View Jeremiah 1 in the note window.
The pedigree, time, and calling of Jeremiah, confirmed against his
excuses, ver. 1 - 10.
His visions of an almond - rod and seething pot, ver. 11 - 14.
His heavy message against Judah, ver. 15, 16.
God promises him his assistance, ver. 17 - 19.
1: Anathoth - Was a city three miles from Jerusalem, allotted out
of the tribe of Benjamin for the priests.
2: The word - That commission from God that authorized him to his
prophetic work, for the space of forty - one years successively in Judea,
viz. from the 13th year of Josiah to the 11th year of Zedekiah,
besides the time that he prophesied in Egypt. In the days - During
his reign. Thirteenth - By which it appears that Jeremiah prophesied
the last eighteen years of Josiah's reign; for he reigned thirty - one
years, (2Ki 22:1).
3: It - The word of the Lord. Jehoiakim - Called at first by
Josiah, Eliakim. Jehoahaz and Jehoiakin, whereof the former
reigned before him, the latter succeeded, are conceived not to be
mentioned, because they reigned each of them but three months, and
therefore not considerable. Of Jerusalem - The inhabitants of
Jerusalem, under Zedekiah, during all which time Jeremiah
prophesied. Captive - This does not terminate the time of his prophecies;
for he prophesied also both in Judea, and in Egypt afterwards: but
only relates to what he prophesied while the city and temple were
standing, the rest seeming to be added as a supplement.
Fifth month - Of that present year; for, tho' the year end not at the
fifth month, yet it might end the year of Zedekiah's reign, because he
might begin his reign at the fifth month of the year.
4: Then - When he was first called to his office.
5: I sanctified - I ordained thee for this public service. He speaks
thus to Jeremiah, not to the other prophets, because he stood in need of
greater encouragement than they, both in respect of the tenderness of his
years, and the difficulties which he was to encounter with.
The nations - To other nations besides the Jews.
7: Thou shalt speak - Fear not, I will make thee eloquent and
courageous.
9: Then - God having excited the prophet by command and promise, now
in a vision confirms him, either by the hand of an angel, or by himself
in some visible shape.
10: The kingdoms - Having now received his commission, he is directed
to whom he is to go; to the greatest, not only single persons, but whole
nations, as the Babylonians, Persians, and Egyptians.
To pull down - That is, to prophecy that I will pull down; which I will as
certainly effect, as if thou hadst done it thyself: for, according to
scripture - usage, the prophets are said to do that which they foretell
shall come to pass. To plant - Metaphors taken from architects and
gardeners: either the former words relate to the enemies of God, and the
latter to his friends; or rather to both conditionally: if they repent,
he will build them up, he will increase their families, and settle them
in the land; if they do not, he will root them up, and pull them down.
11: Came unto me - This and the boiling caldron, ver.(13), is
thought to be at the same time, and in the same vision, when he was
first appointed to the work. Almond - tree - That had leaves, and
probably blossoms on it like Aaron's. This is a tree that blossoms
early, and speedily, and so it may point at either God's readiness,
to smite, ver.(12),
or Israel's ripeness to be smitten; this rod being like a portentous
comet, shewing to Jeremiah the miseries that were at hand, at the
death of Josiah, which soon followed this vision, the taxing them
by Pharaoh Necho, presently after the breaking in of the Chaldees,
Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and then the Babylonian
captivity.
12: Well seen - Or thou hast seen and judged right. Hasten - Word
for word, I will almond - tree it, that is, I will be upon them speedily,
in a short time. My word - My threatening against Judah and its
inhabitants.
13: Seething - Pot - I see a pot coming, meaning the Babylonian
army, who would besiege Jerusalem as a fire plays round the pot,
when it is to be made boil; and reduce the inhabitants to miserable
extremities. Face - Or front of the pot, or furnace, the place where
the fire was put in, or blowed up to make it boil. North - Indicating
from whence their misery should come, namely, from Chaldea, which lay
north from Jerusalem.
14: North - From Babylon.
15: The families - Those nations that were under one lord.
Kingdoms - The Babylonians, and their assistants; the Medes also
being in confederacy with them, whose king's daughter Nebuchadnezzar
married. His throne - Their seats, pavilions or tents shall be
pitched, which shall be as so many thrones. Entering - Of the gates,
or way leading to them.
17: Gird up - It is a speech taken from the custom of the countries
where they wore long garments; and therefore they girt them up about them,
that they might not hinder them in any work that required expedition.
Consume thee - Lest I destroy thee even in their sight, to become their
reproach.
18: This whole land - All its inhabitants in general; intimating,
that though men of all degrees should set themselves against him, yet
God would support him against their all, and would carry him thro' his
work, tho' his troubles would not be only great, but long; passing thro'
several king's reigns.
