Jeremiah 14:2-8 NIV

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:6

And the wild asses did stand in the high places ,.... To see where any grass was to be had, or where the wind blows more freely and cooly, to draw it in; as follows. The Targum renders it, "by the brooks"; and so Jarchi interprets it brooks of water; whither they came as usual to drink, and found them now dried up; and where they stood distressed and languishing, not knowing where to go for any: they snuffed up the wind like dragons : which, being of a hot nature, open their mouths, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:7

O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us ,.... That we deserve such judgments to be inflicted on us; and that God is righteous in bringing them; and we are altogether undeserving of the favour now about to be asked. These are the words of the prophet interceding for his people, and confessing their sins and his own: do thou it for thy name's sake ; that is, give rain; which was the thing wanted, and which none but God could give, Jeremiah 14:22 though we are not worthy to have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:8

O the hope of Israel ,.... The author, object, ground, and foundation of hope of all good things, both here and hereafter; in whom Israel had been used to hope in times past, and had great encouragement so to do, Psalm 130:7 or, "the expectation of Israel" F6 מקוה ישראל "expectatio Israel", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius. ; whom they looked for to come: the Saviour thereof in time of trouble ; the Saviour of all men in a way of providence, but especially of the true Israel of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 14:2

The gates thereof languish - The gates being the places of public resort, they are put here for the people. They are black unto the ground - Covered from head to foot with a black garment, the emblem of sorrow and calamity. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 14:3

Their nobles have sent their little ones - So general was this calamity, that the servants no longer attended to their lords, but every one was interested alone for himself; and the nobles of the land were obliged to employ their own children to scour the land, to see if any water could be found in the tanks or the pits. In the dearth in the time of Elijah, Ahab the king, and Obadiah his counselor, were obliged to traverse the land themselves, in order to find out water to keep their cattle... read more

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

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 14:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 14:3

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