*H At that time, saith the Lord, they shall cast out the bones of the kings of Juda, and the bones of the princes thereof, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves.
Ver. 1. Graves. They might suppose that they would find treasures in them, as the tombs of Semiramis, Cyrus, &c. were thus enriched. This inhumanity seems to have taken place before the last siege. Bar. ii. 24. C.
*H And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Shall not he that falleth, rise again? and he that is turned away, shall he not turn again?
Ver. 4. Again. Why then do not the people strive to repent?
*H The kite in the air hath known her time: the turtle, and the swallow, and the stork have observed the time of their coming: but my people have not known the judgment of the Lord.
Ver. 7. Stork. These birds retire at the approach of winter to warmer climates. In Poland swallows plunge into marshes, like frogs. If instinct teach them to do so, for their preservation, is it not strange that men should be so inconsiderate?
*H How do you say: We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Indeed the lying pens of the scribes hath wrought falsehood.
Ver. 8. Falsehood. The impostors have deceived you, and they are themselves taken prisoners. C.
*H The wise men are confounded, they are dismayed, and taken: for they have cast away the word of the Lord, and there is no wisdom in them.
Ver. 9. Them. Those who understand, and do not observe the law, are not wise. W.
*H Therefore will I give their women to strangers, their fields to others for an inheritance: because from the least even to the greatest all follow covetousness: from the prophet even to the priest all deal deceitfully.
Ver. 10. Others. Idumeans, &c. Yet most part of the land remained uncultivated. C. — The rest, to v. 13. "they will collect their fruits, says," &c. is supplied by Grabe. H.
* Footnote * Isaias 56 : 11
And most impudent dogs, they never had enough: the shepherds themselves knew no understanding: all have turned aside into their own way, every one after his own gain, from the first even to the last.*H They are confounded, because they have committed abomination: yea rather they are not confounded with confusion, and they have not known how to blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall; in the time of their visitation they shall fall, saith the Lord.
Ver. 12. They are. Or, "are they?" &c. S. Jer. — No, they are too hardened. C. vi. 14.
*H Gathering I will gather them together, saith the Lord, there is no grape on the vines, and there are no figs on the fig tree, the leaf is fallen: and I have given them the things that are passed away.
Ver. 13. Gather into Jerusalem, to be butchered. C. — Away. They are now in the greatest distress. H. — This probably happened a little before the last siege. C. xiv.
*H Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fenced city, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and hath given us water of gall to drink: for we have sinned against the Lord.
Ver. 14. Silent, in utter destruction. 1 K. ii. 9. We cannot be in a worse condition.
*H The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan, all the land was moved at the sound of the neighing of his warriors: and they came and devoured the land, and all that was in it: the city and its inhabitants.
Ver. 16. Dan, by which the Chaldees must pass. C. iv. 15. Many have hence inferred that antichrist will be the serpent (v. 17.) of the tribe of Dan. Gen. xlix. 17. C.
*H For behold I will send among you serpents, basilisks, against which there is no charm: and they shall bite you, saith the Lord.
Ver. 17. Charm. The Chaldees will not be moved to pity (M.) by any words. W.
*H My sorrow is above sorrow, my heart mourneth within me.
Ver. 18. Me. God, Jeremias, the people, or rather Jerusalem bewails her children. C.
*H Behold the voice of the daughter of my people from a far country: Is not the Lord in Sion, or is not her king in her? why then have they provoked me to wrath with their idols, and strange vanities?
Ver. 19. Sion. Thus the people complain, (M.) or God answers them that they had no reason to have recourse to idols for protection. C.
*H The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Ver. 20. Saved. Our hopes of redress are vanished. We must still pine away for want of food. H. — The siege continues, though we had been assured it would shortly be terminated. C. — It commenced January 30. A. 3414. Soon after Nabuchodonosor went to meet Pharao, and having defeated him, returned about June, A. 3415, and after 390 days took the city, 27th of July, A. 3416. Usher C. xxxix. 2. C. Ezec. iv. 5. H.
*H For the affliction of the daughter of my people I am afflicted, and made sorrowful, astonishment hath taken hold on me.
Ver. 21. I. Jeremias. M. — The prophet continues to speak in the next chap.
*H Is there no balm in Galaad? or is there no physician there? Why then is not the wound of the daughter of my people closed?
Ver. 22. Balm, (resina) "turpentine," (C.) which was much used. Dioscor. i. 66. — Galaad was famous for the best. C. xlvi. 11. Gen. xxxvii. 25. — Closed? Have I not sent prophets? But they will not be healed. C.