(3) To their folds.—Better, habitations, or pastures. There was hope, as in Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 6:13, for the “remnant” of the people, though the sentence on their rulers, as such, was final and irreversible. read more
(4) I will set up shepherds . . .—The words imply, in one sense, a return to the theocracy, the breaking off the hereditary succession of the house of David, and the giving of power to those who, like Ezra and Nehemiah, and, later on in history, the Maccabees, were called to rule because they had the capacity for ruling well. The plural is noticeable, as in Jeremiah 3:15, as not limiting the prophecy to the Christ who is yet the “chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4). In the verb for “set up” there is... read more
The Lord Our Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6 I. You must have some righteousness, or you will not be saved. The Bible says plainly, 'The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God'; 'The righteous hath hope in his death'; 'Thy people,'says Isaiah, 'shall be all righteous'. Many often say they know they are not what they should be, but 'God is merciful '. Their religion goes no further; this is the first and last of all their Christianity. This will not stand before the Bible. God is a God of... read more
CHAPTER VIIIBAD SHEPHERDS AND FALSE PROPHETSJeremiah 23:1-40, Jeremiah 24:1-10"Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!"- Jeremiah 23:1"Of what avail is straw instead of Grain?is not My word like fire, like a hammer that shattereth the rocks?"- Jeremiah 23:28-29THE captivity of Jehoiachin and the deportation of the flower of the people marked the opening of the last scene in the tragedy of Judah and of a new period in the ministry of Jeremiah. These events,... read more
CHAPTER XXXIRESTORATION IITHE NEW ISRAELJeremiah 23:3-8; Jeremiah 24:6-7; Jeremiah 30:1-24; Jeremiah 31:1-40; Jeremiah 33:1-26"In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name whereby she shall be called."- Jeremiah 33:16THE Divine utterances in chapter 33, were given to Jeremiah when he was shut up in the "court of the guard" during the last days of the siege. They may, however, have been committed to writing at a later date, possibly in connection... read more
CHAPTER 23:1-8 1. The false shepherds (Jeremiah 23:1-4 ) 2. The True Shepherd (Jeremiah 23:5-8 ) Jeremiah 23:1-4 . The word “pastors” means “shepherds.” Ezekiel received a larger message about these false shepherds, the hirelings who did not feed the flock. (See annotations of Ezekiel 34:1-31 The scattered remnant of the Lord’s flock (not the Church, but the remnant of Israel) will yet be gathered out of all countries, be fruitful and increase, no longer fearful, dismayed or in want. It is... read more
23:3 And I will gather the {d} remnant of my flock from all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.(d) Thus the prophets always used to mix the promises with the threatenings lest the godly should be too much beaten down and therefore he shows how God will gather his Church after this dispersion. read more
MESSAGES IN ZEDEKIAH ’S REIGN These chapters furnish a convenient unit, as they are apparently a group of discourses delivered in Zedekiah’s reign the king of the captivity period. The first, and one of the most interesting, is that concerning the siege (chap. 21). Note the occasion (Jeremiah 21:1-2 ) and observe that Pashur was not he of the last lesson. The siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar had begun and the king of Judah hoped the prophet would have some encouraging word from God for... read more
The Coming One Jeremiah 22:0 , Jeremiah 23:0 The particular reference is to Josiah, on the occasion of whose death Jeremiah had composed a grand and pathetic dirge. It is supposed from 2Ch 35:25 that this dirge was repeated annually in memory of Josiah's death. The injunction of the text puts an end to this annual commemoration. The weeping is forbidden in the case of Josiah, but it is ordered to continue in the case of Jehoahaz ( Jehovah sustains .) Jehoahaz was probably a name assumed by... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:1-40
1-4. A remnant shall return.1. The pastors] i.e. the rulers of Judah.4. Shepherds] e.g. Ezra, Nehemiah, etc.5-8. Promise of the Messiah.5. Branch] rather, ’sprout,’ ’shoot,’ that which is immediately connected with the root, and contains, as it were, the springs of life. So in Jeremiah 33:15, and in later time Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12. On the other hand, the word in Isaiah 11:1 denotes ’branch,’ properly so called. The v. predicts the coming of an ideal descendant of David, a king who... read more