notes upon the Old and New Testaments

The severe judgment of God against voluptuous, covetous, tyrannical and idolatrous Babel, in the revenge, and for the redemption of Israel, ver. 1-58. Jeremiah delivers the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates, in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon, ver. 59-64.

5. Forsaken - Not utterly forsaken.

6. Soul - By soul is meant life, and by iniquity the punishment of the Babylonian's iniquity.

7. Drunken - She had made all the nations about her drunken with the Lord's fury. Mad - Through the misery they felt from her.

9. We - The prophet seems to personate the mercenary soldiers, saying, they would have helped Babylon, but there was no healing for her.

10. Some - These words are spoken in the person of the Jews, owning the destruction of Babylon to be the mighty work of God, and an act of justice, revenging the wrongs of his people.

12. Set up - These seem to be the prophet's words to the Babylonians, rousing them out of their security. Historians tell us that the city was fortified by walls of fifty cubits high, and two hundred cubits broad, and by a very deep and large ditch.

13. Waters - Babylon is said to dwell upon many waters, because the great river Euphrates, did not only run by it, but almost encompass it branching itself into many smaller rivers, which made several parts of the city, islands.

23. Break in pieces - The sense of all these three verses is the same; that God had made use, and was still making use of the Babylonians to destroy many nations, to spoil much people, wasting their goods, routing their armies, killing all sorts of their inhabitants.

25. Mountain - Babylon was very high for its power, and greatness, and had very high walls and towers, that it looked at a distance like an high rocky mountain. They had destroyed many people. Burnt - Thy cities and towers which appear like a mountain shall be burnt.

27. As caterpillars - The Median horses are compared to their insects, either with respect to their numbers, or in regard of the terror caused by them when they came, being a great plague to the places which they infected.

29. The land - Babylon, or the land of Chaldea.

31. At one end - Cyrus entered the city at one end, by the channel of the river, which he had drained, and surprized Belshazzar in the midst of his feast.

32. The passages - The passages over the river Euphrates, and all the other passages by which the Babylonians might make their escape, were guarded with soldiers. Reeds - On the border of the river Euphrates were vast quantities of great and tall reeds, which with the mud in which they stood, were as another wall to the city; but the Medes had burnt them so as the way was open.

33. Threshing floor - Babylon had been a threshing instrument, by which, and a threshing-floor in which God had threshed many other nations; God now intended to make it as a threshing-floor wherein he would thresh the Chaldeans. Tread her - So they used to prepare their threshing-floors against the time of harvest. The time - The harvest which the justice of God would have from the ruin of the Chaldeans.

34. Me - The prophet speaks this in the name of the Jews. Cast me out - As beasts of prey eat what they please of other beasts they have preyed upon, and leave the rest in the field.

36. Dry up - Alluding to what Cyrus did.

38. They - The Babylonians, upon the taking of their city.

39. Heat - When they shall grow hot with wine, I will make them a feast of another nature. Interpreters judge that Belshazzar, Dan. v, 1, made a feast to a thousand of his Lords, when he and his wives, and concubines, drank wine in the vessels belonging to the temple, during which feast the city was taken. And not awake - While they were merry with their wine, they fell into a sleep which they never awoke out of.

41. Sheshach - A name given to the city of Babylon.

42. The sea - A multitude of enemies.

44. Bel - Bel was the principal Babylonian idol. Bring forth - All the vessels of the temple, 2 Chron. xxxvi, 7, and whatever gifts the Babylonians had presented to him. The wall - And the city of Babylon shall be also ruined.

45. Go out of her - At all hazards escape for your lives.

48. Then - All the creatures in heaven and earth shall rejoice at the vengeance which God shall take upon Babylon.

49. Of all the earth - This term must be understood in a restrained sense; the Chaldeans coming up from all parts of Chaldea to help Babylon, were slain there, as by the means of Babylon the Israelites were slain that came from all parts of Judea to help Jerusalem.

50. Ye - Ye Jews, leave Babylon as soon as liberty is proclaimed. Remember - And remember in Judea the great things both of justice and mercy which God hath done.

51. We - We Jews are ashamed to hear the enemies reproaching us, for our God, or for our religion. Strangers - Pagans that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, are come, not to worship, but to plunder, the sanctuaries of the Lord; even into the courts of the priests and of the Israelites; yea, into the most holy place.

52. Wherefore - For this profanation of my holy place, I will be revenged not only upon their idols, but upon the worshippers of them, and cause a groaning of wounded men over all the country of the Chaldeans.

