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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 18:18-23

The prophet here, as sometimes before, brings in his own affairs, but very much for instruction to us. I. See here what are the common methods of the persecutors. We may see this in Jeremiah's enemies, Jer. 18:18. 1. They laid their heads together to consult what they should do against him, both to be revenged on him for what he had said and to stop his mouth for the future: They said, Come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah. The enemies of God's people and ministers have been often... read more

John Gill

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

Then said they, come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah ,.... Being enraged at the judgments threatened them, they propose to enter into a confederacy and consultation together, to think of ways and means to stop the mouth of the prophet, and even to take away his life; since he had told them that God had devised a device against them, they were for devising devices against him; that so they might walk after their own devices, without being teased and tormented with this prophet: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:19

Give heed to me, O Lord ,.... To his prayer, since his enemies would not give heed to his prophecies; and God does give heed to the cries and complaints of his ministers, when men will not give heed to their words and doctrines; they have a God to go to, who will hear them, when men despise them: and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me ; hear their reproaches and rantings, their blasphemies and evil speakings, their lies and falsehoods, and judge between me and them; let it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:20

Shall evil be recompensed for good ?.... For all the good that I have done them, shall this be all the recompence I shall have, to be evilly treated by them, to have my good name, and even life, taken away by them? shall this be suffered to be done? and, if it is, shall it go unpunished? the prophet taxes the people with ingratitude, which he afterwards instances in, and proves: for they have digged a pit for my soul ; or "life"; they lay in wait to take it away; or they had formed a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:21

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine ,.... To be starved, and perish by it, as they were in the siege of Jerusalem, both by the Chaldeans, and the Romans: and pour out their blood by the force of the sword : or, "upon the hands of the sword" F6 על ידי חרב "super manus gladii", Montanus, Schmidt. ; by means of it; that is, the blood of the parents of the children; let the one perish by famine, and the other by the sword; which, when thrust into a man, blood... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:22

Let a cry be heard from their houses ,.... A shrieking of women and children, not only for the loss of husbands and parents, but because of the entrance of the enemy into the city, and into their houses, to take away their lives and their substance; as follows: when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them ; or an army, as the Targum; either the Chaldean army, or rather the Roman army: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet : and therefore it was a just... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:23

Yet, Lord, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me ,.... However deep they had laid them; and however unknown they were to him; or however private and secret they might be thought to be by them; God is an omniscient God, and knows and sees all things; the thoughts of men's hearts, and all their secret designs in the dark against his ministers, people, and interest: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight ; they had sinned the unpardonable sin;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 18:18

Come, and let us devise devices - Let us form a conspiracy against him, accuse him of being a false prophet, and a contradicter of the words of God, for God has promised us protection, and he says we shall be destroyed, and that God will forsake his people. Let us smite him with the tongue - On the tongue; so it should be rendered. Lying and false testimony are punished in the eastern countries, to the present day, by smiting the person on the mouth with a strong piece of leather like... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 18:20

They have digged a pit for my soul - For my life; this they wish to take away. Stood before thee to speak good for them - I was their continual intercessor. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 18:21

Therefore deliver up their children - The execrations in these verses should be considered as simply prophetic declarations of the judgments which God was about to pour out on them. If we consider them in their grammatical meaning, then they are not directions to us to whom our Lawgiver has said, "Love your enemies." read more

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