Y��q��12-14. Literal. ����r��15-29. Symbol. The Cup. ���q��30-33. Literal. ����r��34-38. Symbols. Shepherds and Folds.
496 B.C.
�12: And it shall come to pass, when 70 years are accomplished (no necessary sequence with v.11. Verse 12 commences a fresh paragraph re the 70 years), that I will visit upon the king of Babylon (exactly 70 years later), and that nation, [is] Yehovah's oracle, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. (eb. masc. = the People rather than the land)
�13: And I will bring upon that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
�14: For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also (i.e. of the Chaldeans): and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.�
�15: For thus says Yehovah Elohim of Israel to me; �Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.
�16: And they shall drink, and reel to and fro, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.� (see Lev.26:25,33)
�17: Then took I the cup at Yehovah's hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Yehovah had sent me:
�18: To wit, Jerusalem (comes first [cp. v.29], because of 1 Pet.4:17. Amos 3:2), and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day; (probably added by Jeremiah when this prophecy had been fulfilled)
�19: Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;
�20: And all the mingled people (Heb. �ereb. cp. 50:37. Ezek.30:5. Dan.2:43. Ezra 9:2. Ps.106:35. In the inscription of Sennacherib [Belino's Cylinder, line 18] the Urbi are joined with the Arameans [nomad tribes west of the Euphrates]. Sennacherib says the Hezekiah had som "Urbi" soldiers with him in Jerusalem), and all the kings of the land of Uz (Job's country near dumea, Lam.4:21), and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah (now Gaza), and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,
�21: Edom, and Moab, and the sons of Ammon,
�22: And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and all the kings of the maritime counties which are beyond the sea,
�23: Dedan (on the borders of Edom, 49:8. Ezek.25:13), and Tema, and Buz (the country of Elihu. See Job 32:2 and intro to Job), and with their hair clipped at the corners,
�24: And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,
�25: And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,
�26: And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the earth, which are upon the face of the soil: and the king of babel shall drink after them. (the Massorah explains that this word is "babel", being a cypher by which the last letter of the alphabet is put for the first, and the next to last to the second, &c., by which Sh.Sh.Ch. becomes B.B.L. "Babel" [cp. 51:41, where both words are used]. There is another example in 51:1. See note there. 4 classes of nations are to drink of this cup of the fury of Yehovah Elohim of Israel [v.15]: (1) Jerusalem and Judah [v.18]; (2) Egypt, &c. [v.19]; (3) the mingled nations [vv.20-22]; and (4) the more distant nations [vv.23-25]. Daniel fills in these "times of the nations", which are not whithin the scope of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. But the point here is that the final judgment of the nations is yet future: when "Great Babylon" comes into remembrance, it will "drink after them". Cp.49:12. For this "Babel" [Sheshach] must be rebuilt and restored)
�27: Therefore you shall say to them, Thus says Yehovah Sabaioth, the Elohim of Israel; �Drink you all, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.� �
�28: And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then shall you say to them, �Thus says Yehovah Sabaioth; �You all shall certainly drink.
�29: For, lo, I begin to bring calamity on the city upon which My name is called, and should you all be utterly held guiltless? (cp. 1 Pet.4:17. Ex.20:7; 34:7. Num.14:18. Cp. 30:11; 46:28; 49:12) You all shall not be held guiltless: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, [is] Yehovah Sabaioth's oracle.� �
�30: Therefore prophesy you against them all these words, and say to them, �Yehovah shall roar from on high (cp. v.38, "as a lion"), and utter His voice from His set apart habitation; He shall mightily roar against His fold; He shall give a shout, as they that tread the winepress (cp. Isa.63:1-6), against all the inhabitants of the earth.
�31: A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for Yehovah has a controversy with the nations, He will judge all flesh; He will give them that are lawless to the sword, [is] Yehovah's oracle.�
�32: Thus says Yehovah Sabaioth, �Behold, calamity shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth.
�33: And the slain of Yehovah (by the sword. Cp. Isa. 66:16) shall be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
�34: Howl, all you rulers (of all kinds. Cp. 2:8; 6:3. All 3 had misrable ends: Jehoiakim [22:18; 36:30]; Jehoiachin, taken to Babylon; and Zedekiah, after his eyes were put out), and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, all you strong ones of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions (or, when you are disperced) are accomplished; and you all shall fall like a precious vessel. (i.e. fair, but fragile)
�35: And the rulers shall have no way to flee, nor the strong ones of the flock to escape.
�36: A voice of the cry of the rulers, and an howling of the strong ones of the flock, shall be heard: for Yehovah has spoiled their pasture.
�37: And the pastures of peace are silenced because of the fierce anger of Yehovah.