55. The great voice - The noises caused from multitudes of people walking up and trafficking together. A noise - The noise of her enemies that shall break in upon her shall be like the roaring of the sea.

56. Because - Little more is said here than was before, only the words hint the taking of Babylon by a surprize when the king, and the inhabitants were not aware of it, which we had before also told us, ver. 39, 40. Requite - The wrongs done to his people.

57. Drunk - A plain allusion to the posture the king of Babylon, and the thousand of his lords were in, when their city was taken while they were drinking wine in the bowls that were brought from the temple at Jerusalem.

58. Weary - Though the people should labour to quench this fire, or to rebuild this city, yet it would be all lost labour.

59. In the fourth year - This circumstance lets us know that this prophecy was many years before Babylon was destroyed; for it was seven years before Jerusalem was taken; so as it must be above sixty years before it was fulfilled in the first degree.

61. Shalt read - Probably to the Jews, that were in Babylon.

62. Shalt say - Thou shalt testify that thou believest what thou hast read.

64. Weary - With that weight of judgment which shall be upon them. The words - The prophetical words of Jeremiah; for the matter of the next chapter is historical, and the book of Lam. is not prophetical.

A repetition of the reign of Zedekiah: of the siege, taking, and destruction of Jerusalem, with the causes thereof, and what farther happened there, ver. 1-30. Evil-merodach advances Jehoiakim, ver. 31-34.

2. Zedekiah - It is generally thought that this chapter was not penned by Jeremiah, who, it is not probable, would have so largely repeated what he had related before; and could not historically relate what happened after his time, as some things did which are mentioned towards the end of the chapter. Probably it was penned by some of those in Babylon, and put in here as a preface to the book of Lamentations.

24. Three - It is probable there were more keepers of the door, but the captain of the guard took only three of the chief.

30. All the persons were four thousand and six hundred - How amazingly were the Jews diminished, that this handful was all who were carried captive!

34. All the days of his life - Here ends the history of the kingdom of Judah. I shall only observe the severe judgment of God upon this people, whose kingdom was made up of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and half the tribe of Manasseh. In the numbering of the persons belonging to these two tribes, Num. i, 27, 35, 37, (counting half of the number of the tribe of Manasseh) we find one hundred twenty-six thousand one hundred: Num. xxvi, 22, 34, 41, we find of them one hundred forty-eight thousand four hundred and fifty. Here, ver. lii, 30, we find no more of them carried into captivity, than four thousand and six hundred. From whence we may judge what a multitude of them were slain by the sword, by the famine, and pestilence! It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, to mock his messengers, despise his words, and misuse his prophets, 'till there be no remedy, 2 Chron. xxxvi, 16.

Jeremiah laments the former excellency and present misery of Jerusalem for her sin, ver. 1-11. She complains of her grief, ver. 12-17. Confesses God's judgments to be righteous: and prays to him, ver. 18-22.

1. A widow - She that had a king, or rather a God, that was an husband to her, now was forsaken of God, and her king taken from her.

3. Because - Because of the servitude and oppression exercised among them: oppression by their rulers, and servitude more generally; keeping their servants beyond the year of jubilee, when they ought to be set at liberty. The straits - Those that pursued them overtook them in places where they could not escape.

4. She - Persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness.

10. Pleasant things - Has laid violent hands on them. The things of the sanctuary were always pleasant things to those that feared God.

11. Bread - Even in a land that ordinarily flowed with milk and honey, they were at a loss for bread to eat. Given - And gave any thing for something to satisfy their hunger. Vile - Miserable or contemptible.

12. Is it nothing - The prophet speaks in the name of the Jewish church.

13. Fire - A judgment as consuming, and afflictive as fire.

14. Is bound - Put upon my neck on account of my transgressions. Wreathed - My punishments are twisted as cords; I have a complication of judgments upon me, sword, famine, pestilence, captivity.

15. An assembly - God had called an assembly of Chaldeans against the city, to crush the inhabitants of it. Trodden - God had trodden upon the Jews as men use to stamp grapes in a wine- press.

16. The comforter - God.

17. Jerusalem - Is become loathsome and filthy.

19. Deceived - They did not answer my expectation.

20. Death - By famine and pestilence.

21. They - The neighbouring nations. Like me - But thou hast foretold their destruction also, and hast by me proclaimed it: and thou shalt in that day bring them into as sad a condition as I am in now.

