Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

“Compare 1Ki 2:26, 27; a stigma was cast thenceforth on the whole sacerdotal family resident there; this may be alluded to in the words here, "the priests . . . in Anathoth." God chooses "the weak, base, and despised things . . .”

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed…

“Jeremiah's call to the prophetical office. unto me--other manuscripts read "to him"; but English Version probably represents the true Hebrew text; this inscription was doubtless made by Jeremiah himself.”

“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

“From the long duration of his office (Jer 1:2, 3; Jer 43:8, &c.), it is supposed that he was at the time of his call under twenty-five years of age. child--the same word is translated, "young man" (2Sa 18:5).”

See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”

“In Jer 31:28, God is said to do what Jeremiah here is represented as doing (compare Jer 18:7; Eze 43:3). root out-- (Mt 15:13). pull down--change of metaphor to architecture (2Co 10:4).”

Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”

“Another vision, signifying what is the "word" about to be "performed," and by what instrumentality. seething--literally, "blown under"; so boiling by reason of the flame under it kept brisk by blowing.”

This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?

“Mic 6:3; compare De 32:4). walked after vanity--contrasted with "walkest after me in the wilderness" (Jer 2:2): then I was their guide in the barren desert; now they take idols as their guides. vanity . . .”

Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:

“Kedar--that is, the heathen nations, west and east. Go where you will, you cannot find an instance of any heathen nation forsaking their own for other gods.”

The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

“Tahapanes takes its name from a goddess, Tphnet [CHAMPOLLION]. Memphis is from Man-nofri, "the abode of good men"; written in Hebrew, Moph (Ho 9:6), or Noph.”

Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?

“"Has not this procured (it, that is, the impending calamity) unto thee, that hast forsaken?" &c. (Jer 4:18). led-- (De 32:10). the way--The article expresses the right way, the way of the Lord: namely, the moral training which they enjoyed in the Mosaic covenant.”

Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile?

“Sihor--that is, the black river, in Greek, Melas ("black"), the Nile: so called from the black deposit or soil it leaves after the inundation (Isa 23:3). The Septuagint identifies it with Gihon, one of the rivers of Paradise.”

How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.

“"Trimmest" best suits the image of one decking herself as a harlot. way--course of life. therefore--accordingly. Or else, "nay, thou hast even," &c. also . . .”

“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled?

“They say--rather, as Hebrew, "saying," in agreement with "the LORD"; Jer 2:37 of last chapter [MAURER]. Or, it is equivalent to, "Suppose this case." Some copyist may have omitted, "The word of the Lord came to me," saying.”

“Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated?

“In . . . ways . . . sat for them--watching for lovers like a prostitute (Ge 38:14, 21; Eze 16:24, 25), and like an Arab who lies in wait for travellers.”

She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away.

“The epithets are characteristic; Israel "apostate" (as the Hebrew for "backsliding" is better rendered); Judah, not as yet utterly apostate, but treacherous or faithless. also--herself also, like Israel.”

Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.

“English Version, however, may be explained to refer to Israel. lightness--"infamy." [EWALD]. MAURER not so well takes it from the Hebrew root, "voice," "fame."”

Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God.

“Only acknowledge-- (De 30:1, 3; Pr 28:13). scattered thy ways, &c.-- (Jer 2:25). Not merely the calves at Beth-el, but the idols in every direction, were the objects of their worship (Eze 16:15, 24, 25).”

“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you—one from a city and two from a family—and bring you to Zion.

“But the Septuagint in this passage translates, "I will be Lord over you." And the "for" has much more force in English Version than in that of GESENIUS. The Hebrew hardly admits the rendering though [HENGSTENBERG].”

Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’

“The good land covenanted to Abraham is to be restored to his seed. But the question arises, How shall this be done? put . . . among . . . children--the Greek for adoption means, literally, "putting among the sons." the children--that is, My children.”

At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people…

“Image of the invading Babylonian army (Ho 13:15). Babylon in its turn shall be visited by a similar "destroying wind" (Jer 51:1). of . . . high places--that is, that sweeps over the high places. daughter--that is, the children of my people.”

Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?

“Only one means of deliverance is left to the Jews--a thorough repentance. vain thoughts--namely, projects for deliverance, such as enlisting the Egyptians on their side. GESENIUS translates, "How long wilt thou harbor vain thoughts?"”

Warn the nations now! Proclaim to Jerusalem: “A besieging army comes from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.

“The neighboring foreign "nations" are summoned to witness Jehovah's judgments on His rebel people (Jer 6:18, 19). watchers--that is, besiegers (compare 2Sa 11:16); observed or watched, that is, besieged. their voice--the war shout.”

My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent.

“The prophet suddenly assumes the language of the Jewish state personified, lamenting its affliction (Jer 10:19, 20; Isa 15:5; compare Lu 19:41). at my very heart--Hebrew, "at the walls of my heart"; the muscles round the heart.”

“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”

“Jehovah's reply; they cannot be otherwise than miserable, since they persevere in sin. The repetition of clauses gives greater force to the sentiment. wise . . . evil . . . to do good . . .”

I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.

“fruitful place--Hebrew, Carmel. a wilderness--Hebrew, "the wilderness," in contrast to "the fruitful place"; the great desert, where Carmel was, there is now the desert of Arabia [MAURER]. cities--in contrast to the fruitful place or field.”

And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint?

“He uses the term "distendest" in derision of their effort to make their eyes look large [MAURER]; or else, "rentest," that is, dost lacerate by puncturing the eyelid in order to make the antimony adhere [ROSENMULLER].”