"unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way, that I "may forgive their iniquity and their "sin." 4. Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book. 5. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, "I am shut (h) up, I cannot go into the house of the "LORD: 6. Therefore go thou and "read in the roll which thou hast "written from my mouth, the words "of the LORD in the ears of the people "in the LORD's house upon the fasting day and also thou shalt read them "in the ears of all Judah, that come "out of their cities. 7. It may be they "will present their supplication before "the LORD, and will return every one "from his evil way; for great is the

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anger and the fury that the LORD "hath pronounced against this people." 8. And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house. 9. And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. 10. Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house, in the ears of all the people. 11. When Michaiah the son of Gemariah the son of Shaphan had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD, 12. Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber, and lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the

besieged Jerusalem, made Jehoiakim prisoner, and carried away to Babylon part of the vessels of the house of God, and many of the children of the king's seed and of the princes, amongst whom was Daniel the prophet (see Dan. i. 1 to 6.);

scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. 13. Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. 14. Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, "Take in thine hand "the roll wherein thou hast read in "the ears of the people, and come." So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. 15. And they said unto him, "Sit "down now, and read it in our ears." So Baruch read it in their ears. 16. Now it came to pass when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, "We will surely tell the king "of all these words." 17. And they asked Baruch, saying, "Tell us now, "How didst thou write all these words "at his mouth?" 18. Then Baruch answered them, "He pronounced

"all these words unto me with his "mouth, and I wrote them with ink in "the book." 19. Then said the princes unto Baruch, "Go hide thee, thou "and Jeremiah, and let no man know "where ye be." 20. And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king. 21. So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll, and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber; and Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. 22. Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month; and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23. And it came to pass that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he (i) cut it with the

but "all the evil" God had threatened had by no means been accomplished.

(h) v. 5." Shut up," i. e. (probably) "in prison." See Jer. xxvi.

(i) v. 23. “He,” i. e. the king.

ye

"of the army of the Syrians; so we (x) "dwell at Jerusalem." 12. Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 13. "Thus saith the LORD of "hosts, the God of Israel; "Go, and "tell the men of Judah and the inha"bitants of Jerusalem, will ye not re"ceive instruction to hearken to my "words? saith the LORD. 14. The "words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, "that he commanded his sons not to "drink wine, are performed; for unto "this day they drink none, but obey "their father's commandment; notwith"standing I have spoken unto you, "rising early (y) and speaking, but "hearkened not unto me. 15. I have "sent also unto you all my servants the "prophets, rising up early and sending "them, saying, "Return (z) ye now "every man from his evil way, and "amend your doings, and go not after "other gods to serve them, and ye shall "dwell in the land which I have given "to you and to your fathers;" but "have not inclined your ear, nor heark"ened unto me. 16. Because the sons "of Jonadab the son of Rechab have "performed the commandment of their "father, which he commanded them, "but this people hath not hearkened "unto me; 17. Therefore thus saith "the LORD God of hosts, the God of "Israel; "Behold, I will bring upon

ye

(x) v. 11. "We dwell:" not that they had been dwelling there for any length of - It was at this very time Nebuchadnezzar was invading the land: and this accounts for their being then at Jerusalem.

time.

(y) v. 14. "Rising early," a figurative expression to denote extraordinary pains.

(z) v. 15. "Return, &c." Many of the warnings God gave them occur in Isaiah, and the book of Jeremiah abounds with them.

(a) v. 17. "All the evil, &c." i. e. "that "they should be invaded, and carried into "captivity." See ante, 629. Is. v. 26. and Jer. v. 15 to 18. ante, 678. (b) v. 19. "For ever," i. e. "time, for many generations."

"for a long

(c) A merciful attempt by God to reclaim the king and the people.

(d) v. 1." Fourth year." In the third year of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, took Jehoiakim (Dan. i.

