Thus saith the Lord, behold, a people cometh from the north country ,.... The Assyrians from Babylon, which lay north of Judea, as in Jeremiah 1:14 , and a great nation shall be raised ; that is, by the Lord, who would stir them up to this undertaking. The Targum is, "many people shall come openly:' from the sides of the earth ; afar off, as Babylon was, Jeremiah 5:15 . read more
They shall lay hold on bow and spear ,.... That is, everyone of them should be furnished with both these pieces of armour, that they might be able to fight near and afar off; they had bows to shoot arrows at a distance, and spears to strike with when near. The Targum renders it bows and shields. "They are cruel, and have no mercy"; this is said, to strike terror into the hearts of the hardened Jews: their voice roareth like the sea ; the waves of it, which is terrible, Luke 21:25 , ... read more
We have heard the fame thereof ,.... Meaning not the prophet's report then, but the rumour of the enemy's coming from another quarter, at the time he was actually coming. These are the words of the people, upon such a rumour spread; or the words of the prophet, joining himself with them, describing their case, when it would be strongly reported, and they had reason to believe it, that the enemy was just coming, and very near: our hands wax feeble ; have no strength in them, shake and... read more
Go not forth into the field ,.... Either for pleasure, or for business; to take a walk in it for the air, or to till it, plough, sow, or reap; but keep within the city and its walls, there being danger: nor walk by the way ; in the high road from Jerusalem, to any town or village near it: for the sword of the enemy : or, "because there is a sword for the enemy" F2 כי חרב לאיוב "quoniam gladius est inimico", Munster, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius; "quia (ibi) gladius... read more
O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth ,.... Either as a token of repentance for sin; so the king of Nineveh and his subjects did, to show their repentance, Jonah 3:6 or as a sign of mourning, for the calamities coming on them, Genesis 37:34 . and wallow thyself in ashes ; or roll thyself in them, as a token of the same. The Targum is, "cover your heads with ashes.' Make thee mourning as for an only son ; which of all is the most bitter: and therefore it is added, ... read more
I have set thee for a tower ,.... Or "in" one F4 בחון "in exploratoria specula", Junius & Tremellius. ; in a watch tower, to look about and observe the actions of the people, their sins and transgressions, and reprove them for them; as well as to descry the enemy, and give notice of danger; see Habakkuk 2:1 or, "for a trier"; since the word used comes from one which signifies to "try" metals, as gold and silver; and the rather this may be thought to be the meaning here, since... read more
They are all grievous revolters ,.... From the right way of God and his worship: or, they are all revolters of revolters F5 סרי סוררים "refractarii refractariorum", Schmidt; "contumacium contumacissimi", Junius & Tremellius. ; of all, the greatest revolters, the greatest sinners and transgressors, the most stubborn and disobedient; or sons of revolters; fathers and children are alike. The Targum, is, "all their princes rebel;' and so the Vulgate Latin and Syriac... read more
The bellows are burnt ,.... Which Kimchi interprets of the mouth and throat of the prophet, which, through reproving the people, were dried up, and become raucous and hoarse, and without any profit to them; and so the Targum, "lo, as the refiner's blower, that is burnt in the midst of the fire, so the voice of the prophets is silent, who prophesied to them, turn to the law, and they turned not;' or the judgments and chastisements of God upon the Jews may be meant, which were inflicted... read more
Reprobate silver shall men call them ,.... Or, "call ye them" F9 קראו להם καλεσετε αυτους , "vocate eos": V. L. Pagninus. , as the Targum; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; by whom are meant the Jews, who thought themselves of some account, as silver; being the seed of Abraham, and having the law, the covenant and promises, and service of God; when those that tried them, as the prophets, found them to be nothing but dross; and therefore, if they must be... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 6:18-30
Here, I. God appeals to all the neighbours, nay, to the whole world, concerning the equity of his proceedings against Judah and Jerusalem (Jer. 6:18, 19): ?Hear, you nations, and know particularly, O congregation of the mighty, the great men of the nations, that take cognizance of the affairs of states about you and make remarks upon them. Observe now what is doing among those of Judah and Jerusalem; you hear of the desolations brought upon them, the earth rings of it, trembles under it; you... read more