(9) The lightness of her whoredom.—Lightness in the ethical sense of “levity.” Apostasy was treated once more as if it had been a light thing (1 Kings 16:31). The word is, however, very variously interpreted, and the meaning of “voice,” or “cry,” in the sense in which the “cry” of Sodom and Gomorrah was great (Genesis 18:20), seems more satisfactory. On “stones” and “stocks,” see Note on Jeremiah 2:27. read more
(10) And yet for all this . . .—Judah was so far worse than Israel that there had been a simulated repentance, as in the reformations under Hezekiah and Josiah, but it was not with the whole heart and soul, but “feignedly,” or, more literally, with a lie. read more
(11) Hath justified herself.—Literally, hath justified her soul, has put in a better plea in her defence. The renegade was better than the traitress. Even open rebellion was better than hypocrisy, as the publicans and sinners in the Gospel story were better than the Pharisees (Matthew 21:31). read more
The Heavenly Guide (Sermon to the Young) Jeremiah 3:4 We are all travellers, but are not all travellingin the same direction. We need a guide. There is no difficulty in finding one. There is only one to be relied upon. I. Some of the Reasons Why we Need a Guide. 1. Our ignorance of the way. 2. Our liability to take the wrong path. 3. Our liability to leave the right path after we have chosen it. II. Some of the Reasons Why we Should Take God as Our Guide. 4. Because He knows the way. 5.... read more
{e-Sword Note: In the printed edition, this material appeared near the end of 2 Kings.}JEREMIAH AND HIS PROPHECIESJereremiah 1:1 - Jeremiah 5:31"Count me o’er earth’s chosen heroes-they were souls that stood alone, While the men they agonized for hurled the contumelious stone; Stood serene, and down the future saw the golden beam incline To the side of perfect justice, mastered by their faith divine, By one man’s plain truth to manhood and to God’s supreme design."- LOWELLTRULY Jeremiah was a... read more
CHAPTER IIIISRAEL AND JUDAH: A CONTRASTJeremiah 3:6-25; Jeremiah 4:1-2THE first address of our prophet was throughout of a sombre cast, and the darkness of its close was not relieved by a single ray of hope. It was essentially a comminatory discourse, the purpose of it being to rouse a sinful nation to the sense of its peril, by a faithful picture of its actual condition, which was so different from what it was popularly supposed to be. The veil is torn aside; the real relations between Israel... read more
The Call to Repentance and judgment Announced (3:6-6:30) CHAPTER 3 1. The contrast between backslidden Israel and treacherous Judah (Jeremiah 3:6-11 ) 2. The call to return and the promised glory (Jeremiah 3:12-18 ) 3. The future true repentance predicted and anticipated (Jeremiah 3:19-25 ) Jeremiah 3:6-11 . The message which begins with the sixth verse was given to Jeremiah during the reign of Josiah. There is then, first of all, a contrast between Israel (the ten tribes) and her... read more
3:6 The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding {i} Israel hath done? she hath gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.(i) Meaning the ten tribes. read more
3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes by which backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put {k} her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.(k) And gave her into the hands of the Assyrians. read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 3:8
(8) And I saw, when for all the causes.—Better, perhaps (following a conjectural emendation, which gives a much better sense), And she saw that for all the causes. The technical fulness of the words suggests the thought that they were actually the customary formula with which every writing of divorcement began, recapitulating the offences which were alleged by the husband against the wife. The actual repudiation consisted, of course, in the bitter exile and loss of national life, which Hosea... read more