View Jeremiah 20 in the note window.
Pashur smiting Jeremiah for this prophecy, receives a new name, and
fearful doom, ver. 1 - 6.
Jeremiah's impatience under their treachery and contempt, ver. 7 - 10.
Rejoices in hope of vengeance, ver. 11 - 13.
Curses his birth, ver. 14 - 18.
1: Immer - The course of Immer was the sixteenth course of the
priests, (1Ch 24:14).
Pashur was his son, that is descended from him.
3: Not called - God's meaning was, not that he should by men be no
longer called Pashur, but that his condition should not answer that name
Pashur, which signifies, a flourishing priest; but Magor - missabib,
that is, fear and terror on all sides.
7: Hast prevailed - Thou prevailedst against me. Jeremiah at
first excused himself to God, (Jer 1:6), but the Lord prevailed
against him replying, ver.(Jer 1:7),
Say not, I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee,
and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak, ver.(Jer 1:9).
This is all that is here meant, namely, God's over - ruling him contrary
to his own inclinations.
8: Since - Since I first began to be a prophet, I have faithfully
discharged my office, and that with warmth and zeal. Spoil - I have
prophesied that violence and spoil was coming. Because - Because of
that scorn and derision with which they treated him.
9: I said - He did not speak this openly, but in his heart.
But - He found in his heart a constraint to go on.
10: Prevail - Desiring nothing more than that I might be enticed
to speak or do something which they might make matter of a colourable
accusation.
11: But - The prophet recovering himself out of his fit of passion,
encourageth himself in his God, whom he calls the mighty and terrible
one, so declaring his faith in the power of God, as one able to save
him, and in the promise and good will of God toward him; therefore he
saith, The Lord is with me; such was the promise of God to this prophet,
when he first undertook the prophetical office, (Jer 1:8).
Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee saith
the Lord: from hence be concludes, that though he had many that pursued
after his life, yet they should stumble in their ways of violence, and
should not prevail. Ashamed - That they should be ashamed of what they
had done, or be brought to shame for what they had done; for prosper
they should not: or they acted like fools, and did not deal prudently
for themselves (so this word is translated, (Isa 52:13),) yea, they
should become a reproach, and their reproach should be a lasting
perpetual reproach that should not be forgotten.
14: Cursed - This sudden change makes some think that these words
proceeded from Jeremiah rather as a repetition of a former passion
into which the abuses of his enemies had put him, than as the immediate
product of his spirit at this time.
16: The cities - Sodom and Gomorrah; by the cry in the morning
and shouting at noon, he means the shouts and noises that enemies
make when they break in upon a place.
