Jeremiah 2:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 2:8

The guilt of this idolatry is ascribed to the four ruling classes:(a) The accusation brought against the priests is indifference.(b) “They that handle the law” belonged also to the priestly class Deuteronomy 33:10. Their offence was that “they knew not God.” Compare Micah 3:11.(c) The third class are “the pastors” or shepherds, that is the temporal rulers. Their crime is disobedience.(d) The fourth class are “the prophets.” It was their business to press the moral and spiritual truths of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 2:7-8

Jeremiah 2:7-8. And I brought you into a plentiful country Hebrew, into the land of Carmel. Carmel was so fertile a part of Judea, that the word from thence came to be used to express a fruitful place in general. Canaan was as one great, fruitful field, Deuteronomy 8:7. When ye entered, ye defiled my land By your sins, especially by your idolatries, Psalms 106:38; that sin being greatly aggravated by this circumstance, that the people thereby renounced God’s authority in that very land... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:1-19

A nation’s unfaithfulness (2:1-19)While Josiah was reconstructing the outward form of Judah’s religion, Jeremiah was searching into the deeply rooted attitudes of the people and trying to bring about a truly spiritual change. He contrasts the nation’s present sad condition with its devotion to God in former days. Israel once loved God, as a bride loves her husband. She was like the firstfruits of the harvest that belonged to God, and those who plundered her were punished (2:1-3).God now... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 2:8

they that handle the law. The law therefore well known, and the priests known as the custodians of it. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:11 .Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 ). pastors = shepherds. Used of kings and other leaders of the People. Compare Jeremiah 17:16 ; Jeremiah 23:1-8 . transgressed = revolted. Hebrew. pasha' . App-44 . do not profit. Figure of speech Tapeinosis , for emphasis = lead to ruin. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 2:8

Jeremiah 2:8. The priests said not, Where is the Lord?— The priests, or scribes, whose office it was to instruct others in their duty, were ignorant or regardless of it themselves; and this was the principal cause of that degeneracy of manners which prevailed among the people. By the pastors are meant the kings, princes, and chiefs of the nations; for the word רעה roeh, pastor is used in the Prophets for a magistrate, as well as for an ecclesiastical governor; and hence it appears, that all... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 2:8

8. The three leading classes, whose very office under the theocracy was to lead the people to God, disowned Him in the same language as the nation at large, "Where is the Lord?" (See Jeremiah 2:6). priests—whose office it was to expound the law (Malachi 2:6; Malachi 2:7). handle—are occupied with the law as the subject of their profession. pastors—civil, not religious: princes (Jeremiah 3:15), whose duty it was to tend their people. prophets—who should have reclaimed the people from their... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 2:4-8

Yahweh’s claims to having dealt justly with His people 2:4-8The general flow of thought in this early part of Jeremiah’s message is: from Israel’s early devotion to Yahweh (Jeremiah 2:2-3), to her departure from Him (Jeremiah 2:4-13), to the tragic results of her unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 2:14-19). In this second pericope, the irrationality of Israel’s apostasy stands out. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 2:8

The leaders of the people were no better than the ordinary Israelites. The priests, rulers, and (false) prophets all failed to direct the people to Yahweh and, instead, led them away from Him into unprofitable pursuits. One writer suggested that another wordplay with the name Baal may be lo’ yo’ilu, translated "things that did not profit." [Note: Harrison, Jeremiah and . . ., pp. 56-57.] A similar phrase, belo yo’il, occurs at the end of Jeremiah 2:11 and is translated "that which does not... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:1-30

The Prophet Sets Forth the Sin of the Nation and Points Out the Inevitable Result (Reign of Josiah, and Probably Before the Reforms of that King: cp. Jeremiah 3:6)This section furnishes us with the gist of the prophet’s testimony during the early years of his ministry, and doubtless represents the commencement of the roll written by Baruch at Jeremiah’s dictation. In these five chapters he lays before his hearers the grossness of their conduct in deserting Jehovah, and urges repentance and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:1-37

Jeremiah’s Second Prophecy (2:1-3:5)The prophet expostulates with Israel because of their unfaithfulness to Jehovah.1-13. Under the figure of the marriage relation Jehovah reminds the people of His past favours, and charges them with faithlessness to their first love, as shown by their idolatry.2. The kindness of thy youth, etc.] Israel’s earliest devotion to Jehovah at Sinai (Exodus 24:8).3. Firstfruits of.. increase] i.e. the consecrated part. All that devour, etc.] The priest and his family... read more

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