Verse 5

So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

So — Most think Jeremiah did this in a vision, for it was a very long journey from Anathoth to Euphrates.

Verse 12

Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?

Do we not know — This is no strange thing.

Verse 13

Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

Behold — There is a wine of astonishment and confusion, Psalm 60:3. With that wine, saith God, I will fill all orders of persons, kings, priests, prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Verse 16

Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

Give glory — Glorify God, by an humble confession of your sins, by submitting yourselves to God, humbling yourselves under his word, and under his mighty hand, before God brings upon you, his great and heavy judgments.

Verse 19

The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.

The cities — The cities of Judah lay southward from Chaldea.

Verse 20

Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

Where — The prophet speaks to the king, or to the rulers. In the multitude of the people is the king's honour.

Verse 21

What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

What wilt thou say — Thou wilt have nothing to say, but be wholly confounded when God shall visit thee with this sore judgment, for by thy so often calling them to thy assistance, thou hast taught them to be captains over thee.

Verse 22

And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.

Thy skirts — Probably these phrases are fetched from the usual practice of soldiers when they have conquered a place and taken prisoners, to strip them. By skirts is meant the lower part of their bodies covered with the lower part of their garments.

Verse 26

Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.

Therefore — I will expose thee to shame and contempt.

Verse 27

I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

Thy whoredom — Thy idolatries.