Jeremiah 51

Jeremiah 51:2

Immer - The course of Immer was the sixteenth course of the priests, 1 Chronicles 24:14. Pashur was his son, that is descended from him.

Jeremiah 51:4

Not called - God’s meaning was, not that he should by men be no longer called Pashur, but that his condition should not answer that name Pashur, which signifies, a flourishing priest; but Magor - missabib, that is, fear and terror on all sides.

Jeremiah 51:8

Hast prevailed - Thou prevailedst against me. Jeremiah at first excused himself to God, chap.1:6, but the Lord prevailed against him replying, ver.1:7, Say not, I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak, ver.1:9. This is all that is here meant, namely, God’s over - ruling him contrary to his own inclinations.

Jeremiah 51:9

Since - Since I first began to be a prophet, I have faithfully discharged my office, and that with warmth and zeal. Spoil - I have prophesied that violence and spoil was coming. Because - Because of that scorn and derision with which they treated him.

Jeremiah 51:10

I said - He did not speak this openly, but in his heart. But - He found in his heart a constraint to go on.

Jeremiah 51:11

Prevail - Desiring nothing more than that I might be enticed to speak or do something which they might make matter of a colourable accusation.

Jeremiah 51:12

But - The prophet recovering himself out of his fit of passion, encourageth himself in his God, whom he calls the mighty and terrible one, so declaring his faith in the power of God, as one able to save him, and in the promise and good will of God toward him; therefore he saith, The Lord is with me; such was the promise of God to this prophet, when he first undertook the prophetical office, chap.1:8. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord: from hence be concludes, that though he had many that pursued after his life, yet they should stumble in their ways of violence, and should not prevail. Ashamed - That they should be ashamed of what they had done, or be brought to shame for what they had done; for prosper they should not: or they acted like fools, and did not deal prudently for themselves (so this word is translated, Isaiah 52:13,) yea, they should become a reproach, and their reproach should be a lasting perpetual reproach that should not be forgotten.

Jeremiah 51:15

Cursed - This sudden change makes some think that these words proceeded from Jeremiah rather as a repetition of a former passion into which the abuses of his enemies had put him, than as the immediate product of his spirit at this time.

Jeremiah 51:17

The cities - Sodom and Gomorrah; by the cry in the morning and shouting at noon, he means the shouts and noises that enemies make when they break in upon a place.

Jeremiah 51:22

Enquire - Zedekiah, as he was none of the best, so he was none of the worst of the kings of Judah. Having some reverence of God, he sends the prophet to enquire of the Lord.

Jeremiah 51:28

Behold - I tell you the way you should take, if you would save your lives.

Jeremiah 51:29

His life - This is a proverbial expression, signifying a man’s possession of his life as a prey, or booty recovered from the enemy.

Jeremiah 51:32

Execute judgment - That is, justice, without partiality, and do it quickly.

Jeremiah 51:33

Of the valley - The inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem are here intended. Jerusalem itself was built in part upon the rocky mountain of Zion, but a great part was in the valley, and the higher mountains, about mount Zion, made that mountain itself, in comparison with them, as a valley. The plain - Though also a rock of the plain, that is, near to the plain. Which situation of this place, made the Jews think it to be impregnable.

Jeremiah 51:34

The forest - By the forest he either means the forest of Lebanon or their houses, made of wood cut out of that forest. And it - And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but in the total destruction of all the country round Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 51:36

The forest - By the forest he either means the forest of Lebanon or their houses, made of wood cut out of that forest. And it - And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but in the total destruction of all the country round Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 51:37

The forest - By the forest he either means the forest of Lebanon or their houses, made of wood cut out of that forest. And it - And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but in the total destruction of all the country round Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 51:38

The forest - By the forest he either means the forest of Lebanon or their houses, made of wood cut out of that forest. And it - And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but in the total destruction of all the country round Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 51:39

The forest - By the forest he either means the forest of Lebanon or their houses, made of wood cut out of that forest. And it - And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but in the total destruction of all the country round Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 51:40

The forest - By the forest he either means the forest of Lebanon or their houses, made of wood cut out of that forest. And it - And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but in the total destruction of all the country round Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 51:41

Gilead - Gilead was a country fertile for pastures; upon which account the Reubenites and Gadites, being men whose estate lay in cattle, begged it of Moses for their portion. Lebanon also was a very pleasant place: they were both in the lot of Gad and Manasseh. Perhaps God compares the king of Judah’s house to these places, in regard of the height and nobleness of the structure, or for the pleasantness and delightfulness of it.

Jeremiah 51:45

Weep not - For Josiah your dead prince. Josiah is happy, you need not trouble yourselves for him; but weep for Jehoahaz, who is to go into captivity.

Jeremiah 51:46

Shallum - Most think that this Shallum was Jehoahaz. Went forth - He was carried away from Jerusalem presently after he was set up, imprisoned at Riblah, and died in Egypt.

Jeremiah 51:51

Was not this - They only truly know God who obey him; men vainly pretend to piety who are defective in justice and charity.

Jeremiah 51:54

Of an ass - None attending him to his grave, none mourning for him.

Jeremiah 51:55

Lebanon - Jerusalem was the place to which this speech is directed: the inhabitants of which the prophet calls to go up to Lebanon. Both Lebanon and Bashan were hills that looked towards Assyria, from whence the Jews looked for help. Abarim - Abarim is the name of a mountain, as well as Lebanon and Bashan. Go and cry for help from all places, but it will be in vain; for the Egyptians and Assyrians to whom thou wert wont to fly, are themselves in the power of the Chaldeans.

Jeremiah 51:57

Pastors - Thy rulers and governors, they shall be blasted by my judgments, as plants are blasted by winds. Thy lovers - And those that have been thy friends, Syria and Egypt.

Jeremiah 51:58

Lebanon - Jerusalem is called an inhabitant of Lebanon, because their houses were built of wood cut down out of the forest of Lebanon. Cedars - Their houses were built of the Cedars of Lebanon. How gracious - What favour wilt thou find when my judgments come upon thee, as the pains of a woman in travail come upon her.

Jeremiah 51:59

Coniah - By Coniah he means Jehoiakim, whose name was Jeconiah, 1 Chronicles 3:13, (for all Josiah’s sons had two names, and so had his grandchild Jeconiah) here in contempt called Coniah. The signet - Tho’ he were as dear as a signet, which every man keeps safe.

Jeremiah 51:63

Is this - The prophet speaks this in the person of God, affirming that this prince, who was the idol of the people, was now become like a broken idol. A vessel - So cracked, or so tainted, that they can make no use of it.