Q² U¹ 4:3-31. Warnings. Threatenings. Alarm. V¹ 5:1-31. Investigation. U² 6:1-9. Warnings. Threatenings. Alarm. V² 6:10-21. Investigation. U³ 6:22-26. Warnings. Threatenings. Alarm. V³ 6:27-30. Reprobation.
U¹ W 3,4. Call to repentance. X 5-7. Alarm. W 8-18. Call to repentance. X 19-31. Alarm.518-500 B.C.
3 For thus [is] Yehovah's oracle to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to Yehovah (see Deut.10:16; 30:6. Spiritual circumcision in the O.T. is confined to these 3 passages), and take away the foreskins of your heart, all you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
5 Declare you all in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say (cp. 46:14; 50:2. "Judah" is put for Judah and Benjamin), ‘Blow you all the trumpet in the land:’ cry, gather together, and say, ‘Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.’
6 Set up the standards toward Zion: retire, stay not (all plural): for I will bring calamity from the north, and a great destruction (or, breaking up).
7 A lion (fig. put for the king of Babylon. Contrast 49:19 and see note there) is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the nations is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make your land desolate; and your cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.”
W l 8-. Call. m -8-13. Reason. l 14. Call. m 15-18. Reason.8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl:
for the fierce anger of Yehovah is not turned back from us.
9 “And it shall come to pass at that day, [is] Yehovah's oracle, that the heart (fig. put for courage) of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.” (all had become false and corrupt since Josiah's day)
10 “Then said I, “Ah, Adonai Yehovah! surely You have greatly deceived this People and Jerusalem (Heb. idiom for declaring that they would be decieved: i.e. the false prophets who prophesied peace), saying, ‘You all shall have peace;’ whereas the sword reaches to the soul.”
11 At that time shall it be said to this People and to Jerusalem, “A dry wind (ruach) of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of My people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
12 Even a full wind from those places shall come to Me: now also will I give sentence against them.” (or, "her", i.e. Jerusalem)
13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! for we are spoiled.
14 “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes affliction from the hill country of Ephraim. (the enemy would enter the Land from the north, as he afterward did)
16 Make you all mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.
17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she has been rebellious against me, [is] Yehovah's oracle.
18 Your way and thy doings have procured these things to you; this is your wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches to your heart.”
19 My bowels, my bowels! (fig. put for the emotions which produce and effect their movement) I am pained at the walls of my heart; my heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because I have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. (fig. put for tents, in which a large proportion of the people lived. See 2 Sam.18:17. 1 Kings 8:66. Cp. 10:20)
21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 For My people is foolish, they have not acknowledged Me; they are stupid sons, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil (they know the ways of the world), but to do good they have no knowledge. (they teach incorrectly)
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void (Heb. tohu va-bohu. After Satan's overthrow. See Gen.1:2. In Isa.34:11, the two words are in another light); and the heavens, and they had no lights.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. (God shook it up)
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no human, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down because of the presence of Yehovah (no Noah. This was before man was created in the flesh), and by His fierce anger. (He tore it up. Why would God destroy something that beautiful? Because Satan took 1/3 of God's children, and rather than destroy His children, He destoyed that earth age. God is long suffering)
27 For thus has Yehovah said, “The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. (see Lev.26:44. Cp.5:10,18)
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it. (see Num.23:19. There is a great change coming soon!!!)
29 The whole city (fig. put for its inhabitants) shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city (= all) shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.
30 And when you are spoiled (fig. put for idolatrous Israel. An adulterous woman), what will you do? Though you cloth yourself with crimson, though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge (with paint) your eyes with painting, in vain shall you make yourself fair; your lovers will despise you, they will seek your soul. (remember, we are speaking in a spiritual sense here)
31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewails herself, that spreads her hands, saying, ‘Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.’
