View Jeremiah 10 in the note window.
They are forbid to be afraid of the tokens of heaven, and consult
idols which are vain, ver. 1 - 5
and not to be compared with the majesty and power of God, who is
Jacob's portion, ver. 6 - 16.
The Babylonians destroy the temple; the brutish pastors and the
flocks are scattered, ver. 17 - 22.
The prophet's humble supplication, ver. 23 - 25.
2: Learn not - The Jews being to live among the Chaldeans in
their captivity, where many of them were already, the prophet
admonishes them against the Chaldean idolatries, who were all
much addicted to astrology. The signs - This was so common among
them, that Judicial astrologers, of what nation soever, were
generally termed Chaldeans. The Heathen - Leave this to Heathens;
it doth not become God's people.
9: Tarshish - Is the proper name of a sea - town in Cilicia, and
being a noted port, it is usually put for the ocean, and may signify
any place beyond the sea. Uphaz - Probably the best gold came from
thence as the best silver from Tarshish.
10: But - All these are but false gods. Living - These are all
but dead stocks and stones, Jehovah is the only living God,
having life in himself, and giving life to all things else.
An everlasting king - Time devours them all, but the true God
is everlasting.
13: When - As in the former verse he relates God's unspeakable power
and wisdom in his creating and fixing the stated order of things, so
here he farther sets it forth in his providential ordering and disposing
of them.
14: Every man - Every idolator.
15: Visitation - When God shall come to reckon with Babylon and
her idols.
16: Portion - God, who vouchsafes to be the portion of his people.
The former - Idols are things framed or formed, but God is the former
of all things. The rod of his inheritance - So called, because the
inheritances of Israel were measured by a line, reed, or rod.
17: Gather up - The prophet now enters upon another subject.
Thy wares - Every thing thou hast any advantage by, all thy merchandise,
as men use to do in case of invasion by an enemy. The fortress - The
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the chief place of security in Judea.
18: Sing out - It denotes with how much violence and ease the
Chaldeans shall hurry away the people into Babylon. And therefore
it is said at this once, I will make one thorough quick work of it.
May find it so - Though they would never believe it, yet they shall
actually find the truth of my threatenings.
19: Woe is me - Here the prophet personates the complaint of the
people of the land.
20: My tabernacle - He describes the overthrow of the land, or
Jerusalem, by the breaking of the cords of a tabernacle, the use
whereof is to fasten it on every side to stakes in the ground,
which cords being broken the tabernacle falls.
21: The pastors - The rulers of church and state.
22: Noise - Rumour, report.
23: It is not - Lord we know it is not in our power to divert these
judgments that are coming upon us, but thou canst moderate, and limit
them as thou pleasest.
24: Correct me - Seeing thou wilt punish us, let it be a
correction only, not a destruction. Let it be in measure;
in the midst of judgment remember mercy. Anger - Lest if thou
shouldst let out thy fury upon me, thou wouldst utterly consume me.
25: The Heathen - Such as do not acknowledge thee for their God.
Call not - One part of worship put for the whole. If thou wilt pour
out thy fury, let the effects of it be to thine enemies, not unto
thine own people.
