CHAPTER XXVII.
eremiah isdirected to make yokes and bonds ; to tbear them on his own neck, and to send them to sevrral kings by their ambassadors ; with a command to each of them from tie Creator of the world, to submit to the king of Babylon, if they would escape destruction, 1—ll. He counsels Zedekiah to the same effect; warns him and the people against false prophets ; and predicts fur-
22
ther desolations, 12—22, N ¢the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the Lorp, saying,
$,12,19,20. 26:1. 28:1. * Or, hath the LORD said. Am.7:1,4, _b 12, 28:11 —14. © 13:1—11. 18;2—10. 19:1—11, 23.10. 1 Kings 11:30,31. Is. 20:2—4. Ez. 4: 5; 12: 24:3-12. d See un 25:19—26. 47:—49: Ez, 25:—23; 29:18. Am. 1:9—
V.. 24. * Which declareth that nothing could have appeased their fury, if God had not moved this nobleman to stand valiantly in his defence.—* This Ahikam was the father of Gedaliah, who was afterwards made governor of the land under the Chaldeans, (2 Kings 25:22.) and the son of Shaphan the scribe, who was chief minister of state under Josiah, (2 Kings 22:3—14.) and brother to Gemariah, (36:10.) Elasah, (29:3.) and Jaazaniah, (Ez. 8:11.) who were great men in those days. Prideauz. Ahikam was employed by Josiah in his reformation, so that his influence must have been very great. (2 Kings 22:12,14.)—Gedaliah appears to have been aman of good character. (Notes, 39:11—14. 40:4—16. 41:) So that it is not improbable, that Ahikam was a pious man: though, except on this occasion, he did not boldly espouse the cause of the prophet. (Marg. Ref. t.)
People.| (Notes, 9,16—19.) It seems that the bulk of the people were still enraged against the prophet.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V.1—9.
The ambassadors of God should speak his word with all boldness, and adhere strictly to their instructions: but in so doing they will often be exposed to danger, and, to the censure even of their more timid and less zealous friends. —A ininister of religion, who diminishes aught from the message which he is sent to deliver, is as justly chargeable with unfaithfulness, as he who alters any thing in it: ministers should therefore be very diligent in obtaining an acquaintance with the whole revealed counsel of God, as well as careful to declare it without respect of persons.—It must not be expected that the Lord will abate any thing of what he requires, or alter his method of delivering sinners from deserved punishment, in compliance with the perverse desires of his rebellious subjects.
It is his invariable rule to pour contempt on all external distinctions and performances, when men rest in them and neglect “‘the power of godliness:” and indeed the most implacable enemies to true religion have often been most zealous for forms and notions; especially when their interests and characters were concerned.
It has therefore sometimes been safer to denounce the judgments of God against wicked princes, and even in the palaces of kings, (Notes, 22:) than in the precincts of the temple, and before hypocritical priests and prophets; who have in every age been ready to inquire of those whom the Lord has employed as his messengers, ‘* By whose authority” do ye such things 2 and to pronounce them worthy to die for doing his will.
They have also frequently seduced the people into such an unaccountable reverence for them; that they have been ready to concur in their persecuting designs, without further inquiry. { Note, 5:30,31.)
V.10—24. It is evidently desirable, that, in every nation, the power of decision in all criminal causes, should finally be vested in the civil government: for even where princes are irreligious, they are not influenced by so many personal motives or resentments as profligate ecclesiastics are ; and more justice may be expected even from Pilate than from Caiaphas.
But how shameful is it, when those who bear the sacred character stand forward to persecute the servants of God, and wrest their words in testifying against them! and when after all, the magistrates show that they have done no evil; nay, justify their conduct from the examples and precepts of Seripture !—It behooves those who are most earnest in the eause of God, to be proportionably calm and resigned in their pwn concerns: it suffices to show, that they act in obedience ‘o him, and confide in his protection: and it is very proper that they should express more regard for the good of their prosecutors than for their own personal safety.; taking the opportunity of meekly warning them not to add the guilt of murder or oppression to their other sins, but “to amend their fives, that it may be well with them:” as all men may know for certain, that injuring faithful reprovers will hasten and merease the punishments of individuals and communities. — Of what great importance is it to be well versed in the historical part of Scripture: for apposite references may be made to i. on almost every occasion, and directions deduced from it to regulate our conduct.—It may seem a light matter to conclude, that they are “‘not worthy to be put to death who have spoken the word of the Lorp:” yet they must think .aemselves greatly favoured who are thus protected though they have no other recompense from man.
