CHAP. VIII.
A prediction of the indignities, which would be shewn to the them, saith the LORD of hosts.
bones of the idolatrous Jews; and of such miseries, that men would prefer death to life, 1-3. Severe reproofs of the obstinacy, avarice, and shameless wickedness of the people, 4-12. A prophetical description of the dismay occasioned by the Chaldean invasion, 13-17. The grief of the prophet in the prospect of these calamities, 18-22.
Ta that time saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
2 And they shall spread them before
the sun, and the moon, band all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they
4 Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; 'Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem hslidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to
return.
61 hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: mno man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
7. Yea, the stork in the heaven know
have walked, and whom they have sought, eth her appointed time; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people * know not the judgment of the LORD.
and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the
earth.
3 And d death shall be chosen rather than life, by all the residue of them that
e 23:3,8. 29:14,28, 32:36,37. 40: 12. Deut. 30:1,4. Dan. 9:7. f Prov. 24:16. Hos. 14:1. Am. 5:2. Mic. 7:8.
remain of this evil family, which remain 3:1,22. 4:1. 23:14. 36:3
external services, when men continue to follow their own counsels, to walk after their own evil imaginations; and when they grow worse in the midst of of opportunities of improvement. -The minister must speak all the message of God, though men will not hear: he must call on them to repent, and invite them to come to Christ, even could he know that they would reject his message: and when individuals or nations cast off the authority of God, and "refuse correction;" or become so addicted to dissimulation and hypocrisy, that "truth peri eth, and is cut off from their mouth;" their perishguilt should be charged home upon them, and warning given to them and to others. The Lord hates sin the most, when it is nearest to him; and the profanation of his solemn ordinances is the worst of all impiety. If men were required to endure such losses, hardships, weariness, or expense, in the service of God, as
Heb. 12:15.
1 Job 33:27,28. Ps. 14:2. Is. 30:18. Mal. 3:16. 2 Pet. 3:9 Ez. 22:30
m 5:1. Is. 59:16. Mic. 7:2.
n Job 10:2. Ez. 18:28. Hag. 1:5.7. Luke 15:17-19.
o 2:24,25. See on Job 39:19-25 p. Prov. 6:6-8. Is. 1:3. q Cant, 2:12.
r 5:4,5. Is. 1:3. 5:12. $ 5:1,5.
so obstinate a resistance; they absurdly vented their indignation, by abusing the bodies of the dead, as well as by massacreing the living. Thus the bones of the principal persons especially were taken from the graves, and spread before the sun, moon, and stars: and they were disgraced, and left as dung on the they we earth; ( Notes , 22:13-19, ν . 19. 36:30,31. 1 Kings 21:23. 2 Kings 9:30-37, vv. 35-37. Is. 14:16-20.) as it were, in the presence of those creatures, whom they had worshipped and served, instead of the great Creator. Their
idolatry
served
idolatry is s similar import, to shew their excessive attachiment to it. And the remains of Israel, (110 more worthy to be called "a holy nation," but an "evil family,") being dispersed into distant countries, would encounter such miseries, as would cause them to envy those, who were slain at the taking of the city. ( Notes , Lam . 4:
is spoken of in a variety of phrases of
they often impose on themselves in their sin-6-9. Rev. 9:6.)- Some think that the Chalde
ful pursuits, they would complain bitterly of his commandments. But they are frequently cruel to themselves, their families, and children; they ruin their health or circumstances, and act contrary to natural affection, without complaining, when serving sin and Satan.All the precepts and prohibitions of the Lord are "holy, just, and good;" and the self-denial which he requires, rational and salutary. But the devil is a cruel tyrant as a tempter in this world: what then will he be, as a tormentor in the next? There all joy will for ever cease from the workers of iniquity. May we then learn to relish holy and spiritual joys, and to sit loose to all other satisfactions, however lawful in themselves.
ans broke open the monuments of the great men, in searching for the treasures, which were supposed to be laid up in them. The latter part of the second verse might be rendered, "Because they loved them, and because they served them, &c." They were thus disgraced, by the just judgment of God, for their idolatry.
