Benjamin. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the whole of Judah, on account of their close connection with the Gibeathites (Judges 19:16 . Hosea 9:9 ; Hosea 10:9 ).
flee out. In Jeremiah 4:6 it was "flee to". Now Jerusalem itself is to be taken.
blow . . . Tekoa. Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Hebrew. bithko'ah . . . tik'u.
Tekoa. Now Khan Teku'a, five miles south of Bethlehem, ten from Jerusalem.
a sign of Are = a fire-signal.
Beth-haccerem = house of the vineyards. Not identified. Conder suggests such a house at 'Ain Karim.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
north. Because the armies from Assyria entered the land from the north. See note on Jeremiah 3:12 .
destruction = fracture, or damage, as in Jeremiah 6:14 .
ear is uncircumcised. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:12 , Exodus 6:30 . Leviticus 26:41 ). Figure of speech Catachresis ( App-6 ). An ear not brought into the covenant.
a reproach. Note the fate of Jehovah's word in the down-grade of Jeremiah's days. in Jeremiah 6:10 a reproach; in Jeremiah 8:9 , rejected; in Jeremiah 17:15 , scoffed at; in Jeremiah 23:36 , perverted.
they. So the Mugah Codex quoted in the Massorah. But other codices, with three early printed editions, read "and they".
Stand ye, &c. A gracious appeal to avoid the threatened calamity, as in Jeremiah 2:2 .
old paths. Compare Jeremiah 18:15 .
good = right.
find rest. Compare Matthew 11:29 , Matthew 11:30 ; where a like invitation and promise is given to those who will "learn". Following likewise on a preceding threatening of judgment. Compare Deuteronomy 28:65 .
your souls = yourselves (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh.
congregation = assembly (in its civil aspect). Hebrew. 'edah, a technical Pentateuchal word. First occurrence in Exodus 12:3 , Exodus 12:6 , Exodus 12:19 , Exodus 12:47 . Used technically of Israel, fifteen times in Exodus; twelve in Leviticus; eighty-three times in Numbers. Found in the prophets only here; Jeremiah 30:20 ; and Hosea 7:12 (reference to Pentateuch) App-92 .
Verse 1
children = sons.
Benjamin. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the whole of Judah, on account of their close connection with the Gibeathites (Judges 19:16 . Hosea 9:9 ; Hosea 10:9 ).
flee out. In Jeremiah 4:6 it was "flee to". Now Jerusalem itself is to be taken.
blow . . . Tekoa. Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Hebrew. bithko'ah . . . tik'u.
Tekoa. Now Khan Teku'a, five miles south of Bethlehem, ten from Jerusalem.
a sign of Are = a fire-signal.
Beth-haccerem = house of the vineyards. Not identified. Conder suggests such a house at 'Ain Karim.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
north. Because the armies from Assyria entered the land from the north. See note on Jeremiah 3:12 .
destruction = fracture, or damage, as in Jeremiah 6:14 .
Verse 2
daughter. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the helpless inhabitants.
woman. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:56 ). App-92 .
Verse 3
shepherds: i.e. the Chaldean armies. See Jeremiah 3:15 ,
Verse 4
Prepare, &c. = Prosecute a holy war.
at noon. In the heat of the day, when most are resting. Compare Jeremiah 15:8 . Song of Solomon 1:7 . Isaiah 32:2 . See 2 Samuel 4:5 .
Woe unto us, &c. See note on Jeremiah 15:8 .
Verse 6
the LORD of hosts = Jehovah Zebbaioth, the first of thirtynine occurrences of this title in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 6:6 , Jeremiah 6:9 ; Jeremiah 8:3 ; Jeremiah 9:7 , Jeremiah 9:17 ; Jeremiah 10:16 ; Jeremiah 11:17 , Jeremiah 11:20 , Jeremiah 11:22 ; Jeremiah 19:11 ; Jeremiah 20:12 ; Jeremiah 23:15 , &c.)
cast a mount = pour out: i.e. the earth from baskets to make a mount.
Verse 7
fountain. Hebrew. bor = a well, bored or hewn out. Compare 2 Samuel 23:15 , 2 Samuel 23:16 . 1 Chronicles 11:17 . See note on Genesis 21:19 .
Verse 8
My soul = I myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
Verse 9
as a vine. Here, and in Jeremiah 8:13 , one Codex (Harley, 5720, B. M., Lond.) reads, "on the vine".
Verse 10
give warning = testify.
ear is uncircumcised. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:12 , Exodus 6:30 . Leviticus 26:41 ). Figure of speech Catachresis ( App-6 ). An ear not brought into the covenant.
a reproach. Note the fate of Jehovah's word in the down-grade of Jeremiah's days. in Jeremiah 6:10 a reproach; in Jeremiah 8:9 , rejected; in Jeremiah 17:15 , scoffed at; in Jeremiah 23:36 , perverted.
they. So the Mugah Codex quoted in the Massorah. But other codices, with three early printed editions, read "and they".
Verse 11
children = a young child. Hebrew. 'ul.
Verse 12
turned unto others. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:30 ).
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
Verse 13
covetousness. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 18:21 ). App-92 .
Verse 14
hurt. Same word as "destruction" (Jeremiah 6:1 ).
of the daughter. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read these words in the text.
Peace, peace. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. See note on Isaiah 26:3 .
Verse 15
could they = knew they how to.
Verse 16
Stand ye, &c. A gracious appeal to avoid the threatened calamity, as in Jeremiah 2:2 .
old paths. Compare Jeremiah 18:15 .
good = right.
find rest. Compare Matthew 11:29 , Matthew 11:30 ; where a like invitation and promise is given to those who will "learn". Following likewise on a preceding threatening of judgment. Compare Deuteronomy 28:65 .
your souls = yourselves (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh.
Verse 17
Hearken = Give ye heed. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "And (therefore) give ye heed".
Verse 18
congregation = assembly (in its civil aspect). Hebrew. 'edah, a technical Pentateuchal word. First occurrence in Exodus 12:3 , Exodus 12:6 , Exodus 12:19 , Exodus 12:47 . Used technically of Israel, fifteen times in Exodus; twelve in Leviticus; eighty-three times in Numbers. Found in the prophets only here; Jeremiah 30:20 ; and Hosea 7:12 (reference to Pentateuch) App-92 .
Verse 19
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'.
My law. Reference to Pentateuch. Note that "words" and "law" are put alternatively.
Verse 20
incense = frankincense. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , ror the whole incense of which it was an ingredient.
Sheba. In the south of Arabia.
not acceptable. Compare Isaiah 1:11-15 .
Verse 21
tower = watchtower; or, an assayer.
try = assay (as an assayer of metals).
way. Some codices read "heart".
Verse 22
the sides, &c. Idiom for a great distance.
Verse 23
roareth = will roar. Compare Isaiah 5:29 , Isaiah 5:30 . Compare Isaiah 5:29-30 .
men. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14
Verse 25
fear is on every side = terror is round about. Compare Jeremiah 20:3 , Jeremiah 20:10 ; Jeremiah 46:5 ; Jeremiah 49:29 . Lamentations 2:22 .
Verse 26
and. Some codices, with five early printed editions, omit this "and".
Verse 28
brass and iron. Not silver and gold. Compare Ezekiel 22:18 .
Verse 29
founder melteth = refiner refineth.
Verse 30
Reprobate . . . rejected. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6) . Hebrew. nim'as . . . ma'as: i.e. rejected (silver) . . . rejected (them). Compare Isaiah 1:22 .Ezekiel 22:18 .