Jeremiah 4

Jeremiah 4:1

Blocks; idols, (Calmet) and other occasions of sin. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 4:2

Swear, when requisite. (Calmet) — Thus thou wilt learn to confess one God. (Theodoret) — If all were upright, oaths would be unnecessary, Matthew v. 34. But as they are not so, (Calmet) this may be a religious act. (Worthington) — Justice. These three conditions are essential. (Haydock) — Him; the people, (Calmet) or God. (St. Jerome) — An oath must attest God, and be used when a thing is true and of moment. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 4:3

Thorns. Your misconduct hinders your advancement. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 4:4

Hearts. Understand, and act with purity. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 4:5

Cities. Nabuchodonosor is at hand.

Jeremiah 4:7

Robber. Nabuchodonosor attacks unjustly, (Calmet) though he be God’s scourge.

Jeremiah 4:9

Heart; counsel and vigour. — Prophets of falsehood.

Jeremiah 4:10

Alas! Protestants, “Then I said: Ah! Lord God, surely thou hast deceived,” &c., (Haydock) by permitting the people to follow false prophets, Isaias lxi. 17., and Psalm xliii. 19.

Jeremiah 4:11

Desert of Arabia. It may designate Nechao, (2 Paralipomenon xxxv. 20.) who slew Josias, after whose death all fell to ruin.

Jeremiah 4:15

Ephraim. At Bethel and Dan the calves were adored. (Calmet) — But they were now no more. (Haydock) — The irruption of Nabuchodonosor is announced. He set himself up for a god.

Jeremiah 4:16

Guards. The Chaldeans will besiege the city, and prevent provisions from entering, 4 Kings xxv. 1. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 4:19

My. God, (St. Jerome) the people, (Grotius) or rather Jeremias speaks.

Jeremiah 4:20

Moment. The cities are destroyed as easily as a tent.

Jeremiah 4:22

Me, practically. They have not honoured me as they ought. (Calmet) — If they were indeed devoid of sense, they would be excused. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 4:23

Void. Hebrew, " Thohu and bohu, " like chaos, Genesis i. 2. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 4:25

CHAPTER IV.

Gone. Beasts feel the wrath of God, and in a land uninhabited; not even birds will remain, Osee iv. 3. (St. Jerome)

Jeremiah 4:26

Carmel: the beautiful country of Palestine, (Haydock) Jerusalem, (Theodoret) or the mountain so called.

Jeremiah 4:27

Destroy, when Jechonias was led captive. God allowed the people still eleven years to repent; and he afterwards restored the Jews. (Calmet) — He will never suffer his church to perish. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 4:28

Repented. Only a finite being can do this. God’s resolution is here unconditional and fixed.

Jeremiah 4:30

Stone, or antimony, like Jazabel, (4 Kings ix. 30.) to darken and enlarge the eye-lids. — Lovers. Infidel nations of Egypt, &c.

Jeremiah 4:31

Child. Hebrew and Septuagint, “a first-born,” when the pains are most acute. (Calmet)