Jeremiah 18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:6

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord ,.... Make, and mar, and remake at pleasure? certainly he could. God is a sovereign Being, and has a sovereign and uncontrollable power over his creatures; he has an indisputable right unto them, and can dispose of them as he pleases; he has as good a right to them, and as great power over them, as the potter has to and over his clay, and a better and greater; since they are made by him, and have their all from him, their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:7

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom ,.... By way of threatening: or, "the moment I shall speak" F19 רגע אדבר "momento loquor", Schmidt; "momento eloquor", Junius & Tremellius; "momento ut loquutus fuero", Tigurine version. , &c; as soon as ever I have declared concerning any people whatever, Jews or Gentiles; that if they go on in their sins, and remain impenitent, and do not turn from them, that they must expect I will quickly come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:8

If that nation against whom I have pronounced ,.... Such a sentence as this, should immediately, upon the above declaration, do as Nineveh did: turn from their evil ; their evil of sin, their evil ways and works, as an evidence of the truth of their repentance for former sins: I will repent of the evil that one thought to do unto them ; as they change their course of life, God will change the dispensations of his providence towards them, and not bring upon them the evil of punishment... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:9

And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom ,.... By way of promise on the other hand: or, "and the moment I shall speak", &c.; as in Jeremiah 18:7 ; in favour to a people; signifying, that if they do that which is right and good, and continue therein, it may be expected that I will appear for and among such a nation and kingdom: to build and to plant it ; to build up its fences that have been broken down, and to plant it with pleasant... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:10

If it do evil in my sight ,.... What is sinful, contrary to the law and will of God, openly and publicly, in a bold and daring manner: that it obey not my voice : in my word, and by my prophets, but turn a deaf ear to them, and slight and despise all instructions, admonitions, and reproofs: then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them ; or, "do them good" F20 להיטיב אותו "ad benefaciendum ei", Montanus; "ut benefacerem ei", Valablus, Pagninus;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:11

Now therefore go to ,.... This is the application of the above general rules of procedure to the people of the Jews, and particularly that which relates to the destruction of a nation or kingdom, and the declaration of it in order to reclaim them: speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem , saying, thus saith the Lord ; or, "to the man of Judah" F21 אל איש יהודה "ad virum Jehudah", Montanus, Cocceius, Schmidt. ; the body of the Jewish nation, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:12

And they said, there is no hope ,.... Or, "but they said" F23 ואמרו "sed dixerunt", Schmidt; "sed dicunt", Piscator. ; not that there was no hope of the grace and mercy of God, upon their repentance and reformation, for that is before declared; but that they were so hardened in their sins, so fixed in their wicked courses, and so determined to go on in them, that there was no room for the prophet to hope of ever reclaiming them; signifying, that it was to little purpose to talk to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:13

Therefore thus saith the Lord ,.... This being the case of the people of the Jews, and they so resolutely bent on their own ways: ask ye among the Heathen ; inquire among the nations of the world, the Gentiles that know not the true God, and have not the external revelation of his will, only the dim light of nature to guide them; and see if anything like this is to be found among them, as with this people, favoured with the law of God, his word and ordinances to direct them, and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:14

Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon, which cometh from the rock of the field ?.... Lebanon was a mountain on the borders of Judea, the top of which was covered in the summertime with snow, from the whiteness of which it had its name, Lebanon; as the Alps, for the same reason, which lie between France and Italy: now, the snow being dissolved by the heat, ran in flowing streams down the rocks into the field and plain, where they might be easily come at, and drank of; and would a thirsty... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:15

Because my people hath forgotten me ,.... Or, "that they have forgotten me" F26 כי שכחני "quod obliti sunt", Schmidt. ; this is the horrible thing they have done, which was unheard of among the Gentiles, who were always tenacious of their gods, and the worship of them; and that foolish and unwise thing, which was like leaving pure flowing streams of water for dirty puddles. This is to be understood of their forsaking the worship of God, as the Targum interprets it, and following... read more

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