V. 4-7. 'Some explain the fourth verse to 'this sense: Are they so far plunged in sins, 'and the miseries consequent thereto, that there 'is no hope of their recovery?... If they will 'turn to God, will not he immediately be paci'fied and return to them? Lowth . The same word is in that verse rendered turn and return ; but if a man have turned out of the way, he must turn again, in order to return into it: so that the same sense is preserved, by the interpretation given below, which seems most agreeable to the context, and the scope of the prophet's keen expostulations. If men fall into a pit, or fall down by the road, they attempt 8 How do ye say, We are wise, and "the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly * in vain made he it ; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
9 + The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and + what wisdom is in them?
10 Therefore 2 will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them : a for every one, from the least even unto the greatest, is given to covetousness; from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
t Job 5:12, 13, 11:12, 12:20. Rom. -100. Is. 8:20. 1:22. 2:17,&c. 1 Cor. 3:18- 29. 2 Tim. 3:15. 20.
u Ps. 147:19,20. Hos. 8:12. * Or, the false pen of the scribes worketh for falsehood. Prov. 17:16. Is. 10:1.
† Or, Have they been ashamed, &c.
49:7. Job 5:12,13. Is. 19:11, 12. Ez. 7:26. 1 Cor. 1:2629.
y Deut. 4:6. Ps. 19:7. 119:98
1 Cor. 1:18
Heb. the wisdom of what thing , &c.
z 6:12. Deut. 23:30-32. Am. 5:11. Zeph. 1:13.
a See on 6:13. Is. 56:10-12. Ez. 33.31. Mic. 3:5,11. Tit. 1:7,11. 2 Pet. 2:1-3.
b See on 5:31. 23:11-17,25,26, 32.32. Is. 28:7. Lam. 4:13. Ez. 22:27,28.
to rise again, and are glad of assistance: when they fall into trouble, they endeavor to extricate themselves: and if a traveller have lost his way, he will bear to be told of his mistake, and be ready to ask for information, and to return back to the road. Why then did the people of Jerusalem persist in apostacy from
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.
12 Were they dashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: e therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
[Practical Observations.]
13 $I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig-tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
14 Why do we sit still? assemble
c See on 6:14.-14:14,15. 27.3,10. 28:3-9. 1 Kings 22:6,13. Lam. 2:14. Ez. 13:10-16,22. Mic. 2:11.
d 3:3. 6:15. Ps. 52:1,7. Is. 3: 9. Zeph. 3:5. Phil. 3:19.
e Is. 9:13-17.24:2. Ez. 22:25 -31.
Hos. 4:5,6.
Or, In gathering I will con
sume . Is. 24:21,22. Ez. 22: 19-21.24:3-11.
f Lev. 26:20. Deut. 28:39-42. Is. 5:4-6,10. Hos. 2:8,9. Joel 1:7,10-12. Hab. 3:17. Hag. 1:11. 2:17. Matt. 21:19. Luke 13:6-9. g 17:8. Ps. 1:3,4. Jam. 1:11. h 2 Kings 7:3,4.
in all their devices, put to shame, dismayed, ensnared, and taken prisoners. For what wisdom could be in such men, as rejected the truths, precepts, and warnings of God's word? ( Note , Is . 8:20.) 'The title of Scribe , as applied 'to the skill of transcribing or interpreting the 'law, is first given to Ezra; ( Ezra 7:6.) who
God? Why were they so obstinate in idola-'was not merely a copier of the law, but like
try, notwithstanding all the methods used to reclaim them? It was undeniable, that they were fallen into sin and misery: and yet they || held fast the delusion, and could not be induced to return to the worship and service of God! They were fallen into a pit, and would
'wise an explainer of the difficulties of it. ( Neh . 8:9,13.) And it is likely none made it 'their business to write copies of the law, but 'those who were well versed in the study of it; 'which would best secure them from commit'ting mistakes in their copies: from hence the
not attempt to get out of it! they had wander- 'word signifies, in the New Testament, those
ed from the way, and would not attempt to return to it! The Lord had his eye upon them in all their trials; but saw no man who who spake aright, and as it became sinners in such circumstances. None of them repented of their sins, or condemned themselves for their rebellion, ingratitude, and folly. On the contrary, every one of them returned to his sinful practices, as eagerly, and with as little regard to consequences, as the impetuous horse rushes into the battle. (Note, Job 39:19-25.) Even the birds of passage knew the times, which Providence had appointed for their removal from one climate to another: but the Jews, more stupid than they, could not perceive "the signs of the times;" they did not see that the Lord was about to execute judgments, which could not be shunned, without repentrepentance and conversion; indeed, they knew neither their duty, nor the rules of the Lord's dealings with them. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , Prov . Is . 1:3.)
