The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying. Here seems to begin a new prophecy; but when it was, and under what reign, and what time between this and the former, is not known; however, it was from the Lord, and so to be regarded. read more
Hear ye the words of this covenant ,.... Which. Dr. Lightfoot understands of the covenant lately made in the times of Josiah, upon finding and reading the law of Moses, 2 Kings 23:3 , but it seems rather to design the law of Moses itself; or the covenant made with the people of Israel on Mount Horeb, Exodus 24:7 , or rather which was made with them in the land of Moab, Deuteronomy 29:1 . The words of it are the things contained in it, the blessings and curses; the order to hear them is... read more
The word that came to Jeremiah - This discourse is supposed to have been delivered in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah. See Dahler. read more
Hear ye the words of this covenant - It is possible that the prophet caused the words of the covenant made with their fathers in the desert ( Exodus 24:4-8 ;) to be read to them on this occasion; or, at least, the blessings and the cursings which Moses caused to be pronounced to the people as soon as they had set foot in Canaan, Deuteronomy 27, 28. read more
Verse 1 Here the Prophet teaches us, that the Jews, though they continued to profess God’s holy name, were yet wholly perfidious, and had departed altogether from the law. The import of this discourse is, that the Jews gloried in the name of God, and yet were violaters of his covenant, for they had broken their faith pledged to God, and wholly cast aside the doctrine of the law. The Jews, no doubt, were often greatly exasperated against Jeremiah, as though he was pleading his own cause: it was... read more
Verse 2 Rightly then does Jeremiah begin by saying, that this word was given to him. By using the plural number in the second verse, he no doubt shews that he had a few assistants remaining, whom God addressed in connection with him, that they might unite together in delivering his message. For though there were very few good men, yet Jeremiah was not wholly deprived of colleagues, who assented to and confirmed his doctrine. Baruch was one of them, and there were a few like him. These, then,... read more
The ancient covenant. I. THE OBJECT OF THE COVENANT . This was to secure obedience. No covenant was required on God's side, since he is ever willing to bless and changeless in his beneficence. But for the sake of men's faith and to secure their allegiance God graciously condescended to enter into covenant bonds. It is therefore foolish to claim the fulfillment of God's promises irrespective of our conduct. They are covenant promises— i.e. conditional and assured on certain... read more
The covenant with the fathers binding on the children. Here it is necessary to go back over all the history of Israel, and consider the great covenant transactions between God and his people. Such transactions we find to have been filled with great solemnity, so that they might make a deep mark in history. We trace the beginnings of the great covenant in God's dealings with Abraham. Indeed, the covenant with Israel as a nation was the necessary consequence of the covenant with Abraham as... read more
1. A reminder of the renewal of the covenant between Jehovah and the people lately made under Josiah ( Jeremiah 11:1-8 ). 2. First stage of the conspiracy; all Israel, instead of keeping the covenant with Jehovah, conspires against him ( Jeremiah 11:9-13 ). 3. The punishment of the conspiracy is an irreversible, severe judgment ( Jeremiah 11:14 17). 4. Second stage of the conspiracy; the plot of the men of Anathoth ( Jeremiah 11:18-23 ). 5. Third stage; the plot... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 11:1-10
The prophet here, as prosecutor in God's name, draws up an indictment against the Jews for wilful disobedience to the commands of their rightful Sovereign. For the more solemn management of this charge, I. He produces the commission he had to draw up the charge against them. He did not take pleasure in accusing the children of his people, but God commanded him to speak it to the men of Judah, Jer. 11:1, 2. In the original it is plural: Speak you this. For what he said to Jeremiah was the same... read more