�38: He has forsaken His covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor (Sept. reads, "the [great] sword of the opressor. Cp. 46:16; 50:16), and because of His fierce anger.� �
Z��F��1-6. Jeremiah's mission. ����G��H��7-9. Opposition. ��������J��10,11. Defence. Princes. ���F��12-15. Jeremiah's message. ����G��H��16-23. Contention. ��������J��24. Defence. Ahikam.
F��s��1,2. Yehovah's house. Message. ����t��3-. Obedience. �����u��-3. Promise. ����t��4,5. Disobedience. ���s��6. Yehovah's house. Message.
26) 1: In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from Yehovah (i.e. before the siege, in the 3rd year of Jehoiakim. See 27:1. The first edition of the Prophets [aples, 1485-6], the first edition of the entire Heb. Bible [Soncino, 1488], and the second edition [Naples, 1491-3], introduce the word hazi = half, here, to indicate that the second half of Jeremiah commences here), saying,
�2: Thus says Yehovah; �Stand in the court of Yehovah's house (this was Jeremiah's most puplic utterance. Cp. 7:2), and speak to all the cities (put for inhabitants) of Judah, which come to worship in Yehovah's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them; diminish not a word: (see Deut.4:2; 12:32. The importanc eof this is seen from the note on v.18)
�3: If so be they will listen, and turn every man from his evil way,
that I may repent Me of the calamity, which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings.
�4: And you shal say to them, �Thus says Yehovah; �If you all will not listen to Me (see Lev.26:14. Deut.28:15), to walk in My law (Ex.20), which I have set before you,
�5: To listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I sent to you, even rising up early, and sending them, but you all have not listened;
�6: Then will I make this house like Shiloh (see 7:12), and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.� � � � (cp. 29:22)
�7: So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of Yehovah.
�8: Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that Yehovah had commanded him to speak concerning all the People, that the priests and the prophets and all the People took him, saying, �You shall surely die. (this was in accordance with Deut.18:20, as they would not believe that Yehovah could send such a message. A ref. to Gen.2:17. Jeremiah's danger was very real. Cp. vv.20-24)
�9: Why have you prophesied in the name of ehovah, saying, �This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant?� � And all the People (put for most of the People) were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of Yehovah.
�10: When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house to the house of Yehovah, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of Yehovah's house. (the Targum takes this to be the east gate)
�11: Then spoke the priests and the prophets to the princes and to all the People, saying, �Death's judgment is for this man ("judgment put for the effect of it: viz. the sentense of death. Cp. John 3:19: where krisis is put for the act or process of judging); for he has prophesied against this city, according as you all have heard with your ears.�
�12: Then spoke Jeremiah to all the princes and to all the people, saying, �Yehovah sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you all have heard.
�13: Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and listen to the voice of Yehovah your Elohim; and Yehovah will repent Him of the calamity that He has pronounced against you.
�14: As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seems good and necessary to you.
�15: But know you all for certain, that if you all put me to death, you all shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves (see Deut.19:10,13. Cp. Matt.27:25. Luke 23:13-15), and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth Yehovah has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.�
G��K��16,17. Defenders. Princes. ����L��v��18. Case of Micah.��� ����Favourable. ��������w��19. Conduct of Hezekiah.�����" ����L��v��20. Case of Urijah. ���������Adverse. ��������w��21-23. Conduct of Jehoiakim.���"
�16: Then said the princes and all the People to the priests and to the prophets (in favour of Jeremiah. Note the Structure and cp. vv.7-11 with vv.16-24); �This man is not worthy to die: for he has spoken to us in the name of Yehovah our Elohim.�
�17: Then rose up men of the elders of the land (some better aquinted with affaairs than others), and spoke to all the assembly of the People, saying,
�18: �Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah (= who is like God. The prophet whose book is called after his name. Contempory with Amos and Hosea in Israel, and with Isaiah in Judah), and spoke to all the People of Judah, saying, �Thus says Yehovah Sabaioth; �Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountains of the house as the high places of a forest.� � (see Mic.3:12. A prophecy which was wholly fulfilled as to the Jewish Zion [south of Moriah], but not as to the traditional Zion, south-west of Jerusalem)
�19: Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not revere Yehovah, and appeased the face Yehovah, and Yehovah repented Himself of the calamity which e had pronounced against them? (fig., see Ex.32:14) Thus might we procure great calamity against our souls.
�20: But (said in reply to the friends of Jeremiah by his adversaries) there was also a man that prophesied in the name of Yehovah, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim (light of Yehovah. this incincident is not recorded in the historical books, but it illustrates v.5. Kirjath-jearim = city forests. 4 miles west of hill overlooking Beth-shemesh, and almost 12 miles from Jerusalem), who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:
�21: And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death (1 of 11 rulers offended with God's messengers. See Ex.10:28): but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
�22: And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor (= God has given. See 26:22; 36:12,25), and certain men with him into Egypt.
