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النشر الإلكتروني

The prophet's trial]

CHAP. XXVI.

JEREMIAH.

IN the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, came this word from the LORD, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened ;

6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.

7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up

[and deliverance.

from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house.

11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house, and against this city, all the words that ye have heard.

13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

14 As for me, Behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.

15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inbabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you, to speak all these words in your ears.

16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die; for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.

17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,

18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him

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Typical bonds]

CHAP. XXVII.

[and yokes. of the evil which he had pronounced the hand of the people to put him to against them? Thus might we procure death. (D) great evil against our souls.

20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah, of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah :

21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.

23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. 24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into

CHAP. XXVI.

CHAP. XXVII.

IN the beginning of the reign of Je

hoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,

3 And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;

4 And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; thus shall ye say unto your masters;

5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

EXPOSITION.

(D) Jeremiah delivering a prophetic oracle is tried for his life, and escapes with difficulty.In the beginning of the reign of king Jehoiakim, Jeremiah foretels the destruction of the temple and city, if not prevented by the speedy repentance of the people, By this unwelcome prophecy his life was in great danger: the priests and false Prophets with some of the people drag him before the princes of Judah, and demand sentence of death against him. He justifies himself, on the ground of acting by a divine commission, and some of the elders of the nation take his part, particu-, larly Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, by whose

means he is acquitted. Alas, for us, that it should be considered as a crime in any man to warn sinners to repent-especially in one, who, like Jeremiah, was accredited as a Prophet of the Most High!

By ver. 2. it should seem that this event (like the mock trial of Messiah himself) took place at one of the great Jewish festivals, when "all the cities"—that is, iolabitants from all the cities of Judah, were assembled to worship at the temple, where a prophet ought to have been heard with attention; but "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! (it is thou) which killest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee!" (Luke xiii. 33.)

NOTES.

Ver. 20. Urijah. The history of this prophet seems totally unknown, and as the date of this chapter is the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign, it is difficult to account for the mention of this event. It was evidently not stated by Ahikam, but by some other "elder," a bitter enemy of Jeremiah and of the truth, who would not have dared to mention it, but that he considered it as a meritorious action in Jehoiakim, and wished to see it repeated toward Jeremiah. The other elders, however, might be shocked at the recital, and therefore the more inclined to follow the council of Abikam, who had been one of good king Josiah's counsellors, 2 Kings xxii. 12.

Ver. 23. Of the common people-Heb. "Of the sons of the people."

CHAP. XXVII. Ve:. 1. Jehoiakim.—Though we are extremely cautious of introducing corrections into the sacred text, yet it cannot be denied, but that the Hebrew scribes have committed many literal and verbal errors, of which this is certainly one of the most glaring; so much so, that even Mr. Gataker and Prebendary Lowth admit the name here should be Zedekiah, as in ver. 3 and 12, though it has but little support from e'ther MSS or Versions: the context, however, is of higher authority. See also the first verse of the next chapter.

Ver. 2. Bonds and yokes. See what is said of prophetic action in our Introduction to the prophets, vol. ii. p. 260.

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6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

8 And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

9 Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

10 For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

12 I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

14 Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto

CHAP. XXVII.

[explained.

you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

15 For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish; ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

16 Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD's house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

17 Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?

18 But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.

19 For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,

20 Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;

21 Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;

22 They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place. (E)

EXPOSITION.

(E) Jeremiah, by a significant prophetic

NOTES

Ver, 7. Until the very time.--See chap. 1. 27.

action, recommends to the kings of Judok, and of the surrounding countries, submission Chap. XXVII. Con.

Ver. 19. Concerning the pillars. See ch. lii. 17.

The false prophecies]

AN

CHAP. XXVIII.

CHAP. XXVIII.

ND it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

3 Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Baby

lon:

4 And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,

6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels

[of Hananiah.

of the LORD's house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place!

7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;

8 The prophets that have been before me, and before thee, of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.

9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.

10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.

11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his

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EXPOSITION.

to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar.-Ambassadors being come from several neighbouring nations to solicit Zedekiah, king of Judah, to join in a confederacy against the king of Babylon, Jeremiah is directed to put bands and yokes upon his neck, (the common emblems of subjection,) and to send them afterwards by those ambassadors to their respective princes; intimating by this significant type, that God had decreed their subjection to the king of Babylon, and that it was their wisdom to submit. Zedekiah, is also admonished not to join

in the revolt, and warned against trusting to the suggestions of false Prophets, who would mislead him. The chapter concludes with foretelling that what still remained of the sacred vessels of the Temple should be carried to Babylon; but be restored to the end of the period already mentioned. (See Ezra i. 7, &c.) It is generally admitted that the name of Jehoiakim has, by some mistake of transcribing, got into the first verse in place of Zedekiah. See Note on ver. 1.

NOTES.

CHAP. XXVIII. Ver. 1. In the same year, &c.This demonstrates the mistake noted in the first verse of the preceding chapter.In the beginning -that is, the early part of the reign of king Zedekial.

He reigned eleven years, his fourth year was therefore in the early part of his reign.

Ver. 16. Thou hast taught (or spoken) rebellion. -See Deut. xiii. 5. and Note.

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14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him and I have given him the beasts of the field also.

15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because, thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.

17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. (F)

CHAP. XXIX.

NOW these are the words of the

letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;

2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and

CHAP. XXVIII.

[to the captives.

the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)

3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,

4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon ;

5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them ;

6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts. the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, déceive you; neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto

EXPOSITION.

(F) A false Prophet openly opposes Jeremiah, who fortels his speedy death. Hananiah, one of the Prophets spoken of in the preceding chapter, (vers. 14, 15,) openly opposes and contradicts Jeremiah, predicts the speedy return of the king and people from Babylon, with all the sacred vessels, and tears the symbolic yokes of wood from off the Prophet's neck. Jeremiah, in return, is ordered to get yokes of iron, as indicative of heavier servitude; and denounces by inspiration the death of Hananiah within the current year. This was indeed fulfilled within two months-an awful warning against falsehood and presumption in religion.

Dr. Blayney remarks on this chapter, that the Prophets "were an order of men among the Jews devoted to sacred literature (and he might have added music) and qualified by their attainments in religious

knowledge to advise and instruct the peo ple who came (occasionally) to consult them." They were generally educated in those seminaries, called schools of the prophets (of which see Vol. i. p. 599), under some eminent and inspired seer. They formed the clerical order, and were at some times very numerous. (1 Kings xviii. 4; xxii. 6.) They were not, however, all inspired, nor even all religious, many being drawn to these schools probably from a love of literature, music, and a retired life. The students were called "sons of the Prophets." From the pious among them, the Lord usually (but not always, Amos vii. 14) chose his own Prophets; and from the worst Baal and his worshippers were abundantly supplied. Even the pretended Prophets spoken of in this book were not all avowed idolators, but many of them professed to be Prophets of Jehovah, though neither gifted with the spirit of prophecy, nor endowed with picly.

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