Jeremiah laments the misery of Jerusalem, and its causes, and their enemies derision, ver. 1-17. An exhortation to true sorrow and repentance, and a fervent prayer, ver. 18-22.

1. His footstool - His temple; but suffered the Chaldeans to destroy it. Cast down - That is, thrown them down from the highest glory and honour, to the meanest degree of servitude.

2. Polluted - Dealt with them as with a polluted thing; cast them off, brake them in pieces.

3. The horn - All their beauty and strength. Drawn back - God hath drawn back his assistance which he was wont to give the Jews against their enemies. Round about - God consumed them, not in this or that part, but round about, as a fire seizing an house at once on all sides.

4. He - That is, God, (whom by their sins they had provoked and made their enemy) behaved himself as an enemy. And slew - All their young men, and maidens who were pleasant to look upon.

6. His tabernacle - His temple. The places - The synagogues. The king - By the king and the priests are meant persons of greatest rank and eminency, though it is thought here is a special reference to Zedekiah the king of Judah, and Seraiah who was the high priest; the former of which was miserably handled, the latter slain.

7. They - The enemies with their triumphs and blasphemies, made as great a noise, as those that sang holy songs, or played on instruments, were wont to make to the glory of God.

8. The wall - The strength and security of the Jews. A line - Artificers used with lines not only to mark out places for building, but also for destruction, to direct them what to cut off; and such a line is here meant.

9. Among the Gentiles - In miserable captivity. The law - Is no more read, opened or observed. Her prophets - They had but very few prophets, from this time to the time of the gospel, and very few of those at this time alive had any Revelation from God.

10. The virgins - The whole city is in a mournful posture.

11. Mine eyes - This whole verse is but expressive of the prophets great affliction for the miseries come upon the Jews. He wept himself almost blind. Bowels - His passion had disturbed his bodily humours, that his bowels were troubled. Liver - His gall lying under his liver. All these are expressions of great affliction and sorrow. Swoon - During the famine, occasioned by the long siege.

12. Bosom - When they died in their mother's arms.

13. Who - There was no people whose condition was in any degree parallel to the misery of the Jews: nor was there any cure for them, their breach was like a sea breach where the waters come in with such a torrent, that there is no making any defense against them.

14. The prophets - False prophets told you vain stories. Not discovered - Whereas they ought to have made you sensible of your sins, and this might have prevented your captivity. False burdens - False stories to encourage you in sin, and so cause your banishment.

18. O wall - That is, those that are upon it.

20. Whom - Not the Heathen, but to thy own people. Women - Wilt thou suffer women to satisfy their hunger with the fruit of their own bodies?

22. My terrors - As my people were wont to be called together from all parts in a solemn day, so now my terrible enemies, or terrible things are by thee called together.

The faithful bewail their misery, ver. 1-21. They nourish their hope by considering the justice, providence, and mercies of God, ver. 22-36. They stir up themselves to repentance, patience, prayers and confidence of deliverance for themselves, and divine vengeance on their enemies, ver. 37-66.

1. I am the man - It seems, this is spoken in the name of the people, who were before set out under the notion of a woman.

4. Made old - All my beauty is gone, and all my strength.

5. Builded - He hath built forts and batteries against my walls and houses.

9. Enclosed - He has defeated all my methods and counsels for security, by insuperable difficulties like walls of hewn stone. Crooked - Nay, God not only defeated their counsels, but made them fatal and pernicious to them.

15. Wormwood - With severe and bitter dispensations.

16. Ashes - Mourners were wont to throw ashes on their heads.

19. Wormwood - Wormwood and gall, are often made use of to signify great affliction.

21. This - Which follows, concerning the nature of God, and his good providences.

23. Faithfulness - In fulfilling thy promises to thy people.

27. Bear - Quietly and patiently to bear what afflictions God will please to lay upon us. And if God tame us when young, by his word or by his rod, it is an unspeakable advantage.

28. Born it - That he keep his soul in subjection to God, because God hath humbled him by his rod.

29. In the dust - Both this and the former verses let us know the duty of persons under afflictions.

33. Willingly - Not from his own mere motion without a cause given him from the persons afflicted. Hence judgment is called God's strange work.

36. To subvert - Here are three things mentioned, which God approveth not.

37. Who - Nothing comes to pass in the world, but by the disposal of divine providence. This seems to be spoken in the name of the people of God, arguing themselves into a quiet submission, to their afflictions, from the consideration of the hand of God in them.

