Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 2

Verse 1

Jeremiah's Fourth Prophecy (see Book comments for Jeremiah).

Moreover. Jeremiah 2:0 is the first chapter of the roll which was re-written after being burned (Jeremiah 36:0 ), while Jeremiah 11:0 is the first of the "many like words" (Jeremiah 36:32 ) added afterwards.

word. See note on Jeremiah 1:1 , Jeremiah 1:4

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

Go and cry. Jeremiah continued to retain his connection with Anathoth (Jeremiah 11:21 ; Jeremiah 29:27 ; Jeremiah 32:7 ; Jeremiah 37:12 ), though his mission was to Jerusalem.

saith the LORD. See note on Jeremiah 1:8 .

I remember thee. The expression is used in good part Psalms 98:3 ; Psalms 106:45 ; Psalms 132:1 .Nehemiah 5:19 ; Nehemiah 13:14 , Nehemiah 13:22 , Nehemiah 13:31 ; but in evil part Psalms 79:8 ; Psalms 137:7 . Nehemiah 6:14 ; Nehemiah 13:29 . Probably both senses here: the good on Jehovah's part (Jeremiah 2:3 .Hosea 11:1 ; Hosea 2:19 , Hosea 2:20 . Amos 2:10 ); and the evil on Israel's part, for even in the wilderness Israel was unfaithful (Amos 5:25 , Amos 5:26 . Acts 7:39-43 ).

youth. Compare Ezekiel 16:8 .

when. Compare Jeremiah 2:6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 2:7 ; Deuteronomy 8:2 , Deuteronomy 8:15 , Deuteronomy 8:16 ). Compare Nehemiah 9:12-21 .Isaiah 63:7-14 .

Verse 3

holiness unto the LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:6 ).

the firstfruits, &c, which were consecrated. Ref to Pentateuch (Exodus 23:19 . Deuteronomy 18:4 ; Deuteronomy 26:10 ). App-92 .

devour = devoured.

offend = be held guilty. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 4:13 , Leviticus 4:22 , Leviticus 4:27 ; Leviticus 5:2 , Leviticus 5:3 , Leviticus 5:4 , Leviticus 5:5 , Leviticus 5:17 , Leviticus 5:19 ; Leviticus 6:4 .Numbers 5:6 , Numbers 5:7 ). App-92 .

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a', App-44 . See note on Isaiah 45:7 .

Verse 4

house of Jacob. Occurs only here, and Jeremiah 5:20 , where it is "in the house of Jacob". The only other passage is Amos 3:13 .

the house of Israel. The Massorah ( App-30 ), records that this expression occurs twenty times in Jeremiah (here; Jeremiah 2:26 ; Jeremiah 3:18 , Jeremiah 3:20 ; Jeremiah 5:11 , Jeremiah 5:15 ; Jeremiah 9:26 ; Jeremiah 10:1 ; Jeremiah 11:10 , Jeremiah 11:17 ; Jeremiah 13:11 ; Jeremiah 18:6 , Jeremiah 18:6 ; Jeremiah 23:8 ; Jeremiah 31:27 , Jeremiah 31:31 , Jeremiah 31:33 ; Jeremiah 33:14 , Jeremiah 33:17 ; Jeremiah 48:13 ).

Verse 5

What iniquity. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:4 ). App-92 .

iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 .

fathers. Not merely recently, but of old (Jeremiah 2:7 . Judges 2:10 , &c).

vanity = the vanity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Ad-junct), for vain things: i.e. idols. Compare Jeremiah 10:3-10 , Jeremiah 10:15 ; Jeremiah 14:22 ; Jeremiah 16:19 , Jeremiah 16:20 . Deuteronomy 32:21 . Act 14:15 . 1 Corinthians 8:4 .

become vain? Compare 2 Kings 17:15 . Idolaters always become like the gods they worship. Compare Psalms 115:8 ; Psalms 135:18 .

Verse 6

brought us up. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 13:27 ; Numbers 14:7 , Numbers 14:8 . Deuteronomy 6:10 , Deuteronomy 6:11 , Deuteronomy 6:18 ).

led us. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 8:14-16 ; Deuteronomy 32:10 ).

shadow of death = deep darkness.

Verse 7

a plentiful country = a country of garden land. Hebrew the land of a Carmel. Compare Isaiah 33:9 ; Isaiah 35:2 .

