Jeremiah 2

Jeremiah 2:1

MOreover] Or, Again. Chap. 1. 11.

the word of the LORD came to me] Heb. was to me. as Chap. 1. 3, 4.

Jeremiah 2:2

in the ears of Jerusalem] Or, in the hearing. Isaiah 5:9. and Isaiah 22:14. The inhabitants of Jerusalem. Isaiah 1:27.

I remember thee, the kindnesse of thy youth] Or, I remember for thy sake the kindnesse of thy youth. or, I remember thee for (as Malachi 2:5.) or, with (as Psalms 17:14. & Psalms 106:4.) the kindnesse of thy youth. According to that favour and kindnes which I shewed thee, when I first chose thee, and spoused thee to my self. Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 4:34. Isaiah 54:6. Chap. 32. 30. Ezekiel 16:8; Ezekiel 16:60.

when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse] Or, how thou wentest, &c. as Lamentations 1:9. Heb. thy going after me, &c. Deuter. 2. 7. When I brought thee out of Egypt, led thee along, and fed thee in, the waste wildernesse. Deuter. 8. 2, 3. & 29. 5, 6. & 32. 10, 12.

Jeremiah 2:3

Israel was holinesse unto the LORD] Consecrate to God. Psal. 114. 1, 2. Exod. 19. 5, 6. Chap. 31. 44. as the holy things; not to be eaten by strangers. Lev. 22. 10.

the first-fruits of his increase] Which were so also, Deuteronomy 26:10. and so are all Gods people; as his first-fruits. James 1:18. Revelation 14:4. his first-born. Exodus 4:22. Hebrews 12:23.

all that devour him, shall offend; evill shall come upon them] Or, all that devoured him, became guilty; (that is, became lyable to judgement. Exodus 4:23. Proverbs 20:25. Chap 12. 14.) evill befell them. None that then wronged them, escaped without punishment. Exodus 17:8; Exodus 17:14. Psal. 105 14, 15. Withall implying, that the case was much altered, it was not so now. Chap. 50. 7. See Chap. 43. 28. & 47. 6.

Jeremiah 2:5

What iniquitie have your fathers found in me] God challengeth them, to alleadge what they can for themselves; that the equitie of his proceedings may the more clearly appear; Isaiah 1:19. 5. 3. Mic. 6. 3, 4. Vers. 31. and the reason why he tendreth them not now so, as formerly he did.

are gone farre from me, and have walked after vanitie] Have left me, and follow Idols: Chap. 1. 16. which are but meer vanitie. Isaiah 41:29. & Isaiah 44:9. Chap. 8. 19. & 10. 15. See 2 Kings 17:15.

are become vain] In their counsels and courses. Romans 1:21-22. like the idols, which they follow. Jon. 2 8.

Jeremiah 2:6

said they] Thought with themselves. Chap. 5. 24.

Where is the LORD] They had no regard of inquiring after God, that they might serve him, who had done so much for them. Vers. 8.

that brought us up out of the land of Egypt] Exodus 20:2. Psalms 81:10. Isaiah 63:9; Isaiah 63:11; Isaiah 63:13. Hosea 13:4. Heb. that made us to ascend. as Chap. 1. 13. alluding to the situation of that countrey, lying low. or, that brought you forth. as Ezekiel 27:22. See Isaiah 52:4.

a land of drought, and of the shadow of death] Where for want of necessaries, nothing but death and buriall could be expected. Exod. 14. 11, 12. & 16. 3. & 17. 3. Deuteronomy 32:10. Psalms 23:4. Vers. 2.

a land that no man passed through] Chap. 9. 12.

Jeremiah 2:7

I brought you into a plentifull countrey] Heb. a land of Carmel. Isaiah 32:15. See Deut. 8. 7-9. & 11. 10-12.

the goodnesse thereof] Isaiah 1:19.

ye desiled my land] By your idolatries and other wicked courses. Psalms 78:58. & Psalms 106:38. Chap. 3. 1.

made mine heritage an abomination] Chap. 16. 18.

