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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 10:1-16

The prophet Isaiah, when he prophesied of the captivity in Babylon, added warnings against idolatry and largely exposed the sottishness of idolaters, not only because the temptations in Babylon would be in danger of drawing the Jews there to idolatry, but because the afflictions in Babylon were designed to cure them of their idolatry. Thus the prophet Jeremiah here arms people against the idolatrous usages and customs of the heathen, not only for the use of those that had gone to Babylon, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:2

Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the Heathen ,.... Of the nations round about them, particularly the Chaldeans; meaning their religious ways, their ways of worship, their superstition and idolatry, which they were very prone unto, and many of which they had learned already; and were in danger of learning more, as they were about to be dispersed in divers countries, and especially in Chaldea, which was a very superstitious and idolatrous nation: and be not dismayed at the signs of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:2

Learn not the way of the heathen - These words are more particularly addressed to the ten tribes scattered among the heathen by the Assyrians, who carried them away captive; they may also regard those in the land of Israel who still had the customs of the former heathen settlers before their eyes. Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed - The Chaldeans and Egyptians were notoriously addicated to astrology; and the Israelites here are cautioned against it. The... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:2

Verse 2 Learn not, he says, the way of the nations The Hebrew grammarians take אל , al את at. (2) Way, we know, is everywhere taken for all those customs and habits by which human life is regulated, He then forbids them to pay attention to the rules of life observed by the Gentiles. And one thing he specifies, Be not terrified by celestial signs. He afterwards shews how vain were the practices of the Gentiles; being devoted to idols, they worshipped them in the place of God, though framed by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 10:1-5

The folly of paganism. I. THE FOLLY OF PAGANISM PROVES THE WEAKNESS OF SUPERSTITIOUS FEARS . The Jews were tempted to fear astrological portents ( Jeremiah 10:2 ) and idol-powers ( Jeremiah 10:5 ). Yet a little reflection was enough to show that these things were impotent for harm. The lowest religion is a product of fear. Superstition finds converts where rational faith fails. The trouble thus resulting from the weakness of men can only be dissipated by boldly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 10:1-12

What men fear and what they ought to fear. I. WHAT MEN FEAR . They fear mere images of theft own manufacture . Note the connection between Jeremiah 10:2 and Jeremiah 10:3 . In Jeremiah 10:2 the heathen are spoken of as being dismayed at the signs of heaven. Probably these signs, considered in their more particular and direct connection with the dismay, were really images on earth, representing the supposed Divine dignity. of the bodies in the heavens. The heavenly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 10:1-17

Idolatry. This section of Jeremiah's prophecy is one of the notable passages in the. Scriptures concerning idolatry. It is like that in Psalms 115:1-18 ; and in Isaiah 40:1-31 ; Isaiah 44:1-28 . It states or suggests much of great interest on this subject, and which deserves to be well considered by us. There is— I. THE TREMENDOUS FACT OF IDOLATRY . See: 1. The multitudes of mankind who have avowed such worship. 2. The wide extent of the world's inhabited... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 10:2

The way of the heathen . "Way" equivalent to "religion" (comp. ὁδὸς , Acts 9:2 , etc.). Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven ; alluding to the astrological calculations based upon extraordinary appearances in the sky. Diodorus Siculus remarks 2.30)—and his statement is fully confirmed by the Babylonian cuneiform tablets—that "the appearance of comets, eclipses of the sun and moon, earthquakes, and in fact every kind of change occasioned by the atmosphere, whether good or bad, both... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 10:2

The dismay of the heathen at the signs of heaven. By the signs of heaven here are doubtless meant those heavenly bodies given for signs and seasons, days-and years ( Genesis 1:14 ); this view still further helping to explain the reference in Jeremiah 8:2 to sun and moon and all the host of heaven. Why these should terrify it is not very easy for us to comprehend, surrounded as we are by quite different associations. Often, indeed, there is cause of terror in the heavens above us, as... read more

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