Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 27

Verse 1

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

Given in reign of Jehoiakim to Jeremiah. Declared, after thirteen years, in fourth year of Zedekiah: i.e. in 485. Compare Jeremiah 26:12 .Jeremiah 27:0 and Jeremiah 28:0 were written by Jeremiah, or at his dictation. Compare "me", Jeremiah 27:2 ; Jeremiah 28:1 . Some codices, with Syriac, read "Zedekiah", as in Jeremiah 26:3 and Jeremiah 26:12 .

In the beginning. The Massorah ( App-30 ) notes the fact that this expression occurs three times at the commencement of a verse (Genesis 1:1 .Genesis 26:1 ; Genesis 27:1 ).

came. At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim; but it referred to a future time, as shown in Jeremiah 27:12 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

put them, &c. This was literally done, as a prophetic symbol; and at that time prophetic of what was to happen in the reign of Zedekiah, eleven years later.

Verse 3

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton to emphasize each respectively.

which come = that are coming. Part. Poel, as in Genesis 37:19 ; Genesis 41:29 , Genesis 41:35 .Genesis 4:16 ; Genesis 6:22 ; Gen 7:32 ; Genesis 9:25 ; Genesis 16:14 ; Genesis 23:5 , Genesis 23:7 ; Genesis 31:27 , Genesis 31:31 , Genesis 31:38 ; Genesis 32:7 ; Jeremiah 33:5 , Jeremiah 33:14 , &c. This was to take place eleven years later.

unto Zedekiah. Then and there we have the fulfilment of this prophecy.

Verse 4

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 5

I have made, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1:1 ). App-92 .

the ground. Hebrew the face of the ground. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 . Some codices read "the face of all the ground".

ground = earth.

great power . . . outstretched arm. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:6 . Deuteronomy 4:34 ; Deuteronomy 5:15 ; Deuteronomy 7:19 ; Deuteronomy 9:29 ; Deuteronomy 11:2 ; Deuteronomy 26:8 ).

Verse 6

Nebuchadnezzar. Some codices spell it "Nebuchadrezzar".

My servant. Compare Jeremiah 25:9 . See Daniel 2:37 , Daniel 2:38 .

Verse 7

him, and his son, and his son's son: i.e. Evil Merodach, Nergelissar, and Nabonidus, in whose seventeenth year Babylon was taken by Cyrus. App-67 .

the very time = the appointed end.

great kings: i.e. the kings of Persia and Media (Daniel 2:39 ).

Verse 8

the same = him.

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

sword . . . famine . . . pestilence. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:25 , Leviticus 26:26 . Deuteronomy 28:21-24 ). App-92 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

Verse 9

diviners, &c. These were their heathen guides.

enchanters = observers of the clouds.

sorcerers. These were mediums and necromancers.

Verse 12

I spake: i.e. thirteen years after this prophecy came to him. See note on Jeremiah 27:1 .

to Zedekiah. It is not stated whether he ever addressed the two other kings. Jehoahaz and Zedekiah were the sons of Hamutal; Jehoiakim was the son of the proud Zebudah (2 Kings 23:36 ). Compare Jeremiah 13:18 .

Verse 13

Why . . . ? Figure of speech Asterismos.

by. Some codices, with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and by", thus completing the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. Compare Jeremiah 27:8 .

as = according as.

Verse 16

to the priests. Probably in the Temple. Compare Jeremiah 28:1 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

the vessels: which were taken away by Nebuchadnezzar in the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah (2 Kings 24:13 . 2Ch 36:7 , 2 Chronicles 36:10 . Daniel 1:2 ).

Verse 17

wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 18

Be = exists; or, he and remain. Hebrew. yesh. Compare Jeremiah 31:6 , Jeremiah 31:16 , Jeremiah 31:17 , and see notes on Proverbs 8:21 ; Proverbs 18:24 .

the LORD of hosts = Jehovah Zebaoth. See note on Jer 6:6 . 1 Samuel 1:3 .

at. Some codices, with three early printed editions, omit this "at".

Verse 19

remain. Probably because they were too heavy and cumbrous.

city. So the reading of Ben-Asher; but Ben-Naphtali reads "land". These were the two rival critics of the Hebrew text in the tenth century A.D. who furnished the vowel-points. Ben-Asher's work was done at Tiberias in 827 "from the destruction of Jerusalem", and is now at Aleppo. Of Ben- Naphtali nothing is known beyond official lists which have come down to us.

Verse 20

Jeconiah. Compare Jeremiah 24:1 .

Verse 21

in. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read this "in" in the text.

Verse 22

then will I bring them up. Fulfilled by Cyrus (Ezra 1:7 ; Ezra 5:13 , Ezra 5:14 ).