�23: And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword (cp. Heb.11:37), and cast his dead body into the graves of the common People. (Heb. sons of the people)
�24: Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam (= a brother who raise up. The father of Gedaliah, who, when appointed governor by Nebuchadnezar, stood as the friend of Jeremiah. For a son of Ahiakam also befriended Jeremiah, see 40:6) the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah (= coney. See 2 Kings 22:3. See 30:10 for another son; 29:3 for another son. Also befriending Jeremiah), that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
Y��M��x��1-7-. Nations to serve Babylon. �������y��-7. For a limited time. ��������N��z���8. Exhortation. Nations. ������������a���9-11. Dehortation. �����������z���12,13. Exhortation. Zedekiah. ������������a���14,15. Dehortation. �����������z���16-. Exhortation. Priests and People. ������������a���-16,17. Dehortation. ���M��x��18-22-. Remaining vessels to go to Babylon. �������y��-22. For a limited time.
27) 1: In the beginning (the Mass�rah notes the fact that this expression occurs 3 times at the commencement of a verse, Gen.1:1. Jer.26:1; 27:1) of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, (at the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim; but it referred to a future time, as shown in v.12)
�2: �Thus says Yehovah to me; �Make you bonds and yokes, and put them upon your neck, (this was literraly done, as a prophetic symbol; and at that time prophetic of what was to happen in the reign of Zedekiah, 11 years later. 11 = judgment and disorder, defective administration)
�3: And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers that are comming to Jerusalem (Part. Poel, as in Gen.37:19; 41:29,35. Jer.4:16; 6:22; 7:32; 9:25; 16:14; 23:5,7; 31:27,31,38; 32:7; 35:5,14, &c. This was to take place 11 years later) to Zedekiah king of Judah; (then and there we have the fulfilled prophecy)
�4: And command them to say to their masters, �Thus says Yehovah Sabaioth, the Elohim of Israel; Thus shall you all say to your masters;
�5: �I have made the earth (see Gen.1:1), the human and the beast that are upon the earth, by My great power and by My outstretched arm (see Ex.6:6. Deut.4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 11:2; 26:8), and have given it to whom it seemed necessary to Me.
�6: And now have I given all these lands to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon (= may a prophet protect the crown), My servant (cp. 25:9. See Dan.2:37,38); and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. (God did this)
�7: And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, (i.e. Evil Merodach, Nergelissar, and Nabonidus, in whose 17th year [17 = victory] Babylon was taken by Cyrus. See Isa.45:1)
until the appointed end of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. (i.e. the kings of Persia and Media, an.2:39)
�8: And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, [is] Yehovah's oracle, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence (see Lev.26:25,26. Deut.28:21-24), until I have consumed them by his hand.
�9: Therefore listen not you all to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers (these were their heathen gods), nor to your observers of the clouds, nor to your sorcerers (these were mediums and necromancers), which speak to you, saying, �You all shall not serve the king of Babylon:�
�10: For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and you all should perish.
�11: But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, [is] Yehovah's oracle; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.� � � �
�12: I spoke also to Zedekiah king of Judah (i.e. 13 years after this prophecy came to him. See v.1. It is not stated whether he ever addressed the 2 other kings. Jehoahaz and Zedekiah were the sons of Hamutal; Jehoiakim was the son of the proud Zebudah, 2 Kings 23:36. Cp. 13:18) according to all these words, saying, �Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
�13: Why will you all die, you and your people, by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence, according as Yehovah has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
�14: Therefore listenen not uto the words of the prophets that speak to you, saying, �You all shall not serve the king of Babylon:� for they prophesy a lie to you.
�15: �For I have not sent them,� says Yehovah, �yet they prophesy a lie in My name; that I might drive you out, and that you all might perish, all you, and the prophets that prophesy to you.� �
�16: Also I spoke to the priests (probably in the Temple. Cp. 28:1) and to all this People, saying, �Thus says Yehovah;
�Listen not to the words of your prophets that prophesy to you, saying, �Behold, the vessels of Yehovah's house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon:� (which were taken away by Nebuchadnezzar in the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah, 2 Kings 24:13. 2 Chron.36:7,10. Dan.1:2) for they prophesy a lie unto you.
�17: Hearken not to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?
�18: But if they be prophets, and if the word of Yehovah exist (or, be and reamain) with them, let them now make intercession to Yehovah Sabaioth, that the vessels which are left in the house of Yehovah, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.�
�19: For thus says Yehovah Sabaioth concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain (probably because they were to heavy and cumbrous) in this city, (so the reading of Ben-Ashur; but Ben-Naphtali reads "land". These were 2 rival critics of the Heb. text in the 10th century A.D. who furnished the vowel-points. en-Ashur'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)
�20: Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah (= whom Yehovah establishes. Cp. 24:1) the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;
�21: Yes, thus says Yehovah Sabaioth, the Elohim of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of Yehovah, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;
�22: �They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, [is] Yehovah's oracle;
then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.� � (fulfilled by Cyrus, Ezra 1:7; 5:13,14 )