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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 11:18-23

The prophet Jeremiah has much in his writings concerning himself, much more than Isaiah had, the times he lived in being very troublesome. Here we have (as it should seem) the beginning of his sorrows, which arose from the people of his own city, Anathoth, a priest's city, and yet a malignant one. Observe here, I. Their plot against him, Jer. 11:19. They devised devices against him, laid their heads together to contrive how they might be in the most plausible and effectual manner the death of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 11:20

But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously ,.... This is the prophet's appeal to God, as the Judge of the whole earth, who will do right; he found there was no justice to be done him among men; he therefore has recourse to a righteous God, who he knew judged righteous judgment: that triest the reins and the heart ; of all men; as of his own, so of his enemies; and which he mentions, not so much on his own account as theirs: let me see thy vengeance on them ; which imprecation... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 11:20

Let me see thy vengeance on them - Rather, I shall see ( אראה ereh ) thy punishment indicted on them. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 11:20

Verse 20 Here the Prophet, after having found that the impiety of the people was so great that he was speaking to the deaf, turns his address to God: O Jehovah of hosts, he says, who art a great Judge, who searchest the reins and the heart, may I see thy vengeance on them The Prophet seems here inconsistent with himself;, for he had before declared that he was like a lamb or a calf, as though he had offered, as they say, his life a wining sacrifice; but here he seems like one made suddenly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 11:1-23

1. A reminder of the renewal of the covenant between Jehovah and the people lately made under Josiah ( Jeremiah 11:1-8 ). 2. First stage of the conspiracy; all Israel, instead of keeping the covenant with Jehovah, conspires against him ( Jeremiah 11:9-13 ). 3. The punishment of the conspiracy is an irreversible, severe judgment ( Jeremiah 11:14 17). 4. Second stage of the conspiracy; the plot of the men of Anathoth ( Jeremiah 11:18-23 ). 5. Third stage; the plot... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 11:18-23

The conspiracy of Anathoth. This incident may afford us some lessens on the subject of persecution, in its occasion and character, the behavior of the persecuted and the righteous action of God in dealing with it. I. THE OCCASION OF THE CONSPIRACY ILLUSTRATES A COMMON CAUSE OF PERSECUTION . Jeremiah had been proclaiming unwelcome truths. He had exposed sin and threatened judgment. Such preaching was unpopular, and the men of Anathoth sought to stay it by force... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 11:18-23

Perils of prophesying. The conspiracy of which these verses speak seems to have been sudden as it was secret. It affected the mind of the prophet in a peculiarly painful way, as it was the men of his own district who were concerned in it—his friends, probably even kinsfolk, who locked upon him as their worst enemy. The crime was all the more heinous that the means taken to execute it were underhand. It is possible that they greeted him with expressions of kindness and hospitality, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 11:18-23

The baffled plot. These verses are an episode. Like as the miracle of the healing of her who touched the hem of our Lord's garment was an episode in connection with the healing of the daughter of Jairus ( Mark 5:21 , etc.), so this account of the plot against Jeremiah's life comes in here, breaking the thread of his discourse, which is not renewed again till Jeremiah 12:7 . Scripture has many instances of similar plots contrived against the servants of the Lord; they are found in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 11:18-23

The prophet in his own country. This passage describes a peculiar peril to Jeremiah, and a peculiar peril to those who conspired against him. I. A PECULIAR PERIL TO JEREMIAH . His life was full of perils—" perils from his own countrymen" in many ways, perils from the palace with its great men, from priests and false prophets, from every devotee of idolatry, from every one, in short, whose vices and iniquities he lashed with the scourge of his Heaven-inspired tongue. He would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 11:20

(Parallel passage, Jeremiah 20:12 .) Unto thee have I revealed my cause. This is the literal rendering, but a comparison of Psalms 22:8 and Proverbs 16:3 , suggests that the In meaning is Upon thee have I rolled my cause." This expression is certainly not only more forcible, but more appropriate than the other. Jeremiah's cause was not a secret which needed to be "revealed" to Jehovah, but a burden too heavy for so finely strung a nature to bear alone. Grammatically, the preferred... read more

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