Jeremiah 2:18 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 2:18

Jeremiah 2:18. And now what hast thou to do, &c. “The kings of Egypt and Assyria were the most potent monarchs in the neighbourhood of Judea; and according as either of these was the stronger, the Jews made their court to him, and desired his assistance. This is expressed by drinking the waters of Sihor, an Egyptian river, which some suppose, and Dr. Waterland renders, the Nile; (see note on Isaiah 42:0; Isaiah 3:0;) and of the Euphrates, called here the river, by way of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:1-19

A nation’s unfaithfulness (2:1-19)While Josiah was reconstructing the outward form of Judah’s religion, Jeremiah was searching into the deeply rooted attitudes of the people and trying to bring about a truly spiritual change. He contrasts the nation’s present sad condition with its devotion to God in former days. Israel once loved God, as a bride loves her husband. She was like the firstfruits of the harvest that belonged to God, and those who plundered her were punished (2:1-3).God now... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 2:18

the way of Egypt. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 17:16 ). Sihor: i.e. the Nile. the river: i.e. the Euphrates. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 2:18

Jeremiah 2:18. And now what hast thou to do, &c.— The kings of Egypt and Assyria were the most potent monarchs in the neighbourhood of Judea; and according as either of these was the stronger, the Jews made their court to him, and desired his assistance. This is expressed by drinking the waters of Sihor, an Egyptian river, which some suppose to be the Nile; (see Joshua 13:3.) and of Euphrates, called here the river, by way of eminence. The expressions allude to Jer 2:13 where human... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 2:18

18. now—used in a reasoning sense, not of time. the way of Egypt—What hast thou to do with the way, that is, with going down to Egypt; or what . . . with going to Assyria? drink . . . waters—that is, to seek reinvigorating aid from them; so Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 2:36; compare "waters," meaning numerous forces (Jeremiah 2:36- :). Sihor—that is, the black river, in Greek, Melas ("black"), the Nile: so called from the black deposit or soil it leaves after the inundation (Isaiah 23:3). The... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 2:14-19

Israel’s perverse conduct 2:14-19Perverse conduct was the consequence of Israel’s apostasy and infidelity, and it led to slavery. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 2:18

God’s people had turned to Egypt and Assyria for refreshment, instead of to Him (cf. Isaiah 30:1-5). In Jeremiah’s day there was a pro-Egyptian party and a pro-Assyrian party. [Note: Feinberg, p. 392; Graybill, p. 661.] The designation of the Nile River as the shihor (lit. blackness) may have been a way of denigrating the river, which was one of Egypt’s primary gods. The Nile was muddy, and that may be the reason it was called "black."This reference to the Judahites seeking help from Egypt and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:1-30

The Prophet Sets Forth the Sin of the Nation and Points Out the Inevitable Result (Reign of Josiah, and Probably Before the Reforms of that King: cp. Jeremiah 3:6)This section furnishes us with the gist of the prophet’s testimony during the early years of his ministry, and doubtless represents the commencement of the roll written by Baruch at Jeremiah’s dictation. In these five chapters he lays before his hearers the grossness of their conduct in deserting Jehovah, and urges repentance and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:1-37

Jeremiah’s Second Prophecy (2:1-3:5)The prophet expostulates with Israel because of their unfaithfulness to Jehovah.1-13. Under the figure of the marriage relation Jehovah reminds the people of His past favours, and charges them with faithlessness to their first love, as shown by their idolatry.2. The kindness of thy youth, etc.] Israel’s earliest devotion to Jehovah at Sinai (Exodus 24:8).3. Firstfruits of.. increase] i.e. the consecrated part. All that devour, etc.] The priest and his family... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 2:18

(18) In the way of Egypt . . .?—The rebuke becomes more and more specific. Great rivers were, in the poetry of the prophets, the natural symbols of the kingdoms through which they flowed. Sihor (= the turbid or muddy river) here, and in Isaiah 23:3 the Nile (though in Joshua 13:3 it stands for the border stream between Palestine and Egypt), represented Egypt. The “river,” or “flood,” needing no other name as pre-eminent in its greatness (comp. Joshua 24:14-15), the Euphrates, stood for Assyria... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 2:18

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:1-19

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 2:18

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 2:18

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 2:18

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 2:14-19

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 2:18

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:1-30

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:1-37

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 2:18

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