V. 8, 9. ( Notes , Rom. 2:17-23.) The Jews valued themselves upon their superior wisdom and knowledge, and upon having the law of God among them. But what ground had they for such glorying, when they were guilty of the most atrocious idolatry and iniquity? They might as well have been left in ignorance, with the poor Gentiles. The Lord had given the law, and the scribes labored in writing copies of it, and expounding it, to no purpose, if obedience was not rendered to it. Indeed their politicians and counsellors, could not prevent the ruin of the state: they would be frustrated
'who were learned in explaining the law." Lowth . ( Notes , 36:4. Ezra 7:6-10. Neh . 8:113. Matt . 13:51,52.)-As Ezra lived long after Jeremiah; the quotation can refer only to the order of books in our Bibles. The word )שכר( rendered "in vain," generally signifies "a lie;" ("dealeth falsely ," the same word, 10.) and perhaps it refers to the false interpretations of the scribes. ( Notes , Matt . 15:1-6.)
V. 10-12. Not only would the women be carried captive, the fields ravaged, the crops carried off, and the cattle driven away; but God would give the estates of the Jews to those, who would permanently possess them,
as their own inheritance.
Given to covetousness. (10) One effect of covetousness, in the ministers of religion, ( Note , 6:13—15. P. 0.10-15.) may here be noticed; and it is too important to be omitted: namely, that of those, in highly responsible stations in the church, who appropriate to the
emolument of their own families and connexions, what was intrusted to their stewardship for the common benefit of the souls of men.
V. 13. This verse may be literally translated, "In gathering I will consume them, saith JEHOVAH. There are no grapes on the vine; no figs on the fig-tree; the very leaf is fallen; and what I gave them shall pass away from them." Israel was a vine, or fig-tree: but there was no fruit on the vine, or fig-tree, even the profession of true religion was cast off; and therefore God would take away from the people all the peculiar advantages, which he had afforded them. ( Notes , Is . 5:1-7
yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord.
18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint + in me. 19 Behold, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people, because of them that dwell in a far country: " Is not the LORD in Zion? * is not her King in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
15 We looked for peace, but no goody came; and for a time of health, and behold
trouble.
16 The snorting of his horses nwas 20 The harvest is past, the summer is heard from Dan: the whole land trem-ended, and we are not saved.
bled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and tall that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the
LORD.
Matt . 21:17-20,33–44.25:24-30. Luke 13:6 -9.)
V.14-16. The Jews are again introduced, conferring together on the report of the Chaldean invasion as already arrived. They excited one another without delay to leave the
villages and open country, that they might
refuge in cities; and remain silent and inactive, as resistance seemed hopeless: for they saw the hand of God in
the visitation, and this damped their expectations and enervated their efforts; as he had, for their sins, given them water mingled with gall, hemlock, or poison, to drink. (9:15. Notes , 23:13-15. 25:15-17. Deut. 29:18. Ps. 75:8.) This may be considered either as the language
of the remnant, who humbled themselves un
der the afflicting hand of God; or of those, who counted him their inexorable enemy, and sat
down in sullen despondency. ( Am . 6:9-11.)
The former had hoped, that their brethren would have joined with them in repentance and prayer, and that the storm would have thus been averted: the latter, through their own presumption and the deception of their false prophets, had expected peace and deliverance, when these desolating judgments came upon them. The snorting of the horses in the Chaldean army, being heard in the northern extremity of the land, terror would soon diffuse itself in every place, and speedily be followed by tremendous devastations; not only in the open country, but in Jerusalem itself. This last verse is awfully sublime. ( Note ,
4:19-27.)-'Nebuchadnezzar, having subdued 'Phenicia, passed through the tribe of Dan, in 'his way to Jerusalem. Blayney . ( Notes , 1:13, 14. Judg . 18:7-10, v. 7.)
