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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 31:10-17

This paragraph is much to the same purport with the last, publishing to the world, as well as to the church, the purposes of God's love concerning his people. This is a word of the Lord which the nations must hear, for it is a prophecy of a work of the Lord which the nations cannot but take notice of. Let them hear the prophecy, that they may the better understand and improve the performance; and let those that hear it themselves declare it to others, declare it in the isles afar off. It will... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 31:18-26

We have here, I. Ephraim's repentance, and return to God. Not only Judah, but Ephraim the ten tribes, shall be restored, and therefore shall thus be prepared and qualified for it, Hos. 14:8. Ephraim shall say, What have I do to any more with idols? Ephraim the people, is here spoken of as a single person to denote their unanimity; they shall be as one man in their repentance and shall glorify God in it with one mind and one mouth, one and all. It is likewise thus expressed that it might be the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:15

Thus saith the Lord, a voice was heard in Ramah ,.... Which signifies a high place; hence the Targum paraphrases it, "in the high place of the world;' and so the Vulgate Latin version, "in a high place;' but it is here the proper name of a place, of a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25 ; and this voice heard was not a voice of joy and gladness as before, but of lamentation and bitter weeping ; signifying great sorrow and distress upon some very extraordinary... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:16

Thus saith the Lord, refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears ,.... Though sorrow on such an occasion may be lawfully indulged, yet it ought to be moderated; and attention should be given to those things which may serve to relieve under it, and especially when they come from the Lord himself; then a stop is to be put to the mournful voice, and wet eyes are to be dried up: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord ; in bearing these children, and bringing them into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:17

And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord ,.... Or, "hope for thy posterity" F18 לאחריתך "posteris tuis", Gataker; "posteritati tuae", Schmidt. ; for their children that had been massacred, that these should rise again, and enjoy a blessed immortality, as the next clause seems to explain and confirm it: that thy children shall come again to their own border : either to the border of the land of Israel, as Joseph, Mary, and Jesus did, Matthew 2:21 ; or rather to the borders... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:18

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus ,.... Not Ephraim in person; though, as he was a very affectionate and tenderhearted man, as appears from 1 Chronicles 7:22 ; he is with like propriety introduced, as Rachel before; but Ephraim intends Israel, or the ten tribes, and even all the people of the Jews; and the prophecy seems to respect the conversion of them in the latter day, when they shall be in soul trouble, and bemoan their sins, and their sinful and wretched estate,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:19

Surely after that I was turned I repented ,.... Ephraim's prayer was answered; as he prayed he might be turned, he was; and when he was turned, then he repented, not only of sin in general, but of such sins as he had been particularly guilty of; not only of the grosser actions of life, but of inward sins, secret lusts and corruptions; even of sins of holy things, having now different sentiments, affections, and conduct: and this is what is called evangelical repentance, and is from the grace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:20

Is Ephraim my dear son ?.... Questions put in this form, in the Hebrew language, usually more vehemently deny; and then the sense must be, Ephraim is not my dear son: and agreeably to this all the following clauses must be interpreted; which seems quite contrary to the scope and design of the context: wherefore it seems better to render the words thus, " Is not Ephraim my dear son?" F23 הבן יקיר לי "nonne filius pretiosus mihi?" Pagninus, Montanus. yes, he is; and so is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:21

Set thee up way marks, make thee high heaps ,.... Of stones, raised up as pillars, or like pyramids; or upright, as palm trees, which signification the word F26 תמרורים "columnulas", Schmidt; "pyramidas", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "palmulas", Tigurine version, "a תמר palma". has; to be marks and signs, to know the way again upon a return. The Targum is, "O congregation of Israel, remember the right works of thy fathers; pour out supplications; in bitterness set thy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:22

How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter ?.... From place to, place, from country to country, from one kingdom to another, as the Jews do to this day; and not return unto the Lord, and David their king, and to their own country? Or, "how long wilt thou be foolish" F1 עד מתי תתחמקין "quamdiu fatua eris?" Majus apud Stockium, p. 358. ? in backsliding from the Lord; in slighting the written word; neglecting the promises and prophecies, the exhortations, cautions, and... read more

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