Jeremiah 22:13-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 22:10-19

Kings, though they are gods to us, are men to God, and shall die like men; so it appears in these verses, where we have a sentence of death passed upon two kings who reigned successively in Jerusalem, two brothers, and both the ungracious sons of a very pious father. I. Here is the doom of Shallum, who doubtless is the same with Jehoahaz, for he is that son of Josiah king of Judah who reigned in the stead of Josiah his father (Jer. 22:11), which Jehoahaz did by the act of the people, who made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:13

Woe unto him that buildeth his house by righteousness, and his chambers by wrong ,.... This respects Jehoiakim, the then reigning king; who, not content with the palace the kings of Judah before him had lived in, built another; or however enlarged that, and made great alterations in it; but this he did either with money ill gotten, or perverted to a wrong use, which ought to have been otherwise laid out; or by not paying for the materials of whom they were bought, or the workmen for their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:14

That saith, I will build me a wide house ,.... Or, "a house of measures", or, "dimensions" F9 בית מדות "domum mensurarum", Vatablus, Montanus, Calvin, Schmidt. ; a very large house, whose length and breadth measure much consisting of many spacious rooms, upper as well as lower; as follows: and large chambers ; or, "widened ones"; very spacious and roomy; or "aired", or "airy F11 מרוחים "perflabilia", Piscator; "vento exposita", Vatablus, Montanus. ones"; through which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:15

Shalt thou reign because thou closest thyself in cedar ?.... Dost thou think that thou shalt reign long, and thy throne be established firm and secure, because of thy cedar wainscot? as if that was a protection to thee, and were like the fortifications of a city or tower; when it may easily be broke to pieces, or burnt with fire; and must be a poor defence against a powerful enemy. The Targum is, "dost thou think to be as the first king?' as David; to be as great a prince, to keep as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:16

He judged the cause of the poor and needy ,.... Who could not defend themselves against the rich and the mighty; he took their cause in hand, and, having heard it, determined it in their favour, and did them justice, as princes and civil magistrates ought to do: then it was well with him ; this is repeated, not only to show the certainty of it, but that it might be observed, and his example followed: was not this to know me? saith the Lord ; it is not by words only, but by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:17

But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness ,.... He was wholly intent upon gratifying that lust; his heart was meditating, contriving, and forming schemes for that purpose; and his eyes were looking out here and there for proper objects and opportunities to exercise it: and for to shed innocent blood ; in order to get their money, goods, and possessions into his hands; avarice often leads to murder: and for oppression, and for violence, to do it ; by making... read more

John Gill

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

Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim ,.... This shows who is before spoken of and described; Jehoiakim, the then reigning king in Judah, whose name was Eliakim, but was changed by Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he deposed his brother Jehoahaz or Shallum, and set him on the throne, 2 Kings 23:34 ; the son of Josiah king of Judah ; and who seems to have been his eldest son, though his brother Jehoahaz reigned before him; for he was but twenty three years of age when he began... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:19

He shall be buried with the burial of an ass ,.... Have no burial at all, or no other than what any brute creature has; which, when it dies, is cast into a ditch, and becomes the food of dogs, and the fowls of the air. The "ass" is mentioned, as being a sordid stupid creature; and such an one was this king; drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem ; as the carcass of a beast is dragged about by dogs; or as a malefactor, when executed, is dragged and cast into a ditch: this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 22:13

Wo unto him that buildeth his house - These evils, charged against Jehoiakim, are nowhere else circumstantially related. We learn from 2 Kings 23:35-37 , that he taxed his subjects heavily, to give to Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt: "He exacted the silver and gold of the people of the land, and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord." The mode of taxation is here intimated; he took the wages of the hirelings, and caused the people to work without wages in his own buildings, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 22:15

Shalt thou reign, etc - Dost thou think thou art a great king, because thou dwellest in a splendid palace? read more

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