Verse 1

Jeremiah"s Eighteenth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Given in reign of Jehoiakim to Jeremiah. Declared, after thirteen years, in fourth year of Zedekiah: i.e. in 485. Compare Jeremiah 26:12. Jeremiah 27 and Jeremiah 28 were written by Jeremiah, or at his dictation. Compare "me", Jeremiah 27:2; Jeremiah 28:1. Some codices, with Syriac, read "Zedekiah", as in Jeremiah 26:3 and Jeremiah 26:12.

In the beginning. The Massorah (App-30) notes the fact that this expression occurs three times at the commencement of a verse (Genesis 1:1. Genesis 26:1; Genesis 27:1).

came. At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim; but it referred to a future time, as shown in Jeremiah 27:12.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Verse 2

put them, &c. This was literally done, as a prophetic symbol; and at that time prophetic of what was to happen in the reign of Zedekiah, eleven years later.

Verse 3

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton to emphasize each respectively.

which come = that are coming. Part. Poel, as in Genesis 37:19; Genesis 41:29, Genesis 41:35. Genesis 4:16; Genesis 6:22; Genesis 7:32; Genesis 9:25; Genesis 16:14; Genesis 23:5, Genesis 23:7; Genesis 31:27, Genesis 31:31, Genesis 31:38; Genesis 32:7; Jeremiah 33:5, Jeremiah 33:14, &c. This was to take place eleven years later.

unto Zedekiah. Then and there we have the fulfilment of this prophecy.

Verse 4

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Verse 5

I have made, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1:1). App-92.

the ground. Hebrew the face of the ground. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6. Some codices read "the face of all the ground".

ground = earth.

great power . . . outstretched arm. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:6. Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 7:19; Deuteronomy 9:29; Deuteronomy 11:2; Deuteronomy 26:8).

Verse 6

Nebuchadnezzar. Some codices spell it "Nebuchadrezzar".

My servant. Compare Jeremiah 25:9. See Daniel 2:37, Daniel 2:38.

Verse 7

him, and his son, and his son"s son: i.e. Evil Merodach, Nergelissar, and Nabonidus, in whose seventeenth year Babylon was taken by Cyrus. App-67.

the very time = the appointed end.

great kings: i.e. the kings of Persia and Media (Daniel 2:39).

Verse 8

the same = him.

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah"s oracle.

sword . . . famine . . . pestilence. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:25, Leviticus 26:26. Deuteronomy 28:21-24). App-92.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6.

Verse 9

diviners, &c. These were their heathen guides.

enchanters = observers of the clouds.

sorcerers. These were mediums and necromancers.

Verse 12

I spake: i.e. thirteen years after this prophecy came to him. See note on Jeremiah 27:1.

to Zedekiah. It is not stated whether he ever addressed the two other kings. Jehoahaz and Zedekiah were the sons of Hamutal; Jehoiakim was the son of the proud Zebudah (2 Kings 23:36). Compare Jeremiah 13:18.

Verse 13

Why . . . ? Figure of speech Asterismos.

by. Some codices, with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and by", thus completing the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. Compare Jeremiah 27:8.

as = according as.

Verse 16

to the priests. Probably in the Temple. Compare Jeremiah 28:1.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

the vessels: which were taken away by Nebuchadnezzar in the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah (2 Kings 24:13. 2 Chronicles 36:7, 2 Chronicles 36:10. Daniel 1:2).

Verse 17

wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

Verse 18

Be = exists; or, he and remain. Hebrew. yesh. Compare Jeremiah 31:6, Jeremiah 31:16, Jeremiah 31:17, and see notes on Proverbs 8:21; Proverbs 18:24.

the LORD of hosts = Jehovah Zebaoth. See note on Jeremiah 6:6. 1 Samuel 1:3.

at. Some codices, with three early printed editions, omit this "at".

Verse 19

remain. Probably because they were too heavy and cumbrous.

city. So the reading of Ben-Asher; but Ben-Naphtali reads "land". These were the two rival critics of the Hebrew text in the tenth century A.D. who furnished the vowel-points. Ben-Asher"s work was done at Tiberias in 827 "from the destruction of Jerusalem", and is now at Aleppo. Of Ben- Naphtali nothing is known beyond official lists which have come down to us.

Verse 20

Jeconiah. Compare Jeremiah 24:1.

Verse 21

in. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read this "in" in the text.

Verse 22

then will I bring them up. Fulfilled by Cyrus (Ezra 1:7; Ezra 5:13, Ezra 5:14).