Jeremiah 22:14-25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 22:10-19

Kings, though they are gods to us, are men to God, and shall die like men; so it appears in these verses, where we have a sentence of death passed upon two kings who reigned successively in Jerusalem, two brothers, and both the ungracious sons of a very pious father. I. Here is the doom of Shallum, who doubtless is the same with Jehoahaz, for he is that son of Josiah king of Judah who reigned in the stead of Josiah his father (Jer. 22:11), which Jehoahaz did by the act of the people, who made... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 22:20-30

This prophecy seems to have been calculated for the ungracious inglorious reign of Jeconiah, or Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim, who succeeded him in the government, reigned but three months, and was then carried captive to Babylon, where he lived many years, Jer. 52:31. We have, in these verses, a prophecy, I. Of the desolations of the kingdom, which were now hastening on apace, Jer. 22:20-23. Jerusalem and Judah are here spoken to, or the Jewish state as a single person, and we have it here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:14

That saith, I will build me a wide house ,.... Or, "a house of measures", or, "dimensions" F9 בית מדות "domum mensurarum", Vatablus, Montanus, Calvin, Schmidt. ; a very large house, whose length and breadth measure much consisting of many spacious rooms, upper as well as lower; as follows: and large chambers ; or, "widened ones"; very spacious and roomy; or "aired", or "airy F11 מרוחים "perflabilia", Piscator; "vento exposita", Vatablus, Montanus. ones"; through which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:15

Shalt thou reign because thou closest thyself in cedar ?.... Dost thou think that thou shalt reign long, and thy throne be established firm and secure, because of thy cedar wainscot? as if that was a protection to thee, and were like the fortifications of a city or tower; when it may easily be broke to pieces, or burnt with fire; and must be a poor defence against a powerful enemy. The Targum is, "dost thou think to be as the first king?' as David; to be as great a prince, to keep as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:16

He judged the cause of the poor and needy ,.... Who could not defend themselves against the rich and the mighty; he took their cause in hand, and, having heard it, determined it in their favour, and did them justice, as princes and civil magistrates ought to do: then it was well with him ; this is repeated, not only to show the certainty of it, but that it might be observed, and his example followed: was not this to know me? saith the Lord ; it is not by words only, but by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:17

But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness ,.... He was wholly intent upon gratifying that lust; his heart was meditating, contriving, and forming schemes for that purpose; and his eyes were looking out here and there for proper objects and opportunities to exercise it: and for to shed innocent blood ; in order to get their money, goods, and possessions into his hands; avarice often leads to murder: and for oppression, and for violence, to do it ; by making... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:18

Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim ,.... This shows who is before spoken of and described; Jehoiakim, the then reigning king in Judah, whose name was Eliakim, but was changed by Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he deposed his brother Jehoahaz or Shallum, and set him on the throne, 2 Kings 23:34 ; the son of Josiah king of Judah ; and who seems to have been his eldest son, though his brother Jehoahaz reigned before him; for he was but twenty three years of age when he began... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:19

He shall be buried with the burial of an ass ,.... Have no burial at all, or no other than what any brute creature has; which, when it dies, is cast into a ditch, and becomes the food of dogs, and the fowls of the air. The "ass" is mentioned, as being a sordid stupid creature; and such an one was this king; drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem ; as the carcass of a beast is dragged about by dogs; or as a malefactor, when executed, is dragged and cast into a ditch: this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:20

Go up to Lebanon, and cry ,.... These words are directed to Jerusalem and its inhabitants, and to the people of the Jews; not to go up to the temple, as the Targum interprets it, so called, because made of the wood of Lebanon, as in Zechariah 11:1 ; or, as the Rabbins say, because it made white the sins of Israel; but the mountain of Lebanon, and from thence call to their neighbours for help in their present distress, as the Assyrians and Egyptians; and lift up thy voice in Bashan ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 22:21

I spake unto thee in thy prosperity ,.... Or "prosperities", or "tranquillities" F25 בשלותיך "in tranquillitatibus fuis", Vatablus, Cocceius, Schmidt; "felicitatibus tuis", Pagninus; "securitatibus tuis", Montanus. ; when in their greatest affluence, in the height of it; this he did, when he sent to them his servants the prophets, as the Targum, and by them exhorted, reproved, and advised them: but thou saidst, I will not hear ; this was the language of their hearts and... read more

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