V. 17. The Chaldeans are here represented as pestiferous serpents, on account of their motives and conduct in this invasion, and of its fatal effects upon the Jews. The invaders were so cruel, subtle, and malicious, and so intent upon the spoil, that they were deaf to all arguments and entreaties; nothing could mollify them, or interrupt their progress, or escape
21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishiment hath taken hold on me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead? is there dno physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people || recovered?
$ 6:24. 10:19-22. Job 7:13,14. Is. 22:4. Dan. 10:16,17. Hab. 3:16.
Is. 1:4.
y See on 5,6.-Deut. 32:16-21. | || Heb. gone up. Is. 1:5,6.
their ravages. ( Note , Ps. 58:3-5.) - Serpents .]
נחשים. Gen. 3:1. Heb.
V. 18, 19. The prophet complains, that his heart was ready to faint under the pressure of his sorrow: he had endeavored to comfort himself in submission to the will of God: but
Jerusalem and her inhabitants, exposed to be plundered and massacred, contin continually y haunted his imagination, and the cries of the sufferers seemed to sound in his ears. Even before
these calamities arrived, the people distressed him by inquiring, whether JEHOVAH did not inhabit
abit Zion; and whether their king were
not of David's line, and of God's own appoint- app ment: or, whether God himself, the King of Israel, was not in her. (Note
(Notes, Is . 12:4-6.
Zeph . 3:14-17. Zech. 2:10-13. 9:9,10.) How then could he leave his city to be profaned and spoiled by idolaters? Would not this dishonor
his great name?-In answer to this the LORD demands, why the Jews had renounced his worship, and provoked him to anger with their multiplied idolatries and lying vanities, invented in foreign countries. They had
broken the covenant and defiled the city and
temple, and his honor required him to execute condign punishment on them. The words may be rendered, more agreeably to the He'brew thus: "The voice of the cry of the 'daughter of my people, from a land afar off." '... So that the prophet represents the doleful complaints of the Jews, under a state of cap'tivity, as if God had quite forsaken and dis'me? &c."" Lowth . - The instruction is the 'owned them. "But why have provoked same, whether our translation be adhered to,
or this be adopted.
V. 20. The people seem here to speak. When pressed closely by the siege, they had waited for deliverance in vain. The Egyptians had been expected to come to their relief: but the harvest and the summer were past, and they were not delivered; so that immediate destruction now stared them in the face. ( Notes , Luke 19:41-44. Heb . 3:7-13.) V. 21, 22. The prophet here tenderly sym
was
of religion, "they
pathized with studioneither bidelity soothing with his people in their troubles; for backsliding:" when they can find a oly, disce fied with astonishment. He saw the nation ndelity, , "they hold fast the deceit lying in the condition of a man expiring of wounds, to which no proper remedy was ap- plied: yet as Gilead produced medicinal balm, ( Marg . Ref . c.) and there were physicians, or surgeons, who had skill to use it for healing wounds; so, in this case likewise, effectual re- lief might be obtained.
The Lord was ever ready to deliver his people, when they returned to him; his mercy and grace were proposed to all who sought them; and his prophets were sent to exhort and instruct them. Why then did they remain in so hopeless a condition? Because they were set against their only reme- dy and Physician, and were vainly employed in secking help in other ways, and from other quarters. "I am black;" I look ghastly, as 'those who are dying.
God had sent his 'prophets, as so many spiritual physicians; 'and they had given the best advice: but the 'fault lay wholly in the patients themselves, 'who refused to submit to their prescriptions.' Lowth . The wickedness and negligence of the rulers and priests might likewise he as- signed as a reason. ( Notes , 6:13-15, v . 14. 30: 12-18, υυ . 13,14. Is . 1:5,6,21-24.)-It is not agreed what kind of gum is meant by the balm of Gilead: but it was considered in those days as a very efficacious healing medicine.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-12.
