16. thy work—thy parental weeping for thy children [ROSENMULLER]. Thine affliction in the loss of thy children, murdered for Christ's sake, shall not be fruitless to thee, as was the case in thy giving birth to the "child of thy sorrow," Benjamin. Primarily, also, thy grief shall not be perpetual: the exiles shall return, and the land be inhabited again [CALVIN]. come again— ( :-). read more
17. hope in . . . end—All thy calamities shall have a prosperous issue. read more
18. Ephraim—representing the ten tribes. bemoaning himself—The spirit of penitent supplication shall at last be poured on Israel as the necessary forerunner of their restoration ( :-). Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised—In the first clause the chastisement itself is meant; in the second the beneficial effect of it in teaching the penitent true wisdom. bullock unaccustomed to . . . yoke—A similar image occurs in :-. Compare "stiff-necked," Acts 7:51; Exodus 32:9, an image from... read more
19. after that I was turned, I repented—Repentance in the full sense follows, not precedes, our being turned to God by God ( :-). The Jews' "looking to Him whom they pierced" shall result in their "mourning for Him." Repentance is the tear that flows from the eye of faith turned to Jesus. He Himself gives it: we give it not of ourselves, but must come to Him for it (Acts 5:31). instructed—made to learn by chastisement. God's Spirit often works through the corrections of His providence. smote... read more
20. Is Ephraim my dear son? c.—The question implies that a negative answer was to be expected. Who would have thought that one so undutiful to His heavenly Father as Ephraim had been should still be regarded by God as a "pleasant child?" Certainly he was not so in respect to his sin. But by virtue of God's "everlasting love" ( :-) on Ephraim's being "turned" to God, he was immediately welcomed as God's "dear son." This verse sets forth God's readiness to welcome the penitent (Jeremiah 31:18... read more
21. waymarks—pillars to mark the road for the returning exiles. Caravans set up pillars, or pointed heaps of stones, to mark the way through the desert against their return. So Israel is told by God to mark the way by which they went in leaving their country for exile; for by the same way they shall return. highway— (Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 35:10). read more
22. go about—namely, after human helps (Jeremiah 2:18; Jeremiah 2:23; Jeremiah 2:36). Why not return immediately to me? MAURER translates, as in Song of Solomon 5:6, "How long wilt thou withdraw thyself?" Let thy past backslidings suffice thee now that a new era approaches. What God finds fault with in them is, that they looked hither and thither, leaning on contingencies, instead of at once trusting the word of God, which promised their restoration. To assure them of this, God promises to... read more
The end of Rachel’s mourning 31:15-22"In this strophe the promise is further confirmed by carrying out the thought, that Israel’s release from his captivity shall certainly take place, however little prospect there is of it at present." [Note: Ibid., 2:23.] read more
The Lord comforted "Rachel" by assuring her that her children would return from exile. All the work she had expended on them was not in vain. There was hope for their future. read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 31:22
Jeremiah 31:22. How long, &c.— How long wilt thou turn backward, or be a backslider, O rebellious daughter? Houbigant. In which words, says he, the Jews are described in their present state, refusing assent to the Gospel, though they confess that they have erred in interpreting the prophets and promises of God. The next clause is understood by many of the best Christian writers of the miraculous conception of the Virgin Mary; nor, say they, will it be thought that such a prophesy concerning... read more