CHAPTER XXVI.
Jeremiah delivers an awful message from God at the temple, and is persecuted by the priests and prophets, \—9. He pleads his cause before the princes, erhorts them to repent, and warne them not to shed innocent blood, 10—15. The princes acquit him, referring to the example of Micah, 16—19. Urijah, having prophesied in like manner, was persecuted; and having fled into Egypt, was fetchid thence by Jehoiakim and slain, 20—23. But Ahikam protects Jeréiniah, 24,
N *the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the
son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lorn, saying, ‘2.Thus saith the Lorn; stand in the court of the Lorn’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Jadah, which come to worship in the Lorn’s house, ‘all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; “diminish not a word :
3 If *so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, fthat I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. :
4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith
a 1:3, 25:1. 27.1. 35:1, 36:1. 2 Kings 23:34—36. 2 Chr. 35:4,5. 67:2. 19:14. 86:10. 2 Chr. 24;:20,21. Luke 19:47,48. 20:1. 21:37,38. John 8:2. 18:20. Acts 5: 20,21,25,42. 1:17, 42:4. Is. 59:1,2. Ez. 3:10,17—21. Matt, 28:20. Acts 20:20, Q7. diveut. 4:2, 12:32. Rev. 22:19. e18:7—10. 36:3, Is, 1:16—19. Kz. 18:
27—30. Jon, 3:8—10. 4:2. £13. See on 18:7—10. g Lev. 26:14. &c. Deut, 37:15, &c. 29:18—23, 31:16—18,20, 32:15—25, Josh, 23:15,16. 1 Kings 9:6,7. 2 Chr. 7: 19,20. Neh. 9:28—30. Is. 1:2 5. h 44:10. Deut. 4:8,44. 11:32. Heb. 6:18.
1). 42:2: 17:25, 2 Kings 9:7. 17:13,23. 24:2. Ezra 9:11. Ez. 38:17. Dan. 9:6—10. Am. 3:7.
made of a crystal or gem; which being let fall is shattered to pieces.’ Blayney. The rulers of the Jews seem principally meant. (Marg. Ref.)
V. 37. Peaceable habitations.] ‘In the Hebrew it is Neoth Shalem, alluding to Salem, the same with Jerusalem.’ Lowth. (Note, Heb. 7:1—3.)
V. 38. Some expositors understand this of Nebuchadrez-zar, who had left the covert of Babylon, to destroy the nations, especially Judah. (Notes, 4:5—7. 49:19,20. 50:44, 45.)—Others explain it of the Lord, who had left Jerusalem and his temple defenceless, to their enraged invaders and oppressors; whereas had he continued to protect them, no enemy would have dared to approach, any more than other beasts would enter the den of a fierce lion, whilst he remained init. (Marg. Ref. Note, Is. 31:4,5.)
‘ PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. .
V.1—14. The command to repent and turn from every evil way to the worship and service of God, and the invitations to sinners to come and trust in Christ, and partake of his salvation, concern all men and ought to be fully and plainly pro-osed to all. (ole, Acts 17:30,31. P. O.30—34 Note, 1
im. 1:15,16.) It is agreed by the servants of God in every age and under every dispensation, that he will do no hurt to those, however wicked they have been, who truly obey this command, and accede to this invitation ; that no good can come to those who provoke him by impenitent wickedness; and that no profession, or creed, or forms, can profit those, who “do not turn from the evil of their doings.”—The Lord keeps an exact register of our sins and the aggravations of them, and of our abused mercies and means of grace ; and thus the continued neglect shown to the warnings of his faithful ministers exceedingly hastens the execution of his judgments.—The earnestness with which the zealous servants of God labour, and the fervency with which they pray, for the salvation of souls, afford a striking contrast to the supineness and negligence of most men about their own salvation!—Our God is sincere in all nis invitations, and faithful to all his promises ; he * rejoiceth in mercy,” and “‘delighteth not in the death of the wicked.”— How soon will they, who refuse to seek happiness in his fa-vour, be deprived of every source of transient joy!
All miseries on earth, however, are temporal, and have an appointed period ; but “ the wrath to come” is perpetual, yea, eternal.—The Lord employs wicked men as his servants, and when they have executed his vengeance on others, to gratify their own hateful passions, he punishes them for their wickedness. And every threatening of Scripture will be as certainly accomplished, as those have been, which relate to Jerusalem and Babylon.
V. 15—38. How grand and awful a view have we here given us of divine Providence! How affecting a‘representation of the state of fallen man!
The judgments of God have ever heen going round from one nation to another, and have never been suffered to rest; because of the wickedness of mankind. —When we consider the fury and rage, with which the several nations of the earth have, in every age, rushed upon mutual carnage and destruction; we must allow that their conduct has resembled that of men, who are intoxicated and mad: but we ueed not wonder at these effects, when we reflect that they have been drinking of the cup of God’s indignation, and have been given up to their own mad passions to execute his vengeance on each other.