V¹ Y¹ 1-5. Incrimination. Z¹ 6. Threatening. Invasion. (Fig.) Y² 7,8. Incrimination. Z² 9. Threatening. Vengeance. Y³ 10-13. Incrimination. Z³ 14-19. Threatening. Invasion. (Fig.) Y4 20-28 Incrmination. Z4 29-31. Threatening. Vengeance.5)
1 Run you all to and fro through the outskirts of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the market (or, open places of concourse) thereof, if you all can find a man (see Gen.18:26, &c. Points to reign of Jehoiakim rather than that of Josiah), if there be any that executes judgment, that seeks the truth; and I will pardon it. (see Gen.18:24-32)
2 And though they say, ‘Yehovah lives;’ surely they swear falsely.”
3 O Yehovah, are not Your eyes upon faithfulness? (the same word as in v.1) You have stricken them, but they have felt no pain; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
4 Therefore I said, “Surely these are become poor (or, impoverished, reduced in means. See Prov.6:11); they are foolish: for they know not the way of Yehovah, nor the justice of their Elohim.
5 I will get me to the great men, and will speak to them; for they have known the way of Yehovah, and the judgment of their Elohim: but these have together (or, with one accord) broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the deserts shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goes out from that place shall be torn in pieces: because their revolts are many, and their apostasies are strong.” (or many)
7 How shall I pardon you for this? your sons have forsaken Me (see Deut.32:15,21), and sworn by them (cp v.2) that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full (many codices read, "made them swear"), they then committed adultery (see Ex.20:14. Deut.5:18. The usual formula for idolatry), and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
8 They were as fed horses in the morning (i.e. roaming at large): every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.
9 Shall I not visit for these things? [is] Yehovah's oracle: and shall not I Myself avenge herself on such a nation as this?
10 Go you all up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end (cp. v.18, and 4:27): take away her battlements; for they are not Yehovah's.
11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah (see 2:4) have dealt very treacherously against Me, [is] Yehovah's.
12 They have acted deceitfully against Yehovah (cp. Josh.24:27), and said, ‘It is not he; neither shall calamity come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:’
13 And the prophets (i.e. Jeremiah, and others with him. See on in 26:20) shall become wind (ruach), and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done to them.
14 Wherefore thus says Yehovah the Elohim of Zabaioth, Because you all speak this word, behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
15 Lo, I will bring (see Deut.28:49) a nation upon you from far (i.e. the Chaldeans, but not yet named as such), O house of Israel, [is] Yehovah's oracle: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation (cp. Gen.10:10), a nation whose language you know not, neither hear what they say. (fig. put for what is understood. Cp. 1 Cor.14:2)
16 Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.
17 And they shall eat up your harvest (see Lev.26:16. Repeated 3 times for great emphasis. Note the similar enumeration in Hab.3:17), and your bread, which your sons and your daughters should eat: they shall eat up your flocks and your herds: they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees: they shall beat down your fenced cities, wherein you confided, with the sword.
18 Nevertheless in those days, [is] Yehovah's oracle, I will not make a full end with you.
19 And it shall come to pass, when you all shall say, ‘Why does Yehovah our Elohim all these things unto us?’ (see Deut.29:24,25) then shall you answer them, ‘Like as you all have forsaken Me, and served foreign gods in your land, so shall you all serve foreigners (or, aliens) in a land that is not your's.’
Y4 n 20-22-. Call to revere God. o -22. On account of His power. p 23. Rebellion in heart. n 24-. Call. Refused. o -24. Notwithstanding His bounty. P 25-28. Rebellion in acts.20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah (cp. 4:15), saying,
which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
23 But this People has a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
24 Neither say they in their heart, ‘Let us now love Yehovah our Elohim,
that gives rain (see Deut.11:4), even the former and the latter, in his season: He reserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.’ (see Gen.8:22)
25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden the good things from you.
26 For among My People are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that sets snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
28 They are waxen fat (see Deut.32:15), they shine: yes, they overpass the deeds of a lawless one: they judge not the cause, the cause of an orphan, yet they prosper (or, that they [an orphan] should prosper. See Deut.10:18; 2:17; 27:19); and the right of the needy ones do they not judge.
29 Shall I not visit for these things? [is] Yehovah's oracle: shall not I Myself avenge herself on such a nation as this?
30 A astounding and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means (prophets were raised up when the priests failed in their duty. Now they had become in accord with them. Cp.23:25,26. Ezek.13:6, &c.); and My People love to have it so: and what will you all do in the end thereof?’ ’ ”
6)
1 O all you sons of Benjamin (fig. put for the whole of Judah, on account of their close connection with the Gibeathites [Judgg.19:16. Hos.9"9]), gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem (in 4:6 it was "flee to". Now Jerusalem itself is to be taken), and blow the trumpet in Tekoa (= a stockade. 5 miles south of Bethlehem, or 10 from Jerusalem), and set up a sign of fire-signal in Beth-haccerem (= house of the vineyards.) for evil appears out of the north (because the armies from Assyria entered the land from the north. See 3:12), and great fracture (or, damage, as in v.14).
