Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 7

Verse 2

Gate, before all the people. This discourse ends [in] chap. xiii. (Calmet)

Verse 3

Dwell. Hebrew, "make you dwell here." (Haydock)

Verse 4

Lord. The triple repetition shews the vain confidence of the people, who blindly imagined that the temple would screen them, (Calmet) and that external sacrifices would suffice. But they were rejected with the temple. (Worthington)

Verse 7

Dwell. Hebrew and Septuagint as [in] ver. 3. (Haydock)

Verse 9

Not, which have done you no good, and deserve not to be styled gods. (Calmet)

Verse 10

Because. Hebrew also, "although," (Sa; Grotius) "to perform," (Chaldean; Montanus) or "by doing." God must surely approve of our conduct, since we are unmolested. (St. Thomas Aquinas; Lyranus) --- But the Vulgate seems preferable, and the people attribute their success to idols, chap. xliv. 17., and 2 Paralipomenon xxviii. 23.

Verse 11

Robbers. Our Saviour alludes to this, Matthew xxi. 13. --- Seen. Think not to hide yourselves, as in a den. My temple shall not be an asylum for wretches. (Calmet)

Verse 12

Beginning, under Josue. (Haydock) --- The sins of a few priests caused this place to be abandoned, (1 Kings ii. 22., and iii. 4., and Psalm lxxviii. 60.) and shall the crimes of a whole people escape? (Calmet) --- It is true, that place and Jerusalem were once sanctified: but the people being criminal, God retires. (Worthington)

Verse 13

Early. Sparing no opportunity of reclaiming you. (Calmet)

Verse 15

Ephraim. The ten tribes (Worthington) had been led into captivity in the days of Ezechias, the great-grandfather of Josias. (Calmet)

Verse 16

Praise, offered to appease my wrath. (Haydock) --- This admirably shews the force of the saints’ intercession, which God does not reject, but rather encourages by such declarations. Abraham and Moses did not leave off praying for the guilty, (Genesis xviii. 23., and Exodus xxxii. 10.) and the Lord complains that there was none to withhold him, Isaias lxiv. 7., and Ezechiel xxii. 30. (Calmet)

Verse 18

Heaven. That is, the moon, which they worshipped under that name. (Challoner) --- Some understand the sun also the stars, chap. xliv. 17., and Isaias lxv. 11. All the family contributes to promote this idolatry.

Verse 21

Flesh. I reject your holocausts. Keep them for yourselves. (Calmet)

Verse 22

I commanded them not: viz., such sacrifices as the Jews at this time offered without obedience; which was the thing principally commanded: so that in comparison with it, the offering of the holocausts and sacrifices was of small account. (Challoner) --- The observance of the decalogue would suffice. Victims were to teach internal piety, Leviticus i. (Worthington) --- God "brought them out of Egypt, not for the sake of their sacrifices, but that they might....hear his word." (St. Irenæus, [Against Heresies] iv. 17.) --- This was the principal design. See Matthew ix. 13., and Osee vi. 6., and 1 Corinthians i. 17. (Maldonat) (Menochius) (Calmet) --- The rules for sacrifices were given after the adoration of the calf, as necessary preservatives against idolatry. (St. Thomas Aquinas, [Summa Theologiae] i. 2. q. 102. a. 3.) --- Yet the paschal lamb, &c., had been already commanded. (Calmet) --- Many such absolute expressions imply a condition or comparison. (Gloss.) (Proverbs viii. 10.) --- I brought. Several manuscripts read thus more accurately than the Hebrew, "He brought," (Kennicott) which Protestants abandon, (Haydock) though the present reading may stand. (Chappel.) (Crat.) --- Every variation should be noticed, as this and the former verse "seem greatly corrupted; perhaps the Syriac version will be the best guide to their true meaning." (Kennicott) --- Yet the passage is sufficiently intelligible in the Vulgate and Septuagint.

Verse 27

Thee. Septuagint omit this verse, which Grabe replaces. The people will be more inexcusable. (Haydock)

Verse 29

CHAPTER VII.

High. People lamented in such places, chap. ix. 13., and Judges xi. 35. (Calmet) --- Wrath, which he treats with the utmost severity. (Haydock)

Verse 30

Abominations. Hebrew. We have literally, "stumbling-blocks," offendicula. (Haydock) --- Manasses placed idols in the very temple, as the last kings of Juda did, 4 Kings xxiii. 4., and Ezechiel viii. 3.

Verse 31

Valley, to the south of the city. Here Moloc was adored, and Josias therefore contaminated the place, 4 Kings xxiii. 10. (Calmet) --- It was very delightful. (St. Jerome)

Verse 32

Place, elsewhere. (Haydock) --- This was verified when Nabuchodonosor and Titus besieged the city. (Calmet) --- The latter was quite shocked. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vi. 14.) See chap. xix., and xxxi. 40.

Verse 34

Bride. None shall think of marrying, (chap. xvi. 9., and xxv. 10.; Calmet) all being filled with lamentation. (Menochius)