This emblem also may instruct us, what an odious and pernicious vice drunkenness is; and how dreadful the wrath of God must be to those who: fall under it to mse no more. It is vain to struggle against the sentence which he has denounced, or to object to. his righteousness: he will constrain men to drink of this bitter cup; he will destroy them with his avenging sword. He will not even spare those cities or countries, which have been called by his name: but if his judgments begin with
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the Lorp, £If he will not hearken to me to walk in my law, "which J have set before you,
5 To hearken to the words of imy ‘servants the prophets, ‘whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
6 Then'will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make thiscity™a curse to all the nations of the earth.
7 So *the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lorn.
8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lorp had commanded him to speak unto all the people, That °the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
9 PWhy hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lorp, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabi-] See on 7:12—14. 1 Sam. 4;19— . 42:18, 44:8—12,22. 2 Kings 22:19. Is 43:28. 65:15. Dan. 9:11, Mal. 4:6. 31. 23:11—15, Mz. 22:25,26. Mic. 3:11. Zeph. 3:4, Matt..21;15, Acts 4:1—6, 5:17, 0 2:30. 11:19—21, 12:5,6, 18:18 20:1,2,8—-11. 2Chr. 36:16, Lam. 4:13,14, Matt, 21:35—89, 22:6, 23:31—35. 26:3,4,59—65, Acts 5:33. 7:52. Rev. 18:2. p2Chr. 25:16. Is. 29:21. 30:9—11. Am, 5:10. 7:10—13. Mic. 2:6. Matt. 21:23. Acts 4:17—19. 5:28. 6:14.
Zech. 1:6. Rev. 10:7. 11:18. k See on 25:4.
22. Ps. 78:60—64. m 24:9, 25:18. 29:5
degenerate professors of Christianity, let not the impious and profligate expect to be ‘altogether unpunished ;” for * from his holy habitation he will utter his voice against all flesh.” He has just ground of controversy with every nation, and - every individual, and he will plead against them, and “‘ exe cute judgment on all the wicked.” Thus eyil goes from nation to nation: no tongue can express the miseries which have been endured, or the multitudes which have perished, by means of the great scourges of the world; who successively have been raised up, run their course, and then been destroyed.
Wehave abundant cause to be thankful, that ours are yet ‘** peaceable habitations ;” but many which were so fora time, have been “‘cut down, because of the fierce anger of the Lorp.” When he leaves his place to execute judgment, or withdraws his protection from offending nations ; the days of slaughter arrive, and the lands are soon left desolate, or groaning under the iron rod of oppression: and then the chief in rank and authority are most exposed to peril and suffering; and are generally the least able to escape, or to endure hardship.—But the Lord will preserve his people in all changes: and whatever removes them from this world ot sin and sorrow, they will then enter into those peaceful mansions, where war, changes, sickness, and death, can find no admission: because no sin will be found in them for ever. (Note, Is: 57:1,2.)
NOTES.—Cuar. XXVI. V.1. The preceding chapter is dated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim: (JVote, 25:1.) this in the beginning of his reign. It seems therefore most natural to suppose, that this was delivered first. Yet some think it followed immediately after. (Votes, 36:1—10.)
V. 2. ‘The great court was the place, where both men and women did ordinarily worship when they brought no sacrifice: ... for when they offered a sacrifice, they were to bring it into the inner court, ... or that of the priests. Light-foot in Lowth. (Notes, Bx. 27:9—19. 1 Kings 6:36.)—This | prophecy being delivered in the courts of the temple, on a public occasion, probably on one of the three great annual festivals, before the priests and false prophets as well as the people, was likely to exasperate the minds of the hardened offenders, especially of those in authority and reputation* (Notes, 71,2. 20:1—6. Matt. 21:23—27. Acts 5:17—25.). and therefore the prophet was expressly commanded not te diminish a word from it; as he might have been tempted.to do, especially since Urijah had been put to death for his’ faithfulness, probably just before. (Note, 20—23.) oh,
Diminish.| * Either out of fear, favour, or flattery.’ Lowth. ( Notes. eit 4:2. Acts 20:18—21, v. 20. 25—27,v. 27. Rev. 22:18—21. a
V.3—6. (Marg. Ref. Notes, '7:3—15. 18:7—12. 25:3—7,. 36:1—3, v. 3.1 Sam. 4:10—24. Ps. 78:56—64.—A curse. (6). *So'that when they would curse any, they shall say, God do~ to thee as to Jerusalem.” (Marg. Ref.m. Notes, 29:21—
23. Is. 65:13—15.) : as oe
V. 7,8. Marg. Ref.—Prophets. (7) False prophets. Sept, Perhaps some of these prophets had been trained up in the schools of the prophets; but there is no proof, and little probability, that they all were, as some expositors conclude ; or that so very large a proportion from those seminaries became false prophets, the deceivers and ruin of the nation. (Votes, - 1 Sam. 10:5,6. 1 Kings 18:4. 19:20,21. 2 Kings 2:3. 4:1.)—- Die. (8) ‘As a disturber of the government, anda dis= + courager of the people from defending their country.’ Lowth. (Notes, 16—19. 20:1—6, 38:1—6. Acts 5:27,28,33—39.)