For many whose consciences testify to the character of the faithful minister, and to the truth of his words; and who will occasionally countenance him from conviction, or personal respect, will not obey the commands of God delivered by him, but go on in sin to their own destruction.—No enmity is more mplacable than that excited by iaithful reproof; or more
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JEREMIAH.
B.G.597
2 Thus ‘saith the. Lorp to me; ‘Make thee bonds and yokes, and ‘put them upon thy neck,
3 And send them “to the king of Edom, ana to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Am-monites, and to the king of 'Tyrus, and to tke kin of Zidon, by the hand of ¢the messengers whief. come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah,
4 And command them fto say unto their mas-
15. 2:1—3. e 2Chr. 36:13. Ez, 17:15—21.
t Or, concerning their mastsre saying, Thus, §c.
dangerous when the proud transgressor has power to gratify it: but none can go further than the Lord is pleased to per mit; and they who are employed in his service, and abide in their proper work and place, have no reason to fear man.— Extraordinary cases call for extraordinary firmness: but though the servants of God agree in the substance of their ministry, they do not all possess equal constancy and intre= pidity ; nor do the same persons at all times.
The persecute’ minister may change the scene of -his labours, and thus dee from one city to another: (Votes, Acts 14:5—7. 1 Thes. 2. 1—8.) but he must not run away from his work, or shelter himself from danger, in those places where he can have no opportunity of usefulness.—Those who most honour God, by confidence in him and zeal for his glory, shall be peculiarly honoured by him: but such as appear to distrust him, and ta despise his word, will be proportionably disgraced, rebuked, and laid aside.—The Lord can raise up friends to his people where they least expected them: and he will honour and recompense those who show kindness to such as are persecuted and oppressed for his sake.
NOTES.—Cuap. X XVII. V. 1. Jehoiakim.] As Zede kiah is afterwards mentioned through this whole transaction, it seems to have been by an error of some early transcriber, that the name of Jehoiakim is here substituted. Indeed some interpreters suppose, that the prophet had the vision in the reign of Jehoiakim; but was not ordered to make the yokes and bonds according to it, till the reign of Zedekiah. ‘In the beginning of the reign of Johoiakim, ..,. the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, to be afterward executed in the reign of Zedekiah.” Bp.
Hall.—The former, however, seems the most natural supposition: and in a very few instances it is absolutely necessary to have recourse to this method of soly ing difficulties. (Comp. Zech. 11:12,13. Matt. 27:9.)— ‘Such little verbal mistakes must be allowed by all impartial readers, to have sometimes happened in transeribing the Scriptures, as well as in other hooks; and may easily be corrected by comparing the suspected reading with other parts of the sacred text, which admit of no difficulty or uncer
tainty” Lowth.—The Septuagint does not contain this first verse. V. 2,3. The kings of the nations here mentioned seem to
have entered into an alliance against the growing power of Nebuchadnezzar, and to have sent ambassadors to Zedekiah, to induce him to accede to the treaty. But as it had been before repeatedly predicted, that they should be subjugated by the king of Babylon, this was a vain attempt to frustrate the purpose of God. (Notes, 25:15—26.) Jeremiah was therefore ordered to make “ yokes,” of wood, like those which were put on the oxen; and “bonds,” such as were used to fasten them: and, wearing one of each on his own neck, to excite their attention, he was directed to send one to each o. the confederating kings, with the following message by the ambassadors. (Marg. Ref. b,c. Notes, 13:1—11. TJs, 20: 2—6. Ez. 4:5.) :
V.4—9. ‘God is the sole Lord and Proprietor of the world ; and by virtue of his absolute Sovereignty and dominion, has a right to give the kingdoms of the earth to whomsoever he pleases: (Dan. 4:17.) and he exercises this authority by “changing times and seasons,” by “ removing kings and setting up kings.” (Dan. 2:21.) It is the business of human laws to establish every government in that me thod wherein it is already settled: but as this is no bar te Providence, which still has a right to alter governments, and, for great and wise reasons, often changes the scene of worldly affairs; so neither ought it to be an objection against submitting to any persons whom God's providence hath placed over us, and put into their hands the full power of exercising all those acts of government in which sovereignty consists.
But although the people are bound in such cases to obey ; yet this does not lessen the guilt of usurpers. 25:12.’ Lowth—Tyere was a peculiar grandeur as well as propriety in this method of predicting Nebuchadnezzar’s rapid successes.—The God of Israel declaring himself to be the Lord of all armies, and the Creator and owner of the whole earth, with all its nhas bitants and productions, and claiming full sovereignty over al his creatures ; avows his determination, (for reasons which he does not deign to assign, ) to give all the countries in that ; of the world to the king of Babylon, whom he calls “his ser- _ vant,” because he would accorplish an important part of his most righteous designs. (JVotes, 25:83—14.
