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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 36:23

Verse 23 Here Jeremiah shews how little he had effected; for the king not only cast aside but tore the roll into pieces, and after having torn it, he wished its memory to perish, for he cast it into the fire. This trial must have grievously affected the mind of the Prophet; he had dictated that roll by God’s command; he saw now that all his labor had been in vain. He might then have complained to God that so much labor had been spent without fruit. For why had God bidden the roll to be written,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 36:24

Verse 24 The Prophet now connects doctrine with the narrative, for what we have hitherto seen would be frigid were no instruction added. The Prophet then shews why he had related what we have read of the king’s impious obstinacy. But there is more force in a simple statement than if the Prophet in high-sounding words inveighed against the king and his counsellors; for he speaks here as one astonished; They rent not, he says, their garments, nor feared when they heard threatenings so dreadful.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 36:25

Verse 25 The Prophet aggravates the wickedness of the king by this circumstance, that three men opposed him, though they thereby subjected themselves to great danger. They saw that the king was carried away by the violence of his temper; and when he resisted God in a manner so insolent, what would he not have dared to do to them? That they notwithstanding hesitated not to intercede with him, was an instance of great courage. But it hence appears, that as the king did not attend to their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 36:26

Verse 26 Here is described the madness of the king, which was so great, that he vented his rage against the Prophet and his scribe; and he chose no doubt those whom he thought to be most ready to obey him. He would have never taken such ministers as Elnathan or Delaiah or Gemariah, for he knew how much they abhorred such a nefarious deed; but he sent those whom he thought most adapted for such a service as that of killing Jeremiah and Baruch. It is not improperly conjectured from this passage... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 36:1-4

The writing of the roll. I. WHO WERE ENGAGED IN THE WRITING OF THE ROLL ? 1 . God . (a) he will bless the right reading of the Bible, and (b) he will call us to account for the use we make of it. 2 . Jeremiah. God does not speak to mankind by a direct and audible voice as with the thunder tones of Sinai. He speaks through an instrument—a man, a prophet. And this prophet is plainly not just a mechanical mouthpiece to the Divine voice. His personality... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 36:1-32

CHAPTERS 36-38. NARRATIVE OF EVENTS PRECEDING THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM . Jeremiah 36:1-32 . THE ROLL OF PROPHECY DESTROYED BY JEHOIAKIM . Now, it is remarkable, and points the way to a solution of the problem, that Jeremiah 25:1-38 . is said ( Jeremiah 25:1 ) to have been written in the very same year to which the narrative before us refers, and that it is mainly concerned with the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar and its consequences (indeed, entirely... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 36:1-32

Hearers of God's Word. This chapter brings before us an instructive variety of these hearers. I. SUCH AS THE PROPHET . To him and such as he the Word of God came, and was received with reverent submission and diligently obeyed at all costs. They could say, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." II. SUCH AS THE PEOPLE GENERALLY . ( Jeremiah 36:10 .) The mass seemed unaffected. We do not read of their being in any wise wrought upon by what they had heard. But... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 36:2

The written Word. "Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee" "This is the first recorded instance of the formation of a canonical book, and of the special purpose of its formation." No doubt other prophets had committed to writing more or less of their teachings—the quotations of one prophet from another, the later from the earlier, prove this; but here is the first record of any such act, and hence it has especial interest. It is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 36:3

It may be. We can understand the prophet thus speaking, but how can there be anything uncertain or contingent with God? And yet it is he who here speaks and says, "It may be." We are accustomed to say, "God knows all the past, and all the present, and all the future (cf. Isaiah 46:9-11 ). Reason and Scripture alike seem to say that there can be nothing probable with God. But yet this is his word. Why does he thus speak? Perhaps— I. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LAW , NO DECREE ... read more

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