V. 9. The priests and false prophets, who were the pro=— secutors of Jeremiah, seem to have utterly disregarded what — he hal spoken concerning repentance and turning from ther evil ways; and merely to have noticed the prophecy against « the city and temple, in case tney J 1 no\ repent, as if
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tant? 9And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah "in the house of the Lorn. (Practical Observations.]
10 | When ‘the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the kine’s house | unto the house of the Lorn, and sat down “in the entry of ‘the new gate of the Lorn’s house.
11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, "saying, 'This man is worthy to die: *for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
12 {Thenspake Jeremiah unto all the princes, and to all the people, saying, YThe Lorp sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.
13 ‘Therefore now ‘amend your ways and your woings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lorp will *repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
14 As for me, behold, Tam in your hand; do with me ‘as seemeth good and meet unto you :
15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ‘ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: ‘for of a truth the Lorn hath sent me unto you, to speak all these words in your ears.
16 7'Then said ¢the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets ; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lorp our God.
17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying, ;
Matt. 27:20. Mark 15:11, Acts 13:50, 16:19—22. 17;5—8. 19:24—32, 21:30. 22; r John 8:20,59. s 16,17,24. 34:19. 36:12—19,25. 37:14—16, 38:4—6. Ez. 22:
14. Deut. 32:35. Judg. 2:18. Joel 2:14. Jon. 3:9. 4:2, b 38:5. 8:16. + Heb. as it is good and right in your eyes. 2 Sam. 15:26,
6. 22:3,17. Gen. 4:10, 42:22. Num. 35:33. Deut. 19:10. 2 Kings 24:4. Prov, 6;
17. Matt. 23:30—36, 26:4,25. Acts 7:60. 1 Thes. 2:15,16. Rev. 16:6. dSecon M2. e36:19,25. 38:7—13. Esth. 4:14. Prov. 16:7. Matt. 27:23,24,54. Luke 23:
§cen absolute: and thus they in effect bare false witness against him. They doubtless professed to be zealous for the temple and their religious establishment; while they chiefly regarded their own reputation, authority, and emoluments. But though they were hypocrites in religion, and profligate in morals; yet (like the scribes and Pharisees in the time of Christ) they had acquired such ascendency over the minds of the people, that these were ready to leave their devotions to join with them in putting the prophet to death, for saying no more than Moses in the law, and all the preceding prophets, had said before him! (Marg. Ref. Notes, 16—19. Matt. 26:57—62, vv. 61,62. Acts 21:27—30.)
V. 10. Princes.] As these princes are distinguished from the priests, the chief of whom formed a part of the Sanhe-drim, that court cannot be meant, as expositors generally suppose ; but the persons highest inrank and authority under the king. (Votes, 36:11—19. 38:1—6,24—28.)— New gate.] ‘So called because it had been repaired by Jotham. 2 Kings 15:
35. Lowth. ; :
V. 11. Worthy, &e.] ‘* The judgment of death is for this man.” Marg. ‘We require that the sentence of death be executed upon him.’—This greatly resembled the conduct of the scribes, priests, and elders, who demanded of Pilate that Jesus should be put to death: (Notes, Matt. 27:1,2. Luke 23: 1—5. John 18:28—32.) and the charge brought against Jeremiah was exactly the same as that brought against the first martyr St. Stephen. (Note, Acts 6:9—14.)_ :
V.12—15. The calm intrepidity, the disinterested faithfulness, and “the meekness of wisdom,” manifested in the prophet’s answer, in such trying circumstances, are peculiarly admirable. Conscious that he had spoken nothing but what God had commanded him to speak; he seems to have been very little solicitous concerning the event as to himself: but his disinterested love to his ungrateful people, was united with fervent zeal for the honour of God, in Jeading him to seize the opportunity of once more, in the most solemn and pathetic manner, exhorting them to repentance ; (Vote, 3—6.) and of warning them not to add, to all their other personal and national transgressions, the guilt of “innocent blood ;” ‘vith this peculiar aggravation, that it would be the blood of : prophet, shed for faithfully obeying the command of God. (Notes, 2:33—37. 2 Kings 24:3,4. Matt. 23:34—39. Acts 4:
3—22, vv. 19,20. 5:29—31. 7:51—60.) ' ;
V. 16—19. Some expositors consider the remainder of this chapter, as the debate which took place in the Sanhedrim, on the case of Jeremiah: but since the people were present, and no mention is made of the council, but merely of the
CHAPTER XXVI.