Dan. 4:10--26, 5:18—24.) They, therefore, who would escape the most — dreadful judgments, must submit to the God of Israel, by _ submitting to Nebuchadnezzar; they must hearken to (believe and obey) the prophets of Israel, and not to their own
B. C. 597.
ters, Thus saith ‘the Lorp of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;
5 [have made the earth, the man and the beasts that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.
6 And now have ‘I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, kmy servant; ‘and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.
7 And “all nations shall serve him, and“his son, and his son’s son, "until the very time of his and come: and then °many nations and great xings shall serve themselves of him.
8 And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Ne- 5uchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will iot put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, "that nation will i punish, saith the Lorp, %with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
9 Therefore "hearken not ye to your prophets nor to your diviners, nor to your “dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon.
10 For ‘they prophesy a lie unto you, tto remove you far from your land; and that “I should drive you out, and ye should perish.
11 But the nations that *bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve bim, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the Lorn; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.
12 1 I spake also *to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
13 »Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, f 10:10,16. 25:27. 51:19. Ex. 5:1. g 10:11,12. 32:17. 51:15, Gen. 9:6. Ex. 20:11, Job 26:5—I4. 38:4, &c. Ps. 102:25, 136:5—9. 148:5,6, 148:2—5. Is. 40: PI—25. 42:5. 44:24. 45:12. 48:13. 53:13. John 1:1—3, Acts 14:15. 17:24. Col. 1:16. Heh. 1:2,10,11. Rev. 4:11. h Gen. 1:29,30. 9:2,3. Deut. 2:7,9,19. 5:
16. 32:8. Josh. 1:2,3, Ezra 1:2. Ps. 115:15,16. 135:10—12. Dan. 2:21. 4:17, 95,32,35. i 23:14. Dan. 2:37,38. 5:18,19. k 24:1. 25:9, 43:10. 51:20— Is. $4:28. Ez, 2:18—20. | See on Ps.50:10—12, m25:11—14. 52:31, 2 Chr. 36:20,
21. n 25:12. 50:27. Ps. 37:13. 137:8,9. Is. 13:1,8, &c. 14;22,23, 21:9. 47:1—5. Dan. 5:25—31. Hab. 2:7. Zech. 2:8,9, Rev. 13:5—10. 14:8,15—20. 16:19. 17:16,. 50: s. 14:46, p 25:28,29. 38:17—19, 40:9. 42:10— 18, 52:36, Ez. 17:19—21, q 24:10. Ez. 14:21.
P1416, 14:14. 23:16,25,32. Is. 8:19. Mic. 3:7, Zech. 10:2. Mal. 3:5. Acts 8:11. Rev. 9:21. 18:23. 21:8. 22:15. * Heb. dreams, 6 See on 14, 28:16, t 32:31. Lam, 2:14. uSeeonld. x2,8,12. y 21:9. 38:2. 40:9—12, 42;10,11, 23. 38:17, 2 Chr, 36:11—13. Ez. 17:11—21. a See on 2,8.
viners and enchanters ; (Marg. Ref. r.) and they must observe that Nebuchadnezzar and his son, and grandson, would, whatever opposition might be made, possess the full dominion of all these countries: but that when the appointed time was expired, (25:12.) these haughty conquerors and cruel oppressors would, in their turn, become the prey of other powerful conquerors and oppressors. (Notes, Ezra 1:1—4. Is. 14: 21—23.)—This prophecy would, no doubt, be make known, in some degree, among the principal persons in the adjacent countries: and, though for the present neglected, when it received its exact accomplishment, it must have been a very conclusive proof that the God of Israel was the only true (Zod, and the Sovereign of the whole earth, and “ that he did according to his will in the army of heaven and among the mhabitants of the earth; and none could stay his hand, or say to him, What doest thou ?”
V. 10, il. The removal, dispersion, and ruin of each nation, would be the effect of the divinations of these false
rophets and sorcerers, if they attended to them. Nothing Bat unreserved submission to Nebuchadnezzar could prevent the complicated miseries and dire effects of the unsuccessful war, and the hard bondage which awaited the vanquished. * They that ... willingly submit themselves to him, shall continue in their own country and possessions, being only tributaries to the king of Babylon. 38:17. 42:10,11.’ Lowth.
V. 12. (Notes, 1. 38:1—6,17—23.) ‘What the prophet saith here to Zedekiah hath a particular weight init; because he was made king... by Nebuchadnezzar, and took an oath of being faithful to him, and never resisting his authority.’ pepe ; Acre 2 Kings 24:20. 2 Chr. 36:13. Ez. 17:15—21.
