Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 4

Verse 1

Blocks; idols, (Calmet) and other occasions of sin. (Haydock)

Verse 2

Swear, when requisite. (Calmet) --- Thus thou wilt learn to confess one God. (Theodoret) --- If all were upright, oaths would be unnecessary, Matthew v. 34. But as they are not so, (Calmet) this may be a religious act. (Worthington) --- Justice. These three conditions are essential. (Haydock) --- Him; the people, (Calmet) or God. (St. Jerome) --- An oath must attest God, and be used when a thing is true and of moment. (Worthington)

Verse 3

Thorns. Your misconduct hinders your advancement. (Calmet)

Verse 4

Hearts. Understand, and act with purity. (Haydock)

Verse 5

Cities. Nabuchodonosor is at hand.

Verse 7

Robber. Nabuchodonosor attacks unjustly, (Calmet) though he be God’s scourge.

Verse 9

Heart; counsel and vigour. --- Prophets of falsehood.

Verse 10

Alas! Protestants, "Then I said: Ah! Lord God, surely thou hast deceived," &c., (Haydock) by permitting the people to follow false prophets, Isaias lxi. 17., and Psalm xliii. 19.

Verse 11

Desert of Arabia. It may designate Nechao, (2 Paralipomenon xxxv. 20.) who slew Josias, after whose death all fell to ruin.

Verse 15

Ephraim. At Bethel and Dan the calves were adored. (Calmet) --- But they were now no more. (Haydock) --- The irruption of Nabuchodonosor is announced. He set himself up for a god.

Verse 16

Guards. The Chaldeans will besiege the city, and prevent provisions from entering, 4 Kings xxv. 1. (Calmet)

Verse 19

My. God, (St. Jerome) the people, (Grotius) or rather Jeremias speaks.

Verse 20

Moment. The cities are destroyed as easily as a tent.

Verse 22

Me, practically. They have not honoured me as they ought. (Calmet) --- If they were indeed devoid of sense, they would be excused. (Worthington)

Verse 23

Void. Hebrew, "Thohu and bohu," like chaos, Genesis i. 2. (Haydock)

Verse 25

CHAPTER IV.

Gone. Beasts feel the wrath of God, and in a land uninhabited; not even birds will remain, Osee iv. 3. (St. Jerome)

Verse 26

Carmel: the beautiful country of Palestine, (Haydock) Jerusalem, (Theodoret) or the mountain so called.

Verse 27

Destroy, when Jechonias was led captive. God allowed the people still eleven years to repent; and he afterwards restored the Jews. (Calmet) --- He will never suffer his church to perish. (Worthington)

Verse 28

Repented. Only a finite being can do this. God’s resolution is here unconditional and fixed.

Verse 30

Stone, or antimony, like Jazabel, (4 Kings ix. 30.) to darken and enlarge the eye-lids. --- Lovers. Infidel nations of Egypt, &c.

Verse 31

Child. Hebrew and Septuagint, "a first-born," when the pains are most acute. (Calmet)