Verse 8

they that handle the law. The law therefore well known, and the priests known as the custodians of it. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:11 .Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 ).

pastors = shepherds. Used of kings and other leaders of the People. Compare Jeremiah 17:16 ; Jeremiah 23:1-8 .

transgressed = revolted. Hebrew. pasha' . App-44 .

do not profit. Figure of speech Tapeinosis , for emphasis = lead to ruin.

Verse 9

plead = argue, contend.

children's children = sons' sons.

Verse 10

isles = coastlands, or maritime countries.

Chittim. See note on Numbers 24:24 .

Kedar. In Arabia. Two names used to represent west and east outlanders.

Verse 11

their glory = His glory. This is one of the emendations of the Sopherim ( App-33 ), by which the Hebrew kebodi ("My glory") was changed to kebodo ("His glory"), out of a mistaken idea of reverence.

Verse 12

Be astonished. Figure of speech Apostrophe .

very desolate = dried up, or, devoid of clouds and vapours.

Verse 13

fountain = a well dug out, but having living water.

cisterns = a hewn cistern, holding only what it receives.

can hold no water = cannot hold the waters.

Verse 14

servant? . . . slave? They were treated as such by Assyria, and afterward by Egypt.

spoiled = become a spoil.

Verse 16

Noph = Memphis, the capital of Lower Egypt, south of Cairo. Compare Jeremiah 41:1 .Isaiah 19:13 .

Tahapanes. The Greek Daphnae, on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. Compare Jeremiah 43:7 , Jeremiah 43:11 .

Verse 17

He led thee. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:12 ).

Verse 18

the way of Egypt. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 17:16 ).

Sihor: i.e. the Nile.

the river: i.e. the Euphrates.

Verse 19

is not in thee = should not have pertained to thee.

Verse 20

I will not transgress. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:8 ).

transgress. Hebrew. 'abar. A Homonym. Here = serve; else where = transgress. Not the same word as in verses: Jer 8:29 .

high hill . . . green tree. The places where the Asherah was worshipped. App-42 .

Verse 21

noble vine = choice, or precious vine.

strange = foreign.

Verse 22

nitre: i.e. a mineral alkali. In Palestine a compound of soap.

sope = soap.

marked = graven.

Verse 23

I have not gone. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one in margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read, "and I have not gone", &c.

Baalim = lords. Used here for false gods generally, including Moloch. Compare Jeremiah 7:31 ; Jeremiah 19:5 ; where Moloch is called Baal.

traversing = entangling.

Verse 24

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

her pleasure = her soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 26

their kings. Showing that Judah was still in the Land, but in Jehoiakim's reign.

their princes. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "and their princes", perfecting the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , emphasizing all classes.

Verse 27

stone. Here feminine, to agree with mother.

Verse 28

where . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:37 , Deuteronomy 32:38 ). App-92 .

for, &c. Figure of speech Epitrope.

Judah. Compare Jeremiah 11:13 .

Verse 30

devoured your prophets. See 1 Kings 18:4 , 1 Kings 18:13 ; 2Ki 21:16 . 2 Chronicles 24:21 . Compare Matthew 23:37 . Luke 11:47 . Acts 7:51 , Acts 7:52 .

Verse 31

generation. Once a chosen generation (Psalms 22:30 ; Psalms 24:6 ; Psalms 112:2 .Isaiah 53:8; Isaiah 53:8 ); now a perverse generation (Jeremiah 7:29 . Deuteronomy 32:5 .Psalms 78:8; Psalms 78:8 ). Compare Matthew 3:7 ; Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 12:34 , Matthew 12:39 , Matthew 12:41-45 ; Matthew 16:4 ; Matthew 17:17 .

a land of darkness: or, Is the land the darkness of Jah?

Verse 33

love. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the object loved. Compare Jeremiah 2:23 .

ones. Here "wicked" is Feminine = wicked women.

Verse 34

blood. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject), for the guilt of bloodshedding.

souls . Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

poor = helpless. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

it: i.e. the guilt (of bloodshedding) on the "poor innocents".

these: i.e. these [thy skirts] which evidence it. Note the Figure of speech Ellipsis , in this verse. Compare Jeremiah 22:17 .

Verse 35

plead = enter into judgment with.

sinned. Hebrew. chata . App-44 .

Verse 36

as = according as.

Verse 37

thine hands upon thine head. The Eastern custom of expressing grief. Compare 2 Samuel 13:19 .