1:25—27.
V. 13—15. (Marg. Ref. Note,4—9.) The false prophets of the Jews are here joined to the diviners and sorcerers of the Gentiles ; with no distinction except that of speaking their Aes in the name of Jenovan. (Notes, 23:13—15,30,)—It is civarly intimated, that the people were about to be left to be
CMNAPTER XXVII.
B. C. 597,
as the Lorp hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon ?
14 Therefore: “bearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon; for ethey prophesy a lie unto you.
15 For have not sent them, saith the Lorp yet they prophesy ‘a lie in my name; fthat I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, gye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.
16 Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the Lorn; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, "Behold, the vessel of the Lorp’s house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: ‘for they prophesy a lie unto you.
17 Hearken not unto them ; ‘serve the king of Babylon, and live: 'wherefore should this city be laid waste ?
18 But if they be prophets, and if the word of the Lorn be with them, ™let them now make intercession to the Lorn of hosts that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lorp, and in the house of the king of Judah and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.
19 41 For tous saith the Lorn of hosts "concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,
20 Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, °when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the noblesof Judah and Jerusalem $
21 Yea, thus saith the Lorn of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lorn, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;
22 They shall be carried to Babylon, ana there shall they be suntil the day that I visit them, saith the Lorn ; "then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.
b 38:20. Prov. 8:36. Ez. 18:24, 33:11. c 8. 24:9. 38:2. Ez.14:21. d See on9. Ts. 28:10—13, 2 Cor. 11:13—15. Phil. 3:2, e 10, 14:14. 23:21,25, 28:15, 29:8,9, 1 Kings 22:22,23. Ez. 13:6—15,22,23. Mic. 2:11. Matt. 7:15. 2 Pet. 2:1—3. 1John4:l. + Heb. in alie,or, lyingly. £10. 2 Chr. 18:17—22. 25:16, Ez. 14:3 —10. Matt. 24:24. 2 Thes. 2:9—12. 2 Tim. 2:17—19. 4:3,4, Rev. 13:7,8,12—14, g 6:13—15. 8:10—12. 14:15,16, 20:6. 23:15, 28:16,17 29:22,23,31,32. Mic. 3:5—
Gen, 18:24—33. 20:17. 1Sam. 7:8, 12:19,23. 2 Chr, 32 14,18—20, 22:30. Mal.1:9. Jam. 5:16—18, n5 . 1 Kings 7:15, &e, 2Chr. 4:2—16. 0 22:28. Coniah. 24:1. 2 Kings 24:14—16. Jehoiachin. 2Chr 36:10. p 52:17—21. 2 Kings 24:13—17. 2 Chr. 36:17,18. Dan, 5:1—4,23. q 25; 11,12, 29:10. 2 Chr. 36:21—23. Ezra 1:1—5. Dan.9:2. r Ezra 1;7,11. 5A
15. 7:
deceived by the false prophets, that they might fall into deserved calamities ; as Ahab had been deceived, to his ruin, by a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. (Vote, | Kings 22:19—23.)
V.16. Vessels.] ‘ Which were taken when Jeconiah was led captive into Babel.’ (Notes, 28:2—4. 2 Kings 24:8—16, 2 Chr. 36:10. Dan. 1:1,2.)
V. 17—21. 52:17—23. 2 Kings 25:13—16. 2 Chr. 36:18 —20. V.22. (Notes, Ezra l:l—l1. Dan. 5:1—4.) ‘And there
they shall be, until the time of their restoration ... by Cyrus, whom I will stir up to be gracious to my people.’ Bp. Hall. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
The ministers of religion should always take the lead in every kind of self-denial or self-abasement, which they inculcate on others; and they will be supported under every hardship, which they meet with in the path of duty.—Opposition to the growing power and despotic rule of earthly conquerors and tyrants, should always be conducted in submission to the authority of God, and with every means of obtaining his peace and favour: for the most powerful confederacies will be broken, which are cemented by impiety and rebellion against him.—The whole earth is the property, as well as the work, of its omnipotent Creator; and “ he giveth it to whomsoever it seemeth meet to him:” but the character of those, who have hitherto had the largest share of its power and riches allotted to them, teaches us how very worthless he deems such acquisitions, compared with spiritual blessings.— The Lord does not now expressly inform us whom he hag appointed to rule the nations: and therefore the efforts of mer to defend their liberties from usurpers or invaders, are not indiscriminately to be condemned.
But when his willis made known by the event, it behooves us in our private capacity to consider “the powers that be, as ordained of God;” and to submit to them according to the Jaws and constitution ot our countrv ; without respect to ‘heir characters or conduct,)
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