Jeremiah 2:8

The priests said not, Where is the LORD] They taught not the people to seek after God. vers. 6.

they that handle the law] That should have expounded Gods law to the people. Deuteronomy 33:10. Nehem. 8. 8. Malachi 2:7. Romans 2:20.

knew me not] Hosea 4:6.

the pastours also transgressed against me] As well Princes as Priests. 2 Chronicles 36:12; 2 Chronicles 36:14.

walked after things that do not profit] Followed idols; that could do no good; Isai. 44. 9, 10. Habakkuk 2:18. vers. 11. and drew the people after them. 1 Kings 18:22.

Jeremiah 2:9

I will yet plead with you] Though I might without more adoe, passe sentence upon you, and put it in execution; yet I will argue the case with you, to make you the more inexcusable. Isaiah 1:10. & Isaiah 43:26. Vers. 5.

Jeremiah 2:10

passe over] Or, go over to. as Isaiah 8:8.

the isles] Or, lands. as Isaiah 20:6. & Isaiah 41:1. Chap. 47. 4.

of Chittim] Of Achaia and Macedonia; Numbers 24:24. Isaiah 23:1. that lay North-ward.

Kedar] Arabia; Isaiah 60:7. that lay South-ward from them. Go to any countrey, North or South.

Jeremiah 2:11

Hath a nation changed their gods] Or, whether any nation have changed their gods. Whether they keep not constant to their own countrey idols. 1 King. 17. 29-33. Mic. 4. 5.

which are yet no gods] Chap. 16. 20. Isaiah 37:19. Galatians 4:8.

my people have changed their glory] The true God: who is their glory; Psalms 106:20. & Psalms 148:14. and maketh them glorious, Deuteronomy 4:6-8. Psalms 149:4. and yet are they lesse loyall and constant to him, then the heathen to their idol: Malachi 3:8. exchanging him for idols, that can do them no good. vers. 8 17.

for that which doth not profit] Or cannot profit. Job 15:3. Lamentations 4:17.

Jeremiah 2:12

Be astonished, O ye heavens, &c.] Implying, that the very senslesse creatures, were they apprehensive of such things, would abhorre such dealings, and tremble to think, what the issue of them would be. Isaiah 1:2. Or, that their courses were such, as might justly fill both heaven and earth with astonishment. Isaiah 59:16.

be ye very desolate] Or, clean dried up. Isaiah 19:6.

Jeremiah 2:13

they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters] A well-spring; yeelding water, that runneth constantly, and never faileth. Genesis 26:19. John 4. 14. & 7. 38. Revelation 22:1. such as God is to his. Psalms 36:9. Chap. 17. 13. & 18. 14.

hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water] Betaken themselves to idols; that, like wells without water, 2 Peter 2:17. can afford them no relief or refreshing. Isaiah 46:7.

Jeremiah 2:14

Is Israel a servant] Have I used him as a servant? and not rather as a sonne? Exodus 4:22. Or, is he a slave, that he is so slavishly intreated? to wit, in the time of his captivitie; like that, Chap. 49. 1. Or, how cometh it to passe, that he that was in such respect with God, is now left unto such a despicable condition, as if he had been by birth a slave? See vers. 2, 3.

is he a home-borne slave] Such as being born of slaves in their Lord or Masters service, were slaves by birth. Genesis 17:12. Exod.. 21. 4. Psalms 116:16.

why is he spoiled] Heb. become a spoil. Chap. 49. 32. Isaiah 42:24.

Jeremiah 2:15

The young lions] The Assyrians, and the Chaldeans. Chap. 4. 7. & 50. 17.

yelled] Heb. gave out their voice. Chap. 48. 34.

made his land waste] Heb. put it unto desolation. Chap. 4. 7.

his cities are burnt without inhabitant] So that none dwell in them. Chap. 47. 29. Zephaniah 2:5.

Jeremiah 2:16

the children of Noph and Tahapanes] The Egyptians: for these were two principall cities of Egypt. Isaiah 19:13. & Isaiah 30:4.

have broken the crown of thy head] Or, fed on thy crown. Deuteronomy 33:12. Isaiah 8:8. They spoil the best part of thee: Isaiah 1:6. or, do grievously vex thee. Deuteronomy 33:12.

