Jeremiah 2:18-23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:14-19

The prophet, further to evince the folly of their forsaking God, shows them what mischiefs they had already brought upon themselves by so doing; it had already cost them dear, for to this were owing all the calamities their country was now groaning under, which were but an earnest of more and greater if they repented not. See how they smarted for their folly. I. Their neighbours, who were their professed enemies, prevailed against them, and this was owing to their sin. 1. They were enslaved... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:20-28

In these verses the prophet goes on with his charge against this backsliding people. Observe here, I. The sin itself that he charges them with?idolatry, that great provocation which they were so notoriously guilty of. 1. They frequented the places of idol-worship (Jer. 2:20): ?Upon every high hill and under every green tree, in the high places and the groves, such as the heathen had a foolish fondness and veneration for, thou wanderest, first to one and then to another, like one unsettled, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:18

And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt ,.... By worshipping of idols, in imitation of them; or by sending ambassadors thither for help, when they had their Lord, their God, so nigh, had they not forsaken him; nor had Josiah any business to go out against Pharaohnecho, 2 Chronicles 35:21 and, contrary to the express word of God by the Prophet Jeremy, did the Jews which remained in Judea go into Egypt, Jeremiah 42:19 . To drink the waters of Sihor ? which is the river Nile,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:19

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee ,.... That is, either their wickedness in going to Egypt and Assyria, and the ill success they had in so doing might be an instruction to them to act otherwise, and a correction of their sin and folly; or that their wickedness was a reason, and a very just one, why they were chastened and corrected of the Lord: and thy backslidings shall reprove thee ; or be the cause why they were reproved of God; or their ill success in turning their backs on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:20

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands ,.... The yoke of the people, as the Targum expresses it, that was upon their necks, and the bands in which they were bound by them; referring to the deliverance of them of old from Egyptian bondage by the hands of Moses, and out of their several captivities among their neighbours by the means of the judges, and in their time; though the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "of old thou hast broken my yoke, and burst my bands"; or "thy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:21

Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed ,.... It is usual to compare the people of the Jews to a vineyard, and to vines; and their settlement in the land of Canaan to the planting of vines in a vineyard; see Isaiah 5:1 . Kimchi says this is spoken concerning Abraham; no doubt respect is had to the Jewish fathers, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs, Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, and the like; who, having the true and right seed of grace in them, became... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:22

For though thou wash thee with nitre ,.... The word נתר , "nitre", is only used in this place and in Proverbs 25:20 and it is hard to say what it is. Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, that some say it is what is called "alum"; and others that it is a dust with which they wash the head, and cleanse everything; and so Jarchi says it is a kind of earth used in cleaning garments; and "nitre" is mentioned by the Misnic doctors F19 Misn. Sabbat, c. 9. sect. 5. & Nidda, c. 9. sect. 6.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:23

How canst thou say, I am not polluted ,.... No man can say this; for all are defiled with sin; but this was the cast and complexion of these people in all ages; they were a generation of men that were pure in their own eyes, but were not cleansed from their filthiness; they fancied that their ceremonial washings and sacrifices cleansed them from moral impurities, when those only sanctified to the purifying of the flesh; still their iniquity remained marked before the Lord; they acted the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:18

What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt - Why dost thou make alliances with Egypt? To drink the waters of Sihor? - This means the Nile. See on Isaiah 23:3 ; (note). The way of Assyria - Why make alliances with the Assyrians? All such connections will only expedite thy ruin. To drink the waters of the river? - The Euphrates, as נהר nahar or הנהר hannahar always means Euphrates, the country between the Tigris and Euphrates, is termed to this day Maher alnahar, "the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:20

Of old time I have broken thy yoke - It is thought by able critics that the verbs should be read in the second person singular, Thou hast broken thy yoke, Thou hast burst thy bonds; and thus the Septuagint, συνετριψας τον ζυγον σου , "thou hast broken thy yoke." And the Vulgate, Confregisti jugum meum, rupisti, vincula mea ; "Thou hast broken my yoke; thou hast burst my bonds;" and so the Arabic. But the Chaldee gives it a meaning which removes the difficulty: "I have broken the yoke of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:14-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:20-28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:20

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