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"Judah and upon all the inhabitants of "Jerusalem all the evil (a) that I have pronounced against them: because I "have spoken unto them, but they have "not heard, and I have called unto "them, but they have not answered." 18. And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, "Thus saith the "LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; "Because ye have obeyed the command"ment of Jonadab your father, and "kept all his precepts, and done ac"cording unto all that he hath com"manded you :" 19. Therefore thus "saith the LORD of hosts, the God of "Israel; "Jonadab the son of Rechab "shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. (b)

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CHAP. XXXVI. (c)

AND it came to pass in the fourth

year (d) of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2. "Take thee a roll of a book, and "write therein all the words that I have

spoken unto thee against (e) Israel, "and against (e) Judah, and against (e) all "the nations, from the day I spake "unto thee, from the days of Josiah

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even unto this day. 3. It may be "that the house of Judah will hear all "the evil (g) which I purpose to do

1, 2.) and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. (2 Chron. xxxvi. 7.) Whether he did carry him thither does not appear, but Jehoiakim became his servant three years, and then rebelled: (2 Kings xxiv. 1.) This commission therefore to Jeremiah and Baruch, and the reading of the roll, was probably after the people had suffered the horrors of a siege and Jehoiakim had felt the power of his ad versary, but after Nebuchadnezzar had released him. Before Christ 605.

(e) v. 2. "Against," or "concerning. (g) v. 3. "All the evil, &c." See ante, 678. Jer. v. 15.- and see Jer. vii. 31 to 34. viii. 1 to 3. and 13 to 17.-ix. 11.xi. 11 to 23. xiii. 13, 14. 24. — xv. 1 to 9. xvi. 1 to 14. xvii. 1 to 4.-xvii. 11. 16, 17.-xix. 3 to 9.-xxv. 8 to 11. &c. In the preceding year, part of God's denunciations against the Jews began to be fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar had

pen-knife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was

consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. 25. Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king, that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them. 26. But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them. 27. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah (after that the king had burnt the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah,) saying, 28. "Take thee "again another roll, and write in it all "the former words that were in the "first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of "Judah hath burnt. 29. And thou "shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah,

"Thus saith the LORD; "Thou hast

"burned this roll, saying, "Why hast "thou written therein, saying, "The "king of Babylon shall certainly come "and destroy this land, and shall cause

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to cease from thence man and beast?" "30. Therefore thus saith the LORD of "Jehoiakim, king of Judah; "he shall "have none to sit upon the throne of "David, and his dead body shall be "cast out (k) in the day to the heat, "and in the night to the frost. 31. And "I will punish him and his seed and "his servants for their iniquity, and I "will bring upon them, and upon the "inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon "the men of Judah, all the evil that "I have pronounced against them:" "but (1) they hearkened not." 32. Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah, all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burnt in the fire; and there were added besides unto them many like words.

CHAP. II. (m) AND he (n) said unto me (0), "Son of "man, stand upon thy feet, and I will "speak unto thee." 2. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I

(k) v. 30. "Cast out, &c." God had before denounced against him, (Jer. xxii. 19. ante, 680.) that he should "be buried "with the burial of an ass, drawn "and cast forth beyond the gates of "Jerusalem;" and accordingly Nebuchadnezzar caused his body to be cast from the top of the walls of Jerusalem, and vouchsafed him no sepulchre. Josephus's Antiquities, B. 10. c. 7.

() v. 31." But, &c." or "because they

"have not hearkened."

(m) A commission from God to Ezekiel to convey to the Jews God's communications. Ezekiel was one of the captive Jews in the land of Babylon, and this commission was given him in the 5th year of Zedekiah, about twelve years after the

heard him that spake unto me. 3. And he said unto me," Son of man, I send "thee to the children of Israel (p), to "a rebellious nation that hath rebelled "against me; they and their fathers "have transgressed against me, even

commencement of the Babylonish captivity, and about 594 years before Christ. See Ezek. i. 1. He was contemporary therefore six or seven years with Jeremiah, but Jeremiah prophesied in Judea, Ezekiel in Babylon.

