Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 13

Verse 1

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-14

a linen girdle. Soft girdles, made of silk or linen, still worn by upper classes. Compare Ezekiel 16:10 . Some embroidered (Daniel 10:5 .Revelation 1:13 ; Revelation 15:6 ).

not in water. So that the cause of its marring be not mistaken.

Verse 2

got = bought.

Verse 4

Jeremiah's Eighth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Euphrates. On the road to Babylon, this river would be first met with at Carchemish, then held by the Egyptians (Jeremiah 46:2 ).

Verse 5

as = according as.

Verse 7

it was. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "and it was".

Verse 9

Jeremiah's Ninth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).

mar the pride, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:19 ). App-92 .

Verse 10

imagination = stubbornness.

Verse 11

house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4 .

house of Judah. See note on Jeremiah 3:18 .

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

that they might be unto Me for a people. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:5 ). App-92 .

Verse 12

the LORD God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 11:3 .

bottle = an earthenware jar: not leathern or skin bottles.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

Verse 15

ye. Now addressing all.

hath spoken. Jehovah's words, not Jeremiah's.

Verse 16

darkness. Hebrew. nephesh. A Homonym, with two meanings (darkness and daylight). See note on 1 Samuel 30:17 .

Verse 17

my soul = Me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

weep . . . weep sore . . . rundown. Figure of speech Anabasis. App-6 .

run down, &c. Compare Matthew 26:38 . Luke 19:41 . See App-85 .

Verse 18

the king and to the queen. This was Jehoiachin, and the queen-mother. See 2 Kings 24:12 , 2 Kings 24:15 . Jehoiachin was only eighteen, so that the queen-dowager would hold a position of some influence (490, or 489 B.C.)

principalities = head-gear.

Verse 19

cities. So in Codex "Mugah"; but Codex "Hallel" (both quoted in the Massorah) reads "eyes".

the south = the Negeb. See note on Psalms 126:4 . Compare Genesis 12:9 ; Genesis 13:3 .

Verse 20

the north. See notes on Jeremiah 1:13 ; Jeremiah 3:12 ; Jeremiah 6:1 , &c.

Verse 22

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

Verse 23

Can . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis and Paroemia. .

accustomed = schooled, or trained.

Verse 24

stubble = (Hebrew. kash), not crushed straw (Hebrew. teben).

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 25

trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

Verse 27

when shall it once be? = how long ere it yet be?