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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 4:5-18

God's usual method is to warn before he wounds. In these verses, accordingly, God gives notice to the Jews of the general desolation that would shortly be brought upon them by a foreign invasion. This must be declared and published in all the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, that all might hear and fear, and by this loud alarm be either brought to repentance or left inexcusable. The prediction of this calamity is here given very largely, and in lively expressions, which one would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:13

Behold, he shall come up as clouds ,.... Meaning the lion, Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah 4:7 , "the king with his army (as the Targum paraphrases it); he shall come up against them as a cloud that ascendeth and covers the earth.' "come up against them as a cloud that ascendeth and covers the earth.' The metaphor denotes the swiftness of his coming, and the multitudes he should come with, and that darkness and distress he should bring with him upon the people of the Jews: and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:14

O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness ,.... These are the words of the prophet, or of God by the prophet, showing the cause of all their ruin and destruction, the wickedness of their hearts; and they are expressed in such form and language, as to be accommodated to the case of any unregenerate sinner: every man's heart is wicked, desperately wicked, even wickedness itself; everything in it is wicked; the thoughts, and the imagination of the thoughts of the heart, the mind, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:15

For a voice declareth from Dan ,.... The coming of the enemy, as Kimchi explains it, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Chaldeans; a messenger was come from Dan, which was on the border of the land of Israel to the north, on which side Babylon lay, and from whence the evil was to come predicted; who declared the enemy was approaching, just entering the land; not that this was now the case in fact, but this is represented in a prophetic manner, as what would be, in order to arouse and awaken the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:16

Make ye mention to the nations ,.... This, according to Kimchi, is the sum and substance of the voice from Dan. It seems to be a summons to the nations to gather together to join the king of Babylon in his enterprise against Jerusalem; see 2 Kings 24:2 , publish against Jerusalem ; what follows: that watchers come from afar country ; from Babylon, which is said to be a far country, Isaiah 39:3 , these are the soldiers of the king of Babylon; they are called Notzerim; which word... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:17

As keepers of a field, are they against her round about ,.... As those that are set to watch a field, in which are fruit and corn of any sort, that thieves and robbers, and wild beasts, may not enter to waste and destroy, and are placed on all sides for that purpose; so the Chaldeans were round about Jerusalem, that none could make their escape out of it; see 2 Kings 25:4 , because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord ; it was not without reason that the Lord suffered... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:18

Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee ,.... The way in which they walked, which was an evil one; and the actions which they committed; their idolatries, backslidings, and rebellions, before spoken of in this and the preceding chapter, were the cause of this siege, and those calamities coming upon them; they had none to blame but themselves; it was their own sinful ways and works which brought this ruin and destruction on them: this is thy wickedness ; the fruit of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:11-13

A dry wind - a fall wind - as clouds - as a whirlwind - All these expressions appear to refer to the pestilential winds, suffocating vapors, and clouds and pillars of sand collected by whirlwinds, which are so common and destructive in the east, (see on Isaiah 21:1 ; (note)); and these images are employed here to show the overwhelming effect of the invasion of the land by the Chaldeans. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:13

Wo unto us! - The people, deeply affected with these threatened judgments, interrupt the prophet with the lamentation - Wo unto us, for we are spoiled! The prophet then resumes: - read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:14

O Jerusalem, wash thine heart - Why do ye not put away your wickedness, that ye may be saved from these tremendous judgments? How long shall thy vain thoughts of safety and prosperity lodge within thee? Whilst thou continuest a rebel against God, and provokest him daily by thy abominations! read more

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