Jeremiah 2:17

Hast thou not procured this unto thy self] It is not through any want of love and kindnesse on Gods part, who continueth still the same: Vers. 2. Malachi 3:6. James 1:17. but through their own default, that such a change is befaln them, as is complained of, vers. 14. Chap. 4. 18.

in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God] It is not Gods leaving of them, but their leaving of him. Vers. 13. Chap. 1. 16.

when he led thee by the way] When he governed thee by his providence; (alluding to the conduct of them. Exodus 13:21. Isaiah 63:12.) and would still so have done, hadst thou continued in obedience. Isaiah 58:8; Isaiah 58:11. Or, who prescribed thee a way and course of life to walk in; which hadst thou observed, thou hadst been safe and successefull. Isa. 48. 18, 19. & 64. 5. Ezekiel 20:10-11.

Jeremiah 2:18

what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt] Or, with the way of Egypt: as Psalms 147:20. What occasion, or need hast thou to travell, or send into Egypt?

to drink the waters of Sihor] To seek help from man, as if God were not able to protect thee; and to drink of puddles, leaving the spring. Isaiah 30:2. & Isaiah 31:1.

Sihor] Nilus: so called of the blacknesse of its water, bringing downe with it much slime and mud, that batteleth their grounds: though some think it another river on the border of Egypt. See Joshua 13:3. Isaiah 23:3.

in the way of Assyria] Or, with. as before.

of the river] Euphrates; by way of eminency so called. Psalms 72:8. Isaiah 7:20. See Genesis 15:18.

Jeremiah 2:20

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, &c.] Or, When of old time I brake thy yoke, &c. thou saidst, as Psalms 142:7. that is, and freed thee from the Egyptian bondage, when I delivered thee out of Egypt. vers. 6. Psal. 81. 6, 10.

I will not transgresse] Or, I will not serve: for there are two readings in the Hebrew; as also Chap. 15. 14. I will obey thee in all things. Deuteronomy 5:27. & Deuteronomy 26:17. & Deuteronomy 27:10. Or, I will not serve any, besides thee. Joshua 24:16. Psalms 81:9. Ezr. 10, 12.

When] Or, Yet; as Isaiah 9:1.

upon every high hill, &c.] Isaiah 57:5; Isaiah 57:7. Chap. 3. 6.

thou wanderest] Gadding after Idols. Vers. 24.

Jeremiah 2:21

Yet I had planted thee] Or, And I then planted thee. Exodus 15:17. Psalms 44:2. & Psalms 80:8. Isa. 5. 1, &c. Matthew 21:33. Mark 12:1. Luke 20:9.

a noble vine] Heb. Sork. Isaiah 5:2.

wholly a right seed] Heb. all it, a seed of truth. A right generous plant.

how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant] Spoken by way of admiration; as wondring to see so strange an alteration. See the like, Esa. 1. 21.

plant] Heb. plants.

of a strange vine] Deuteronomy 32:32.

Jeremiah 2:22

For though] Or, Although.

thou wash thee with nitre] Though thou use all outward means and rites of cleansing; either naturall, Job 9:30. Malachi 3:2. or ceremoniall; religious, Numbers 19:18-19. Hebrews 9:10; Hebrews 9:13. or superstitious; Isaiah 66:17. or, use all the colourable excuses and pretences that may be: vers. 23, 33, 35. yet nothing will avail to clear or cleanse thee from filth, or to free thee from judgement. Job 9:31.

take thee much sope] Heb. multiply sope; as Chap. 46. 11. Hosea 8:14.

thine iniquitie is marked before me] It is upon record with me. Deuteronomy 32:34. Job 14:17. Isaiah 65:6. Hosea 13:12. Or, imprinted on thee so deeply, that it cannot be got off or out. Chap. 17. 1.

