Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah 1:1

That make a man - That condemn a man, as if he was a great criminal. For him - For God’s faithful prophets and ministers. The gate - There the people used to assemble, both upon civil and sacred accounts, and there prophets used to deliver their prophecies. Turn - From his right. The just - The faithful ministers of God. Nought - Not for any great advantage, but for a trifle.

Jeremiah 1:2

Redeemed - From manifold dangers, and especially from idolatry. Jacob - The Israelites or posterity of Jacob, who had great cause to be ashamed, for their continued infidelity, shall at last be brought back to the God of their fathers, and to their Messiah. Pale - Through fear of their enemies.

Jeremiah 1:3

He seeth - When the believing seed of Jacob shall see those children, whom they have begotten to God, by the gospel, even the Gentiles. The work - The children, not of the flesh, but of the promise, whom I, by my almighty grace, have regenerated. In the midst - Incorporated with the Jews, into one and the same body. Shall sanctify - They shall glorify God, with them and for them.

Jeremiah 1:4

That erred - Those Gentiles who erred from God’s truth. Murmured - They that murmured at God’s faithful teachers, shall now receive God’s truth in the love of it.

Jeremiah 1:6

The rebellious - The Jews. Take counsel - That consult together. Cover - That seek protection. But not - Not such as by my spirit, speaking in my word, I have required them to do. That they may add - That unto all their sins, they may add distrust of my power and mercy, and put confidence in an arm of flesh.

Jeremiah 1:7

Asked - Either by the priests or prophets.

Jeremiah 1:9

His princes - The princes of Judah. Hanes - An eminent city of Egypt.

Jeremiah 1:10

They - Both the messengers, and they who sent them.

Jeremiah 1:11

The burden - The treasures, which were carried upon asses or camels, into Egypt, which lay southward from Judea. The land of trouble - Egypt, so called prophetically. From whence - This may be understood properly, but withal, seems to design the craft and cruelty of that people. They - The Jews. Their riches - To procure their assistance. Bunches - Upon the backs.

Jeremiah 1:12

To her - To Jerusalem or Judah. Sit still - It is safer and better for them to sit quietly at home, seeking to me for help.

Jeremiah 1:13

Write - This warning. Before - In their presence. Note it - So this was to be written twice over, once in a table, to be hanged up in some public place, that all present might read it; and again, in a book, that it might be kept for the use of posterity. The time to come - As a witness for me and against them.

Jeremiah 1:16

Cause, &c. - Do not trouble us with harsh messages from God.

Jeremiah 1:17

And trust - In the wealth which you have gotten by oppression, and in your perverse course of sending to Egypt for help.

Jeremiah 1:18

This iniquity - Of trusting to Egypt, shall be like a wall which is high, but swelling forth in some parts, which, upon the least accident, falls down suddenly.

Jeremiah 1:19

He - God.