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18 ‘Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Fives and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lorn of hosts; *Zion shall be ploughed like a field, and "Jerusalem shall become heaps, and
‘the mountain of the house as the high places of
a forest,
19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? Jdid he not fear the Lorn, and besought ‘the Lorp, and ‘the Lorn repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? 'Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lorn, Urijah the son of She-maiah of ™Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah :
21 And when Jehoiakim the king with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, ‘the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, *he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
22 And Jehoiakim the king sent Pmen into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of 4Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; *who slew him with the sword, sand cast his dead body into the graves of the 'common people.
24 Nevertheless, the hand of tAhikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, "that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
14,15,41,47. Acts 5:34—39, 23:9,29. 25:25. 26:31,32. fMic.1:1. gSeeon Mic. 3:12. h S-e on 9:11, 51:37. 2 Kings 19:25. Neh. 4:2, Ps. 79:1. i Mic, 4:1, Zech. 8:3.
j2 Chr. 29:;6—11, 32:20,25,26, 34:21. Ts. 37:1,4,15—20. § Heb. the face of the LORD. k See on3.
115. Num, 16:38, 35:33,34, Ie.
Matt. 14:5, Mark 6:19. 0 1 Kings 19:1—2. Prov. 29:25, Matt. 10:23,28,39. 16:
25,26. p I's, 12:8. Prov. 29:12. q 2 Kings 22:12,14. r See on15, 2:20. Ez. 19:
6. Matt. 14:10. 23:34,35. Acts 12:1—38. 1 Thes. 2:15. Rev. 11:7. s 22:19. 36:
30. || Heb. sons of the people. 39:14, 40:5—7. 2 Kings 22:12—14. 25:22. 2 Chr, 34:20, u1;18,19. 15:19—21. 1 Kings 18:4, Acts 23:10,20—35. 23:3,4, 27: 43, Rev, 12:16.
princes and ‘‘ certain of the elders;” probably what is here recorded took place in the court of the temple. ‘The San-hedrim, (17) or at least some considerable men among them. Comp. 21. 36:12. 37:15. 38:4.... The people who before were forward to condemn him, now, upon hearing his apology, were as ready to acquit him.’ Lowth.
They before united with the priests and prophets; (Note, 9.) but now some of them concurred with the princes; who refused to pronounce the sentence of death against Jeremiah. (24) ‘Not against this man the judgment of death.” (Note, 11.)—It does not appear, whether “the elders of the land” were some of the princes before mentioned ; or some other eminent persons, who adduced very appositely the example of Micah, and quoted his words in support of their determination, and against the rash judgment of the priests and prophets. (Note, Mic. 3:8—12.)—There is no satisfactory ground in the following history, to conclude that either these princes or elders, in general, so attended to the message of God, as to repent ot their sins, or to attempt a public reformation; though they seem at this time to have had transient convictions, which the Lord made use of for his servant’s preservation.— Against our souls. (19) Marg.
Ref. |. Notes, 12—15, v. 15. Acts 5:33—39, v. 39.
V.20—23. ‘ This seems to be an instance, alleged by others of the Sanhedrim, in favour of the priests and prophets, who were for condemning Jeremiah.’ Lowth. (Note, 10,16— —19.)—If the narrative was added by the sacred writer, as it probably was, he meant to magnify the power and goodness of God in preserving him against the persecuting rage of Je-hoiakim, as well as that of the priests and prophets.
Urijah seems to have been faithful in delivering his message: but he was faulty in relinquishing his work, and fleeing into Egypt for fear of Jehoiakim; as if he dared not to stand to what he had said. (Note, 1 Kings 19:3,4.) Jehoiakim, being at that time in alliance with the king of Egypt, was permitted to fetch Urijah thence; and he directly slew him. By burying Urijah ‘in the graves of the common people,” he intended to render him and his prediction contemptible among his subjects: but his own dead body was treated with far deeper indignity. (Notes, 22:13—19. Is. 53:9,10.
John 18:38—42.)— Had the king and people imitated Hezekiah, the Lord would have averted the threatened judgments, as he hae tone in that pious prince’s time; nor would Nebuchadnezzar have been able to take the city, any more than Sennache»ib had been. But God foresaw, that both rulers and people would bring destruction on themselves, by impenitence, and by muy dering his prophets. ‘ i
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