Jeremiah 2:23

How canst thou say] Heb. wilt thou say; as Chap. 11. 12. How canst thou be so shamelesse, as to offer to clear thy self, when thy wickednesse is so evident? Proverbs 30:20.

see thy way] Chap. 3. 2.

in the valley] Of Hinnom. See Chap. 7. 31. & 19. 11. Go no further then that place: there is enough to evict thee. Or, those valleys in generall, wherein thou exercisedst thine idolatries. Isai. 57. 5, 6.

know] Or, take notice. Proverbs 27:23. Chap. 3. 13.

thou art a swift dromedarie] Or, O thou swift dromedarie. Heb. light. Isaiah 19:1. Chap. 3. 9. & 4. 24. Of this beast, see Isaiah 60:6.

traversing her wayes] That runnes over hills and dales in gendring time: as thou doest after thine idols. Vers. 20. The person may be changed, as Job 18:4.

Jeremiah 2:24

A wilde asse, &c.] Or, O thou wilde asse. Heb. taught the wildernesse, as Hosea 10:11. That runneth at large; and will not be taken or tamed. Job 39. 5-8.

that snuffeth up the winde] Chap. 14. 6.

at her pleasure] Heb. the desire of her heart. Deuteronomy 12:15.

in her occasion who can turn her away) Or, who can reverse it? In her head-long, and head-strong course, there is no restraining of her from her idols. Vers. 25. Chap. 8. 6.

all they that seek her, will not weary themselves, in her moneth they shall finde her] Or, need not weary themselves; in her moneth they may finde her. They that seek her, to be naught with her, need not weary themselves over-much: they may soon finde her ready to entertain them at all times. Ezekiel 16:25. & Ezekiel 22:10.

Jeremiah 2:25

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, &c.] Leave this wicked and wretched course; that will bring thee to captivity, beggerie, and miserie. Proverbs 6:26. Isai. 20. 2-4. & 46. 2. Chap. 13. 22. & 14. 10. & 48. 18.

There is no hope] Or, Is the case desperate? Isaiah 57:10. Chap. 18. 12.

I have loved strangers] Or, I love strangers. I am affected with, and addicted to strange people, Vers. 18. and strange gods. Vers. 10. Psalms 81:9.

Jeremiah 2:26

As the thief is ashamed] Heb. according to the shame of a thief; as Isaiah 1:7. & Isaiah 13:19.

so is the house of Israel ashamed] Or, so do they (those that they trust to; Vers. 25, 27.) shame the house of Israel. Their idols do but bring them to shame and confusion; as it is with a thief, when he is taken in the manner: Chap. 48. 27. Hosea 4:19. being not able to help them in their distresses. Vers. 27, 28, 36. Isa. 1. 29-31. and 2. 20, 21. & 20. 4, 5.

they, their kings] Or, them, their kings.

Jeremiah 2:27

Saying] Or, That say.

to a stock] To an idol made of the stock of a tree. Isaiah 40:20. & 44. 14-17.

Thou art my father, &c.] Giving Gods honour to idols; Deuteronomy 32:6 Isaiah 64:8. and being so senslesse, as to take a stock or a stone, Chap. 3. 9. for their father. Isaiah 44:17.

to a stone] An image made of stone. Daniel 5:4; Daniel 5:23.

Thou hast brought me forth] Or, begotten me. Genesis 4:18.

they have turned their back unto me] Chap. 32. 31. Ezekiel 8:16. Heb. the hinder part of the neck. Chap. 18. 17.

but] Or, yet; as Isaiah 65:20.

in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us] They will seek to me to save them; finding to their shame, how little help their idols are able to afford them. Jud. 10. 10, 15. Isaiah 26:16. Hosea 5:15.

Jeremiah 2:28

where are thy gods] Go to thine idols; whom, leaving me, thou hast served, and trusted to; and trie what they can do for thee. Deuteronomy 32:37. Judg. 10. 11-14. 2 Kings 3:13. Hosea 13:10. Chap. 11. 12.

let them arise if they can save thee] Isaiah 45:20.

in the time of thy trouble] Heb. evil. Psalms 49:5.

according to the number of thy cities, are thy gods] Thou hast enow of them to go to; and those ready enough at hand, could they do thee any good. Chap. 11. 13.