38. Evil - Doth not evil or trouble come out of God's mouth from his direction, and providence, as well as good?

39. Wherefore - The Jews, check themselves in their complaints from the consideration, that nothing had befallen them, but what was the just reward of their sins.

42. Thou - Thou hast plagued us according to the just desert of our sins.

49. Mine eye - The prophet speaks this of himself.

53. Dungeon - Dungeon seems here to be taken for the lowest condition of misery.

54. Cut off - I am undone, there is no hope for me.

56. Heard - In former afflictions. Hide not - Shew me now the same favour.

58. O Lord - Thou hast been wont to take my part against my enemies.

60. Seen - Thou hast been a witness to all their fury.

63. I am - At feasts, and at their merry meetings, I am all the subject of their discourse.

66. Persecute - Many passages of this nature which we meet with are prophecies, some of them may be both prophecies and prayers.

Zion bewaileth her misery: confesseth her sins, ver. 1-6. Miseries of the chief ones: women who killed and dressed their own children, ver. 7-12. The sin of the false prophets and priests, their vain hope, ver. 13-19. Their king taken prisoner, ver. 20. Edom is threatened, and Zion comforted, ver. 21, 22.

1. The top - Are scattered in the head of every street.

2. Earthen pitchers - The nobles, the priests, and the good men, are looked upon no better than earthen vessels, the workmanship of an ordinary potter.

3. Cruel - The Jewish women are become cruel to their children, or forced to appear so, having through the famine no milk to give them, nor any thing to relieve them. Ostriches - Like ostriches that lay their eggs, and leave them in the sand.

6. Of Sodom - Their punishment was greater, because more lingering, and gradual, whereas Sodom was overthrown in a moment, and that by no human hands that abode upon her, causing her a continued torment.

7. Nazarites - Her Nazarites in this place signify her separated ones, who either in respect of birth, education, estate, or place of magistracy, were distinguished from the rest of the people.

8. Not known - So that those who before knew them, do not know them now.

13. Priests - The ecclesiastical men were a great cause of the first and last destruction of Jerusalem. And so they are of most other places that come to ruin, through their neglect of their duty, or encouraging others in their wicked courses.

14. They - The prophets and priests wandered up and down the streets polluting themselves with blood, either the blood of the children which they slew, or the just men, mentioned ver. 13, the slaughter of whom they either encouraged, or at least did not discourage; so that one could not touch a prophet or priest, but he must be legally polluted, and there were so many of them, that men could not walk in the streets, but he must touch some of them.

15. Touch not - The Jews that made conscience of keeping the law against touching dead bodies, cried to the other Jews to leave the city as themselves did, the city being now so full of dead bodies that they could not stay in it without polluting themselves.

16. The anger - These words seem to be the language of their enemies triumphing over them. They - Their enemies had no regard to the most venerable persons among them.

17. A nation - The Egyptians.

18. They - The Chaldeans.

20. The anointed - Zedekiah, who though a bad man yet afforded some protection to the Jews. We said - We promised ourselves that though the land of Judah was encompassed with Pagan nations, yet through Zedekiah's valour and good conduct we should live comfortably.

21. Rejoice - The prophet speaks ironically, Rejoice; but thy joy shall be but for a little time. Drunken - Thou shalt be intoxicated with it, and make thyself naked as drunken men sometimes do.

22. Captivity - Not for thy past sins. Thy sins - By the punishment of them.

An humble prayer, presenting to the Lord their great misery, ver. 1-15. Confessing their sins, ver. 16-18. Imploring deliverance, ver. 19-22.

3. We - We are all of us without a king, (our common father) we are deprived of thy fatherly protection, and many young children among us are left without an earthly parent.

4. Sold - Whereas at other times there was abundance of wood and water throughout Judea.

6. We - The ten tribes were all carried captives into Assyria, and many of the kingdom of Judah fled into Egypt. Giving the hand may signify labouring for them: or, yielding up themselves to their power.

7. Their iniquities - The punishment of them.

9. The sword - The enemies lay encamped in all the plains, so that they could stir out no way but the sword of the Chaldeans was upon them.

13. Fell - Not being able to stand under the burdens laid upon them.

16. The crown - All our honour, splendour and dignity.

19. Thy throne - Altho' for our sins thou sufferest our throne to be cast down, yet thou art the same, thy power is not diminished, nor thy goodness abated.

21. Renew - Restore us to our former estate.