(n) v. 1. "He." The preceding chap ter contains a description of a vision of Ezekiel, in which he saw the likeness of a throne and of a man upon it, and the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, and heard a voice of one that spake, and that speaker is the person here intended. See Ezek. i. 4 to 28.

(0) "Me," i. e. "Ezekiel."

(p) v. 3." The children of Israel,” i. e. "the Jews," many of whom were in captivity with Ezekiel.

"unto this very day. 4. For they are "impudent children and stiff-hearted: "I do send thee unto them; and thou "shalt say unto them, "Thus saith the "LORD God." 5. "And they, whe"ther they will hear or whether they "will forbear, (for they are a rebellious "house,) yet shall know that there "hath been a prophet among them. 66 6. And thou, son of man, be not "afraid of them, neither be afraid "of their words, though briers and "thorns (q) be with thee, and thou "dost dwell among scorpions: be not "afraid of their words, nor be dis"mayed at their looks, though they be 66 a rebellious house. 7. And thou shalt 66 speak my words unto them, whether "they will hear, or whether they will "forbear: for they are most rebellious. "8. But thou, son of man, hear what "I say unto thee; Be not thou rebel"lious like that rebellious house; open "thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.' 9. And when I looked, behold, an

(q) v. 6. “ Through briers and thorns, " &c." i. e. "whatever difficulties, in"sults, and danger, you may have to "encounter."

(r) v. 10. "Within and without," to imply that it was full: foreboding great abundance of what it contained, i. e. of lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

(s) A denunciation against false prophets delivered in the 6th year of Zedekiah, about 13 years after the commencement of the Babylonish captivity, and 593 before Christ.

(t) v. 2. "Out of their own hearts," i. e. "without warrant or communication from "God:" pretended prophets, who, according to verse 3. "follow their own spirit, "and have seen nothing." This was then a common subject of complaint : about two years before, Hananiah proclaimed it as the word of the Lord, that within two years God would bring back from Babylon the captives that had been carried thither, (Jer. xxviii. 1 to 17.) and some time in Zedekiah's reign, Jeremiah wrote from Jerusalem to the captives in Babylon to caution them against these lying prophets, and to advise them to build houses in Babylon, to plant gardens and marry, that they might be increased there, and not diminished: discountenancing all hope of a speedy return, but assuring

hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein. 10. And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without (r): and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

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CHAP. XIII. (s)

own

AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2." Son of man, prophesy "against the prophets of Israel that "prophesy, and say thou unto them "that prophesy out of their "hearts (t), "Hear ye the word of "the LORD;" 3. Thus saith the LORD "God, "Woe unto the foolish pro"phets, that follow their own spirit, " and have seen nothing." 4. O Israel, "thy prophets are like the foxes in the "deserts (u). 5. Ye have not gone up "into the gaps (x), neither made (x) up "the hedge for the house of Israel, to "stand in the battle in the day of the "LORD. 6. They have seen vanity, "and lying divination, saying, "The

them that after seventy years were accomplished at Babylon, God would cause them to return to Jerusalem. Jer. xxix. 4, 5, 6. 10.

(u) v. 4. "Foxes in the deserts:" with more than ordinary craft and voracity; with all the subtilty and keenness those animals would have in their wildest state; intent only upon their own gain, pursuing it with the utmost cunning, and disregarding the misery they brought upon others.

(x) v. 5. "Gone up into the gaps," and "made up the hedge;" military metaphors. When a place is besieged, and a breach made, some must withstand the enemy in the breach, and others make up new works in its stead; the former are said to "stand "in the gap," the latter to "make up "the hedge." The first expression oc curs, Psalm cvi. 23. and both, Ezek. xxii. 30. "He would have destroyed them, had "not Moses his chosen stood before him "in the gap" and "I sought for a man

among them that should make up the "hedge, and stand in the gap before me "for the land, that I should not destroy "the land, but I found none." The meaning here is," you have exposed yourselves "to no danger, have made no exertions "to reclaim the people, or avert God's vengeance."

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