Jeremiah 18

Jeremiah 18:2

Potter’s. Thus God would shew his dominion over all, Romans ix. 21.

Jeremiah 18:3

Wheel. Hebrew, “stones.” Septuagint, “seats;” or “wheel.” (Chaldean) (Exodus i. 16.) See Ecclesiasticus xxxviii. 32. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 18:4

Broken. So Providence ordered it. (St. Jerome) — How should this idea humble man! (Calmet) — A potter may mould afresh the clay as long as it is soft, but God can change the hardest heart. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 18:8

Shall repent, having free-will, though prevented by grace. (St. Jerome)

Jeremiah 18:12

Hopes. Chap. ii. 25. Septuagint, “we are valiant men.” (Haydock)

Jeremiah 18:13

Virgin. The disorders of Israel are thus enhanced. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 18:14

Snow. It continues on Libanus seven or eight months, (La Roque quoted. Univ. Hist. ii. p. 363) or all the year; (Tacitus, Hist. v. 6.) and hence the mountain is justly denominated “white,” as the Alps and Albion are from albon. (Bochart; Parkhurst, p. 155.) (Haydock) — Away. Yet my people abandon me, to serve idols! Hebrew may have many other senses to the same purpose. Septuagint, “Shall the mountain springs fail, or snow from Libanus? Shall a stream forcibly driven by the wind, turn aside?” (Haydock) — The laws of nature are observed by inanimate things, and shall my people be so foolish as to follow mere vanity.

Jeremiah 18:15

Ancient; followed by the patriarchs, chap. vi. 16.

Jeremiah 18:16

Head, through contempt (Calmet) and pity, Lamentations ii. 15.

Jeremiah 18:17

Burning. Hebrew kadim, “eastern,” (Haydock) coming from Desert Arabia, Exodus x. 13. (Calmet) — Back. Thus the Lord now treats the synagogue. (St. Jerome)

Jeremiah 18:18

Prophet. Jeremias will not cease to upbraid us with our transgressions; or we have guides as good as him, and we shall not be left destitute, as he would intimate. — Tongue, detraction; or make him suffer for what he says. In all the transactions of this prophet, Christ was foreshewn; (Calmet) and here, particularly, the Jews demand the crucifixion. (St. Jerome) (Worthington)

Jeremiah 18:20

Remember, &c. This is spoken in the person of Christ, persecuted by the Jews, and prophetically denouncing the evils that should fall upon them in punishment for their crimes. (Challoner) — Jeremias had prayed earnestly for the people, chap. xiv. 17. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 18:21

Therefore. He foretells of the event, and approves of the chastisement of the impenitent, (Calmet) whose “impurity might be a bad precedent for others.[”] (St. Jerome) See chap. xvii. 18.

Jeremiah 18:22

For. Protestants, “when.” (Haydock) — Robber. So Nabuchodonosor and all professional conquerors are styled. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 18:23

Destroy. Hebrew, “with them.” use them as vessels of ignominy: abutere. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 18:27

CHAPTER XVIII.