Jeremiah 2:29

Wherefore will ye plead with me] To what end will ye stand out, debating the matter with me, when the case is so clear against you? Vers. 34. Chap. 3. 2.

Jeremiah 2:30

In vain have I smitten your children] Isaiah 1:5. & Isaiah 9:13. Chap. 5. 3. Zeph. 3. 2.

your own sword have devoured your prophets] Ye have slain your Prophets; by whom I called you to repentance, that I might not slay you. 2 Chronicles 24:20-21. Chap. 26. 23. Matth. 23. 29, 35, 37. Luke 11. 47. & 13. 33, 34. Acts 7:52. 1 Thessalonians 2:15.

Jeremiah 2:31

see ye the word of the LORD] Or, consider; as vers. 19. Chap. 33. 24. see the word as, hear the rod, Mic. 6. 9. Consider seriously of either.

have I been a wildernesse unto Israel] Vers. 5. Have I held them to hard meat, as cattell kept on a bare heath or wilde waste? yea, have I not furnished them with abundance of all things? Isaiah 5:4.

a land of darknesse] Heb. darknesse of God. extream darknesse; as Son 8:6. Darknesse, for miserie; as Lamentations 3:2.

We are lords] Heb. We have dominion. Hosea 11:12. 1 Corinthians 4:8. We are grown to a kingdom of that strength, that we are able to stand without thy support.

we will come no more unto thee] We will no longer be ruled by thee; we can do well enough without thee. Psal. 30. 6, 7. Chap. 22. 21.

Jeremiah 2:32

my people have forgotten me] Have left looking after me; no more regard me, who am their chief ornament, then as if they had utterly forgotten me. Vers. 11. Deut. 32. 15, 18. Psalms 106:21. Hosea 8:14.

Jeremiah 2:33

Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love] Heb. makest good. Chap. 7. 3. Why dost thou set a fair glosse upon thy courses, to gain love, and procure helpers to thee? Isaiah 23:16. Or, why doest thou use vain pretences, whereby to justifie thy courses, when it is apparent that thou seekest nothing but the satisfaction of thy lusts? Vers. 35.

hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy wayes] Or, wicked women. Harlots themselves may learn of thee; thou art so lewd, that even the heathen may learn idolatry from thee. Chap. 5. 18. Ezek. 5. 6, 7. & 16. 48.

Jeremiah 2:34

in thy skirts is found the bloud, &c.] Thy garments are all defiled with innocent bloud: 2 Kings 24:4. Ezekiel 7:23. & Ezekiel 9:9. to thine idolatry thou hast added murther. Ezek. 16. 20, 21, 36. & 23. 37. Lamentations 4:14.

I have not found it by secret search] Or, privie search. Heb. by digging. Ezek. . 8. & 12. 5. Or, breaking open. Exodus 22:2.

Jeremiah 2:35

I will plead with thee] Or, proceed in judgement against thee. Isaiah 66:16.

because thou sayest, I have not sinned] Because thou standest upon thy justification: vers. 23. 29. Proverbs 30:20. and wilt not be brought to acknowledge thy sinne; Chap. 3. 13. I will proceed, without further debate, to passe sentence against thee. Chap. 1. 18.

Jeremiah 2:36

Why gaddest thou about, &c.] Running one while one way, and another while another way, to seek succours abroad. Isaiah 57:10. Chap. 14. 10. Hosea 5:13. & Hosea 12:1.

thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt] Receiving no more help from Egypt, Isaiah 20:5. & Isaiah 30:5. & Isaiah 31:5. Chap. 22. 22. & 37. 7. then they had formerly from Ashur. 2 Chronicles 28:20.

Jeremiah 2:37

thou shalt go forth him] From the Egyptians, whom thou soughtest unto for succour. Vers. 18.

and thine hands upon thine head] Or, with thine hands upon thine head; as Chap. 1. 13. In lamenting-wise. 2 Samuel 13:19. missing of such aid, as from thence thou expectedst.

the LORD hath rejected thy confidences.] Or, disalloweth. See Psalms 1:6.