View Jeremiah 7 in the note window.
A call to true repentance, ver. 1 - 7.
Not to live in theft, murder, adultery, perjury, &c., to trust in the
outward worship and temple of God, by the example of Shiloh, ver. 8 - 15.
The prophet is forbid to pray for them, ver. 16.
Their idolatry, and its judgment, ver. 17 - 20.
Their sacrifices rejected, and obedience required, ver. 21 - 28.
They are called to mourn for their abominations in Tophet, and their
judgments, ver. 29 - 34.
2: The gate - The east gate, which was the publick place of going
out and coming in, and where the people were then wont to assemble.
Proclaim - Proclaiming signifies both the authority by which he spake,
and the divulging of what he spake plainly and boldly; possibly, it
might be at some publick time, when all the males were to meet.
4: Saying - Because this was God's house, they flattered themselves
that he would not suffer the Chaldeans to destroy it, therefore the
prophet cautions them not to deceive themselves, trusting to the temple
and its buildings, as the two courts and house, and holy of holies implied
in the word these, which he doth as it were point to with his finger.
The emphasis, in this threefold repetition, seems to relate to the
confident, and reiterated boasts of the temple, that were in their
mouths. These - The prophet standing in the gate at which the people
entered, as it were, points at the several buildings pertaining to the
temple.
6: Oppress not - Here they are cautioned against three sins, that
this people were generally addicted to, oppression, blood, and idolatry;
and instances in the worst of oppressions, of such as God hath more
especially taken into his immediate protection.
9: Will ye steal - Can you think that this can be grateful to me, or
advantageous to yourselves, to frequent my house, and yet retain these
odious sins. Whom - Such as they had set up new, and never had any
experience of, and therefore could have no reason to serve them.
10: Delivered - After they had appeared before God with their
sacrifices, they thought they were privileged to return to all those
wickednesses.
11: A den - Do you look upon this house as a sanctuary for robbers
and murderers.
12: Shiloh - A place in the tribe of Ephraim. Where - Where I
did at first give you the pledges of my presence. What I did - He
utterly forsook it.
15: Even - The ten tribes.
16: Pray not - Certainly the prophet did pray that God would save a
remnant, though not that he would revoke his decree; or save the body
of them.
18: The children - Here God shews how busily they are employed from
the youngest to the oldest for their idolatry. The queen - As the sun was
looked upon as king, so the moon as the queen of heaven.
20: Shall not be quenched - He follows the threatening with shewing
his resolution is not to be revoked.
21: Put - Ironical words, take those that are peculiar, and to be
all burnt to me, and do what you will with them, I will have none of them.
To your sacrifices - That part of your sacrifices, which you are allowed
to eat, they are but as profane food.
22: For - God doth not condemn these offerings, save only
comparatively in respect of obedience, not so much these, as
obeying his commands.
25: Since the day - The church of God hath never wanted teachers
raised up and sent by God.
28: Cut off - There is no believing them in any thing they say.
29: Cut off thine hair - This was an usual token of sorrow among
the Jews. On high places - Upon the high places where thou wentest a
whoring from me. The generation - A generation destined to the wrath
of God.
30: In the house - It was not enough to have their idols abroad in
the hills and groves, but they must bring them into God's house.
31: Tophet - It comes from Toph, a drum, because they beat drums
to drown the children's screeches, when they burnt them in sacrifice
upon the altars, called here high places, to Moloch.
Tophet was situate in a pleasant valley near Jerusalem, a place in
the possession of the children of one Hinnom, (Jos 15:8).
