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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 23:1-8

I. Here is a word of terror to the negligent shepherds. The day is at hand when God will reckon with them concerning the trust and charge committed to them: Woe be to the pastors (to the rulers, both in church and state) who should be to those they are set over as pastors to lead them, feed them, protect them, and take care of them. They are not owners of the sheep. God here calls them the sheep of my pasture, whom I am interested in, and have provided good pasture for. Woe be to those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 23:2

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel ,.... The covenant God of that people, who are Called his sheep, and the sheep of his pasture; having made a covenant with their fathers, and provided a good pasture for them, the land of Israel, where they enjoyed all blessings, civil and religious, and appointed persons over them to feed them; but these did not do their duty, and therefore the Lord was against them, as follows: against the pastors that feed my people ; whose office it was to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:2

Ye have scattered my flock - The bad government both in Church and State was a principal cause of the people's profligacy. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:2

Verse 2 He afterwards adds, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, to the pastors who feed my people In the same sense he calls them now his people, as he had called them before the flock of his pastures. They had alienated themselves from God, and he had already by his own decree repudiated them; and God might in one respect have deemed them aliens; and yet in respect of the covenant he acknowledged them as his own; and hence he calls them his people He now then confirms what we have already... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:1-4

The character of leading men. The character of its leading men is a matter of first importance to a people. Israel had been led astray by his kings; one of the first blessings promised to him on his return is the possession of good leaders. In the most free state there must always be leading men—men exercising influence by reason of their office, their rank and position, or their capacities. Observe this in regard to the various classes of leading men. I. POLITICAL LEADERS . On... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:1-4

False shepherds and the true. The reference here is to the kings of the house of David, as the leaders of a theocratic people; and secondarily, to the spiritual purpose of all true kingship. I. THE MISCHIEF OF FALSE SHEPHERDING . This is twofold, viz. scattering and destroying. The false shepherd has no real interest in the sheep; being but a hireling, his chief consideration is a selfish one. The kings of Judah had sought to realize their own ambitions and to indulge their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:1-4

Shepherds, bad and good. I. THE SENTENCE ON THE UNFAITHFUL , SHEPHERDS . This is perhaps the most special and emphatic of all Jeremiah's references to the unfaithful shepherds. Nowhere does he go into such detail as Ezekiel does ( Jeremiah 34:1-22 .). But whatever may be lacking in illustrative detail, the essential facts are mentioned. Here are men upon whom is laid a charge such as is laid on a shepherd by the owner of the pasture and the flock. The business of such a man... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:2

The Lord God of Israel ; strictly, Jehovah the God of Israel . This national title of Jehovah suggests, in such a connection, that the crime of the kings is nothing short of sacrilege. Ye have scattered , etc.; i.e. been the cause of their scattering, Have not visited them . "To visit" often, by a natural association of ideas, means "to give attention to." By an equally natural association, it means "to fall upon, to punish." Hence, in the next clause, I will visit upon you . We... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 23:2

They had scattered them first spiritually by leading them into idolatry; and secondly, many had literally been taken to Egypt with Jehoahaz, many in Jehoiakim’s time had fled there, while others fell away to the Chaldaeans: and finally the best of the land had been carried to Babylon with Jeconiah.Driven away - i. e., made them outcasts. In the East, shepherds never drive their flocks, but go ahead of them John 10:4-5.Have not visited them - i. e., have not concerned yourselves about their... read more

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