Jeremiah 14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 14

This chapter was penned upon occasion of a great drought, for want of rain. This judgment began in the latter end of Josiah's reign, but, as it should seem, continued in the beginning of Jehoiakim?s: for less judgments are sent to give warning of greater coming, if not prevented by repentance. This calamity was mentioned several times before, but here, in this chapter, more fully. Here is, I. A melancholy description of it, Jer. 14:1-6. II. A prayer to God to put an end to this calamity and to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 14:1-9

The first verse is the title of the whole chapter: it does indeed all concern the dearth, but much of it consists of the prophet's prayers concerning it; yet these are not unfitly said to be, The word of the Lord which came to him concerning it, for every acceptable prayer is that which God puts into our hearts; nothing is our word that comes to him but what is first his word that comes from him. In these verses we have, I. The language of nature lamenting the calamity. When the heavens were... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 14:10-16

The dispute between God and his prophet, in this chapter, seems to be like that between the owner and the dresser of the vineyard concerning the barren fig-tree, Luke 13:7. The justice of the owner condemns it to be cut down; the clemency of the dresser intercedes for a reprieve. Jeremiah had been earnest with God, in prayer, to return in mercy to this people. Now here, I. God overrules the plea which he had offered in their favour, and shows him that it would not hold. In answer to it thus he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 14:17-22

The present deplorable state of Judah and Jerusalem is here made the matter of the prophet's lamentation (Jer. 14:17, 18) and the occasion of his prayer and intercession for them (Jer. 14:19), and I am willing to hope that the latter, as well as the former, was by divine direction, and that these words (Jer. 14:17), Thus shalt thou say unto them (or concerning them, or in their hearing), refer to the intercession, as well as to the lamentation, and then it amounts to a revocation of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 14 This chapter contains prophecy of a drought, which produced a famine, Jeremiah 14:1 , and is described by the dismal effects of it; and general distress in the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, Jeremiah 14:2 , even the nobles were affected with it, whose servants returned without water ashamed, when sent for it, Jeremiah 14:3 , the ploughmen could not use their plough, their ground was so hard, Jeremiah 14:4 and the very beasts of the field suffered... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:1

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. Or, "concerning the words of straints" F24 על דברי הבצרות "super verbis, cohibitionum", Junius & Tremellius; "retentionum"; Tigurine version; "prohibitionum", Pagninus, Montanus. ; that is, concerning the businesses of a drought, as the Targum; concerning the Lord's restraining rain from the earth, and forbidding the heavens dropping it down; the consequence of which is a drought, or dryness of the earth; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:2

Judah mourneth ,.... That is, the inhabitants of Judah; those of the house of Judah, as the Targum; these mourned because of the drought and famine that were upon the land: and the gates thereof languish ; the cities of Judah, as the Targum; the inhabitants of them, which used to be supplied from the field, and out of the country; gates may be mentioned, because through the gates the provisions were brought into the city; but now none; and therefore are said to languish; or else those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:3

And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters ,.... To places where water used to be; to the pools, the upper and the lower, particularly to the fountain of Shiloah, which, Jerom says, was the only one the city of Jerusalem used. The meaning either is, that the nobles in Jerusalem sent their own children to get water for them, they having no servants to attend them, these being put away because they could not support them, the famine being so sore; or rather that they sent their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:4

Because the ground is chapt ,.... Through the violent heat of the sun, and want of rain; or, is broken F25 חתה "confracta", Schmidt; "attritam", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; and crumbles into dust. The Targum is, "because of sins, the inhabitants of the earth are broken:' for there was no rain in the earth ; this was the reason of the dearth, and of the famine, and why there was no water in the pits, and the ground was parched. It is to be understood of the land of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:5

Yea, the hind also calved in the field ,.... Or brought forth her young in the field; of which see Job 39:1 , and which they sometimes did through fear, particularly when frightened with thunder and lightning; and which are common in a time of heat and drought, which is the case here; see Psalm 29:9 of these sort of creatures there were great plenty in Judea and the parts adjacent. Aelianus F26 De Anima. l. 5. c. 56. says, the harts in Syria are bred on the highest mountains,... read more

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