Verse 1

The, &c. He continues his discourse, (ver. 15.) or rather addresses the people, when Josias renewed the covenant, 2 Paralipomenon xxxiv. 29., Leviticus xxvi., and Deuteronomy xxvii. (Calmet)

Verse 4

Fathers. God chooses his people for obedience, not for kindred, &c. (St. Jerome) (Worthington)

Verse 5

Amen. Septuagint, "So be it." (Haydock) --- Thou hast fulfilled thy engagements.

Verse 6

Cities, or to those who come thence to the temple, that all may know.

Verse 7

For. This and the next verse have not been read by Septuagint; (Calmet) but only "and they did not comply." Grabe supplies the rest. (Haydock)

Verse 8

Brought; or "will bring," seems preferable. What does the history of God's people till the captivity exhibit, but scenes of disorder and of succeeding misery? (Calmet)

Verse 9

Conspiracy. They are leagued together to do evil, with all earnestness. (St. Jerome)

Verse 10

To them, for a long time. Yet they must not despair, or have recourse to idols, (ver. 12.) or witches, 1 Kings xxviii.

Verse 13

Confusion. Thus he contemptuously denotes Baalim, chap. iii. 24. (Calmet) --- Various idols were objects of adoration, (Haydock) so that no city or street, perhaps not any house, was pure, chap. vii. 18., and xliv. 17., Isaias lxv. 11., and Ezechiel xvi. 25.

Verse 15

Beloved, dilectus. Hebrew and Septuagint have the feminine. Chaldean, "people." They presumptuously thought that they would be freed from all their abominations, by partaking of the sacrifices. (Calmet) --- But the offerings of such are not accepted. (Menochius) --- The flesh is holy, but is of no service to the obstinate sinner. (Worthington)

Verse 16

Burnt, by lightning. The olive was a most useful and beautiful tree.

Verse 18

Shewedst me. He insinuates that something more than what appears must be understood. (Theodoret) --- All Christians explain what follows of Jesus Christ, (St. Jerome; Worthington) whom Jeremias prefigured in his sufferings. (Calmet) --- "Let us follow the rule which shews that all the prophets did most things for a type of our Lord and Saviour; and what was now done by Jeremias, foreshewed what would happen to our Lord." (St. Jerome)

Verse 19

Meek: pet lamb. The Arabs still keep one in their houses, 2 Kings xii. 3. (Bochart ii. 46.) (Calmet) --- Knew. I acted as if I had been ignorant. (Menochius) --- Yet Christ foretold his sufferings, Matthew xx. 18., &c. (Worthington) --- Bread. Christ, the bread of life, was nailed to the disgraceful wood. (St. Jerome; St. Gregory, Mor. iii. 12.) --- They threaten to beat him, (De Dieu) or to mix a poisonous wood with his food. (Calmet) (Menochius) --- Some Jews had corrupted this text in St. Justin's time. (Du Hamel)

Verse 20

Sabaoth. That is, of hosts or armies; a name frequently given to God, in the Scriptures. --- Thy revenge. This was rather a prediction of what was to happen, with an approbation of the divine justice, than an imprecation. (Challoner) --- He speaks of the impenitent, (St. Jerome) and wishes they may be converted.

Verse 21

Life. What precedes, was spoken concerning the prophet, though it regarded Christ also in a proper but more elevated sense. (Calmet)

Verse 23

Remains. All these priests shall perish, Psalm xxxvi. 28. (Haydock) --- He speaks of the wicked, as a remnant was still left, chap. iv., and Isaias x. (Worthington)

Verse 25

CHAPTER XI.