The Lord can employ the most ferocious conduct of insulting victors to execute his own righteous purposes: and, though no real harm can be done to a dead body; yet, when ring- leaders in atrocious crimes are disgraced after death, it has a tendency to impress terror on the minds of survivors; and it affectingly teach- es us, that the vengeance of God after death is most to be dreaded. This will be executed without respect of persons; and those who have abused superior talents and done the most mischief, will have the largest share of contempt and misery. The example even of zealous idolaters may instruct us, how we ought to love and serve, to walk with, obey, imitate, seek after, and worship the Lord our Goil, as our one great privilege, business, and delight. But, as the conduct of mankind is generally the reverse of this, we need not wonder that his jealous indignation renders
them miserable even in this world. Thus many are led to prefer a hopeless death to a joyless life; and then rashly and rebelliously to rush into the presence of their angry Judge, with all their unrepented sins upon their heads, even by the commission of another most atro- cious crime! But, whatever comes upon us here, let us humble ourselves before God, "sub- mit to his righteousness," and seek his mercy.
Then we shall be enabled to "possess our souls in patience," and to wait the appointed season of deliverance; then we shall be will- ing to live, though afflicted, and yet "count it far better to depart, and to be with Christ." (Note, Phil . 1:21-26.)-But men do not act in the concerns of their souls as in other matters. They fall into sin and suffer for it; they are consumed with terrors; and they are conscious that they are in the road to misery, and not felicity: yet they will use no proper means of escape! Nay, they are affronted by the offer of help or counsel!
They rush into dissipation to banish reflection, and strive to forget pres- ent sorrows by ensuring severer in future! Thus men depart from God "with a perpetual
system of and refuse to return." In this way many pro- fessors of the gospel turn aside, and "their last state is worse than the first." So that, after all the warnings and invitations of the sacred oracles, and the present painful effects of men's sins, even the all penetrating eye of God sees no man disposed of himself to true repentance; but many return, even after con- victions, to their evil courses, with the most irrational impetuosity.
Yet some do speak aright; do examine, judge, and condemn them- selves; repent, forsake their sins, and do works meet for repentance: they "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God worketh in them to will and to do, of his good pleasure." If then one thought or desire of escaping the wrath of God be excited in any person's mind, it should be turned into a prayer, that 'God would give him repentance 'and his Holy Spirit,' that he may be made wise unto salvation.
For though many boast of religicus knowledge, and value themselves on being acquainted with the scriptures; yet, except taught by the Spirit of God, the instinct of brutes will prove a far surer guide, than man's supposed wisdom: for the most saga- cious in other respects act foolishly in the most important concerns, and know not aright the truths, precepts, or ordinances of God; they neither profit by the dispensations of Provi- dence, nor prepare for the judgment to come.
When we see, how men oppose, neglect, abuse, or despise the scriptures; we may sometimes be ready to conclude, that they were given in vain, and that preachers and expositors labor to no purpose.
Yet, while many "wrest them to their own destruction," others are "made wise to salvation." But there is nothing worthy of the name of wisdom in those who reject revelation: and they will soon be ashamed of all the systems which they now adopt: they will be dismayed at the approach of those judgments, which they now deride; and find themselves caught in a snare, of which they now have no conception.-Selfish teachers indeed speak in a more soothing strain, and promise "peace when there is no peace:" thus men encourage each other in committing abomination without shame or fear; but, "in the day of visitation," their abus- ed plenty will be torn from them, and they will have no refuge to flee to.
V. 13-22.
Happy are they, who by calamities, or by any means, are brought to be silent in submission and self-abasement before God: ( Note , Ez . 16:60-63, v . 63.) for all, who are not thus humbled, will be silenced before his judgmentseat, and made to drink the water of gall for their sins. (Note, Rom . 3:19,20.)-While transgressors look for peace and prosperity, sudden destruction overtakes them: and there will be no charming or escaping the executioners of divine vengeance; no comforting of themselves under these sorrows.
But, however the servants of God may grieve for the miseries, which they foresee coming upon those whom they love; they will soon be satisfied with the reasons of the divine conduct, and "their sorrow will be turned into joy." The justice of God is peculiarly manifest in the punishment of those who deem themselves secured, by the engagements of the new covenant and their relation to God; whilst they idolize the world and are slaves to their lusts. As salvation by Christ can only be found in this life, so the