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. (fig. put for the helpless inhabitants. See Deut.28:56)
3 The shepherds (i.e. the Chaldean armies. See 3:15) with their flocks shall come to her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
4 Prepare you all war against her (= Prosecute a holy war); arise, and let us go up at noon (in the heat of the day, when most are resting. Cp. 15:8. Song 1:7. Isa.32:2. See 2 Sam.4:5.). Woe to us! for the day goes away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. (se 15:8)
5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6 For thus has the Yehovah Zebbaioth said, “Hew you all down trees, and pour out (i.e. the earth from baskets to make a mount) against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
7 As a well casts out her waters (bored, or hewn out. Cp. 2 Sam.23:15,16. 1 Chron.11:17. See Gen.21:19), so she casts out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before Me continually is grief and wounds.
8 Be you instructed, O Jerusalem, lest I Mysel depart from you; lest I make you desolate, a land not inhabited.”
9 Thus says Yehovah Zebbaioth, “They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine (here, and in 18:13, one Codex reads, "on the vine"): turn back your hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
V² q 10. Sin. (Part.) Insensibility. r 11,12. Threatening. Captivity. s 13-15-. General corruption. t -15. Threatening. Fall. q 16,16. Sin. (Part.) Disobedience. r 18,19. Threatening. Retribution. s 20. General corruption. t 21. Threatening. Fall.
10 To whom shall I speak, and testify, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised (see Ex.6:12,30. Lev.26:41. An ear not brought into the covenant), and they cannot listen: behold, the word of Yehovah is to them a reproach (note the fate of Yehovah's word in the down-grade of Jeremiah's days. In 6:10 a reproach; in 8:9, rejected; in 17:15, scoffed at; in 23:36, perverted); and they have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the fury of Yehovah; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon a young child abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
12 And their houses shall be turned to others (see Deut.28:30), with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, [is] Jehovah's oracle.
13 For from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness (see Ex.18:21); and from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsely.
14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My People slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace;’ (see Isa.26:3) when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? no, they were not at all ashamed, neither knew they how to blush:
therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down,” says Yehovah.
16 Thus says Yehovah, “Stand you all in the ways, and see (a gracious appeal to avoid the threatened calamity, as in 2:2), and ask for the old paths (cp. 18:15), where is the right way, and walk therein, and you all shall find rest for yourselves (cp. Matt.11:29,30; where a like invitation and promse is given to those who will "learn". Following likewise on a preceeding threatening of judgment. Cp. Deut.28:65). But they said, ‘We will not walk therein.’
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Give you all heed to the sound of the trumpet.’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
18 Therefore hear, all you nations, and know, O assembly (in its civil aspect. A technical Pentateucal word. First occ. is Ex.12:3,6,19,47. Used technically of Israel), what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring calamity upon this People, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to My words, nor to My law, but rejected it. (note that "words" and "law" are put alternately)
20 To what purpose comes there to Me frankincense (fig., put for the whole incense of which it was an ingredient) from Sheba (in the south of Arabia) , and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to Me. (cp. Isa.1:11-15)
21 Therefore thus says Yehovah, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this People, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
22 Thus says Yehovah, Behold, a people comes from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. (idiom put for a great distance)
23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice will roar like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against you, O daughter of Zion.” (see v.2)
24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and terror is round about (cp. 20:3,10; 46:5; 49:29. Lam.2:22).
26 O daughter of My People, gird yourself with sackcloth, and wallow yourself in ashes: make yourself mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.<>
27 I have set you for a watchtower (or, an assayer) and a fortress among My People, that you mayest know and assay their way. (some codices read "heart" [i.e. mind])
28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron (not silver and gold. Cp. Ezek.22:18); they are all corrupters.
29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the refiner refines in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30 Rejected silver shall men call them, because Yehovah rejected them. (cp. Isa.1:2. Ezek.22:18)