Jeremiah 31:1

At the same time, saith the Lord,.... The time of the Messiah, the Gospel dispensation, the latter days; when the Jews shall consider the prophecies of the Old Testament, and observe how they have

At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. As in that chapter the restoration of Judah, so in this the restoration of Israel's ten tribes, is foretold.

CHAPTER 31 The restoration of Israel published, . Rachel mourning is comforted, . Ephraim repenting is brought home, . Christ promised, . His care over the church, . His new covenant, . The stability and enlargement of the church, . When the Lord’ s anger shall turn, he having performed all the thoughts of his heart upon the wicked Israelites, he will declare himself not unmindful of the covenant which he made with Abraham and his seed, but will be their God, and they shall be the people of his favour, whom he will protect and bless. It is uncertain whether Israel here is to be taken in a more large sense, as it signifieth the whole twelve tribes, or only Judah, being that part of Israel which was before spoken of.

Jeremiah 31:1 At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.Ver. 1. At the same time,] i.e., In the beginning of Zedekiah’ s reign, as before, was this word uttered. Or rather, in those latter times forementioned, after the return from Babylon, but especially in the days of the Messiah. The modern Jews vainly apply it to the coming of their Messiah, quem tantis etiamnum ululatibus exposcunt, whom they yet expect, but to no purpose.

XXXI. (1) The God of all the families of Israel.—The union of the ten tribes of Israel and the two of Judah is again prominent in the prophet’s mind. He cannot bear to think of that division, with its deep lines of cleavage in the religious and social life of the people, being perpetuated. Israel should be Israel. This is the crown and consummation of the promise of Jer 30:24.

CHAPTER XXXI This chapter continues the subject of the preceding in a beautiful vision represented at a distant period. God is introduced expressing his continual regard for Israel, and promising to restore them to their land and liberty, 1-5. Immediately heralds appear, proclaiming on Mount Ephraim the arrival of the great year of jubilee, and summoning the people to gather unto Zion, 6. Upon which God resumes the speech; and makes such gracious promises both of leading them tenderly by the way, and making them happy in their own land, that all the nations of the world are called upon to consider with deep attention this great salvation, 7-14. The scene is then diversified by a very happy invention. Rachel, the another of Joseph and Benjamin, is represented as risen from her tomb, in a city of Benjamin near Jerusalem, looking about for her children, and bitterly lamenting their fate, as none of them are to be seen in the land of their fathers, 15. But she is consoled with the assurance that they are not lost, and that they shall in due time be restored, 16, 17. To this another tender and beautiful scene immediately succeeds. Ephraim, (often put for the TEN tribes,) comes in view. He laments his past errors, and expresses the most earnest desires of reconciliation; upon which God, as a tender parent, immediately forgives him, 18-20. The virgin of Israel is then directed to prepare for returning home, 21, 22; and the vision closes with a promise of abundant peace and security to Israel and Judah in the latter days, 23-26. The blessed condition of Israel under the Messiah's reign is then beautifully contrasted with their afflicted state during the general dispersion, 27, 28. In the remaining part of the chapter the promises to the posterity of Jacob of the impartial administration of justice, increasing peace and prosperity, the universal diffusion of righteousness, and stability in their own land after a general restoration in Gospel tines, are repeated, enlarged on, and illustrated by a variety of beautiful figures, 29-40. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI Dr. Blayney has introduced this and the preceding chapter with the following excellent observations: - "There are many prophecies," says he, "in various parts of the Old Testament, which announce the future restoration of Israel to their own land, and the complete re-establishment of both their civil and religious constitution in the latter days, meaning the times of the Gospel dispensation. These two chapters contain a prophecy of this kind; which must necessarily be referred to these times, because it points out circumstances which certainly were not fulfilled at the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, nor have hitherto had their completion.

Jeremiah 31:1-9. See introd. summary to the section. Jeremiah 31:1, virtually a repetition of Jer 30:22, should be joined to the previous ch.

At the same time - literally, At that time, i. e., “the latter day.” mentioned in Jeremiah 30:24.

FOR ALL THE OF ISRAEL, Jeremiah 31:1-40.1. At the same time — Namely, in the “latter days” of Jeremiah 30:24, when God’s anger shall light on his enemies.