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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 18:21

Pour out ... sword - literally, “pour them out upon the hands of the sword, i. e., give them up to the sword.”Put to death - Rather, slain of death. The prophet’s phrase leaves it entirely indefinite in what way the men are to die. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 18:19-23

Jeremiah 18:19-23. Give heed to me, O Lord The people had determined not to give heed to any of his words, (Jeremiah 18:18,) nor to admit any of his complaints, nor take the least notice of his grievances; therefore he appeals to God, as an impartial judge, that would hear both sides, as every judge ought to do. It is a matter of comfort to faithful ministers that, if men will not give heed to their preaching, yet God will give heed to their praying. And hearken to the voice of them that... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:1-23

Lessons from the potter (18:1-23)A potter can make a lump of clay into whatever shape he wants. He can also change the kind of vessel he is making, if he thinks that conditions require it (18:1-4). As a potter determines the kind of vessel he makes, so God determines the destinies of nations, and this is the lesson that the people of Judah must learn (5-6). He may announce judgments on a nation, but he may withdraw those judgments if the nation repents. On the other hand, he may promise... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Jeremiah 18:21

JEREMIAH'S PRAYER AGAINST HIS ENEMIES"Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, and their young men smitten of the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them; for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet. Yet, Jehovah, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me;... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 18:21

21. pour out their blood by the force of the sword—literally, "by the hands of the sword." So Ezekiel 35:5. MAURER with JEROME translates, "deliver them over to the power of the sword." But compare Psalms 63:10, Margin; Isaiah 53:12. In this prayer he does not indulge in personal revenge, as if it were his own cause that was at stake; but he speaks under the dictation of the Spirit, ceasing to intercede, and speaking prophetically, knowing they were doomed to destruction as reprobates; for... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 18:18-23

Jeremiah’s reaction to a plot against his life 18:18-23This is another section that contains one of Jeremiah’s "confessions." Evidently there were several separate plots against the prophet’s life (cf. Jeremiah 11:18-23; Jeremiah 12:1-6). People hated him because he brought bad news and called them to repent and to return to Yahweh and His covenant, which most of the people did not want to do. But really the people were rejecting Yahweh (cf. 1 Samuel 8:7). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 18:21-22

The prophet asked the Lord to bring calamity on them for the calamity they planned to bring on him. Since they refused to repent and had tried to kill Yahweh’s messenger, let the invasion and all its horrors overtake them. Jeremiah was not requesting some special visitation of judgment on the people. He was asking the Lord to allow the threatened judgment, which he had been urging the people to avoid by repenting, to descend. They refused to repent. His strong request probably did not spring... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 18:1-23

1-17. Figure of the potter’s clay.3. The potter’s house] Clay from which pottery was made was found S. of Jerusalem: cp. Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:10. The potter teaches Jeremiah important lessons concerning the providential rule of the world. ’As I watched him shaping the pliant clay, remodelling the imperfect vessels until they conformed to his ideal, God revealed to me the manner in which He is able to mould at His will the nations. At the same time I realised that man may render God’s... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 18:21

(21) Therefore deliver up their children . . .—The bitter words that follow startle and pain us, like the imprecations of Psalms 35, 69, 109. To what extent they were the utterances of a righteous indignation, a true zeal for God, which had not yet learnt the higher lesson of patience and forgiveness, or embodied an element of personal vindictiveness, we are not called on to inquire, and could not, in any case, decide. It is not ours to judge another man’s servant. In all like cases we have to... read more

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