Verse 1

Letter. Literally, "book." (Haydock) --- It was probably sent at the beginning of the reign of Sedecias by his ambassadors, and is different from that sent by Baruch i. and chap. lii. 28. --- Prophets. Chaldean, "scribes." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "false prophets," ver. 8. (Haydock) --- Daniel had begun to prophesy, the year of the world 3402. Ezechiel commenced only five years after the captivity of Jechonias. One prophet frequently instructs another, as Nathan did David, Daniel ix. 2., and 1 Peter i. 11. (Calmet) --- Jeremias declares that the captivity would continue long. He comforts and rebukes to chap. xl. (Worthington)

Verse 2

Queen. Nohesta. --- Eunuchs. Real, (Hebrew) or "Grandee." (Chaldean) --- Engravers. Chap. xxiv. 2.

Verse 3

Gamarias, the son of Saphan, is different. These two are unknown.

Verse 5

Build. Establish yourselves, as you must remain a long time in captivity. We are exhorted not to be attached to the things of the world, to remind us that we shall not live long, chap. xvi. 2., and xxxv. 7., and 1 Corinthians vii. 29.

Verse 7

Peace. We must submit to the magistrates, where we reside, Baruch i. 11., and 1 Timothy ii. 1.

Verse 8

Prophets. There were many false ones, ver. 21., and Ezechiel xiii. --- Dreams. The prophets, or people. They are vain.

Verse 10

Seventy. Dating from the 4th of Joakim to the 1st of Cyrus, the year of the world 3468. (Calmet) See chap.. xxv. 1, 11. (Haydock)

Verse 11

An end. Septuagint, "these things." This version is much abridged. From ver. 15., to 21., is omitted in St. Jerome's and the Roman edition; but not in the Complutensian or Theodoret. (Calmet) --- Grabe inserts what is wanting, and places the 15th at the end of our 20th verse. (Haydock)

Verse 15

Said. Expressing your confidence in Providence; or rather, if we join this with what follows, he rebukes them for trusting in false prophets, who represented their condition as worse than that of their brethren, who were left behind; whereas it was really better, ver. 17., and chap. xxiv. 2, 8. (Calmet) --- The deluded people suppose that the false prophets had been sent by God. (Worthington)

Verse 17

CHAPTER XXIX.

Verse 19

By night, or "early," de nocte, as soon as the night was over. (Haydock)

Verse 22

Curse. Ver. 18. The malediction which has befallen the Jews, "overtake thee." (Worthington) --- Fire, in frying-pans, (see 2 Machabees vii. 5.) or cauldrons of boiling oil. This death shews that these were not the infamous judges who tempted Susanna, (Calmet) as the Jews quoted by (Haydock) St. Jerome, Salien, &c., would infer from ver. 23., and Daniel xiii. 57. They were stoned to death by the people, ibid. lxii.[Daniel xiii. 62.] (Calmet)

Verse 23

Folly. A crime, Judges xix. 23., and 2 Kings xiii. 12. --- Witness, the sovereign truth. (Calmet)

Verse 24

And. God orders his prophet what to say, to an accusation sent from Babylon, in consequence of the former letter, ver. 5, 28. (Haydock) --- Nehelamite, "torrent," (St. Jerome) or "dreamer." We know of no place of this name.

Verse 25

The second priest, (4 Kings xxv. 18.) a chief officer of the temple, chap. xxi. 1.

Verse 26

Joiada, whose zeal had been conspicuous long before, under Joas, in persuading him to destroy the false prophets, 4 Kings xi. 17. Sophonias is exhorted to imitate him, by treating Jeremias in like manner. (Calmet) --- Thou. Hebrew, "ye should be officers." (Protestants) (Haydock) --- There were many chief priests. --- Raveth. Hebrew, "is possessed, and counterfeits the prophet." Such were to be slain, being confined till sentence had been passed, Deuteronomy xviii. 20. (Calmet)

Verse 28

Time, before you will return. (Haydock) --- Sophonias read the letter, approving of its contents, (St. Jerome) though this is not certain. He took no violent steps against Jeremias, as Phassur had done. (Haydock)

Verse 32

Sit, in an honourable station, or they shall all die. (Calmet)