shall they come and sing in the great congregation and most eminent assemblies; and shall meet cheerfully together, to enjoy the holy things of God, his word and sacraments; and their soul shall be refreshed as a new watered garden in a drought; and they shall have no more cause of dejection and hopeless sorrow. Bp. Hall. Spiritual blessings are elsewhere described under the emblems of fruitfulness and plenty; and the grace of God is often compared to waters that refresh and enrich a dry ground.` See Isa. iv. 2; lviii. 11; xliv. 3. W. Lowth. -for wheat, and for wine, &c.] The land of Canaan is every where described as "a land flowing with milk and honey, a land of wheat, vines, and milk." The Prophets therefore, to give an idea of their new state, represent it as another Canaan, such as Canaan was painted to the Jews, at their coming out of Egypt. Bp. Chandler. 15. Ephraim repenting Before CHRIST 16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine about 6.6. eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border. 18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. e 19 Surely after that I was turned, e Deut. 30. 2. I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Almighty, in this consolatory address to Rachel, were in the fullest import made good to her. Within seventy years it came to pass, that the posterity of Benjamin returned, with Judah, into the land of promise, and inhabited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and other bordering cities, promiscuously with the royal tribe. "Her work was rewarded:" her patient expectation, in faith and hope, of the promises made her, failed not of its fruit in the appointed season: her "children came again from the land of the enemy to their own border," as the Lord had foretold by his Prophet; they "returned and came to Zion with songs; joy was upon their heads," and in their hearts; "and sorrow and sighing flew away." Bp. Horne. 18. I have surely heard Ephraim &c.] I have heard those of the ten tribes bemoaning themselves, after their captivity, thus: Thou hast afflicted me, O Lord, and I am humbled; I was as a wild young bullock, unaccustomed to the yoke: but now Thou hast caused me to stoop unto it. Bp. Hall. A voice was heard in Ramah, &c.] Ramah was a city of Benjamin, near which Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, was buried: who is here, in a -turn thou me, and I shall be turned;] Do Thou beautiful figure of poetry, represented as come forth turn my heart by thy preventing grace, and then I out of her grave, and lamenting bitterly for the loss of shall be effectually reformed: compare Lam. v. 21. her children, none of whom presented themselves to Sometimes the Scripture ascribes the whole work of her view, being all either slain or gone into exile. The man's conversion to God, because his grace is the first Evangelist applies these words to Herod's massacre of and principal cause of it. But yet to make it effectual, the infants at Bethlehem, and in its environs, Matt. ii. man's concurrence is necessary, as appears from those 17, 18. Dr. Blayney. words (chap. li. 9,) of this prophecy, where God saith, "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed;" that is, God did what was requisite on his part for her conversion, but she refused to comply with his call. To the same purpose he speaks to Jerusalem, Ezek. xxiv. 13, "I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged." W. Lowth. - because they were not.] An expression denoting those who were dead, Gen. xlii. 13; Lam. v. 7. This was literally the case, according to St. Matthew's application of the text; but only metaphorically so in the sense first intended: being spoken of those, who were removed into a foreign country, and for ever deprived of the conversation of their relations, as if they were naturally dead. W. Lowth. 16.-for thy work shall be rewarded,] That is, thou shalt not bring forth children in vain, nor shalt thou be deprived of that satisfaction in seeing the welfare of thy children, which is the parent's reward for her care and attention in bringing them into the world, and providing for their support and education. "They shall come again from the land of the enemy." Dr. Blayney. The words of the Prophet, or rather those of the 19. I smote upon my thigh:] "Smiting upon the thigh" was an indication of extreme astonishment and sorrow. See Ezek. xxi. 12. So also it is represented by many heathen authors. Calmet. because I did bear the reproach of my youth.] The burden of my former sins lay heavy upon my mind, and I became sensible, that all the calamities and reproaches which I have undergone were the due deserts of my offences. The Prophet, representing the whole nation as a single person, speaks of their former is brought home again. Before CHRIST about 606. CHAP. XXXI. 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember + Heb. sound. him still therefore my bowels + are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. 21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart to ward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. 22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. 23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. 24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof sins, as if they were the extravagances of their younger years. W. Lowth. 20. Is Ephraim my dear son? &c.] Rather the sense is, "Is not Ephraim my dear son? Is he not a pleasant child?" That is, Is he not one that I have set my affections upon, as a parent does upon a child in whom he delights? God proceeds to say, Ever since I have so severely reproved and chastised him, I have still retained for him a fatherly kindness, I am moved with compassion towards him, and will in due time pardon and receive him into favour. W. Lowth. 21. Set thee up waymarks, &c.] These words are a call to Israel to prepare for their return. The "waymarks" and "high heaps," are stone pillars and tall poles set up in the roads at certain distances for the traveller's direction, and extremely necessary for those who have to pass wild and spacious deserts. Dr. Blay ney. دو 22. How long wilt thou go about, &c.] According to the first Evangelical promise concerning "the Seed of the woman," followed this prediction of the Prophet, "The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man." That new creation of a man is therefore "new," and therefore "a creation,' because wrought in a woman only, without a man, compassing a man. This interpretation is ancient, literal, and clear. The words import a miraculous conception: and the ancient Jews acknowledged this sense, and applied it determinately to the Messiah. This prophecy is illustrated by that of Isaiah, chap. vii. 14. Bp. Pear son. Christ's care over the church. together, husbandmen, and they that 25 For I have satiated the weary 26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me. 27 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD. Before CHRIST about 606. 29 In those days they shall say no f Ezek. 18. 2. more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. 30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. ney. They denote the state of the people after their return, that they should live innocently and peaceably. So chap. xxxiii. 12. Poole. 27. Behold, the days come, &c.] Under the captivity the land lay "desolate, without man and without beast, chap. xxxiii. 12: but now it shall be inhabited and replenished with both. W. Lowth. 29. In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten &c.] God hath often declared, that "He will visit the sins of the fathers upon the children :" and particularly threatened to execute judgment upon the present generations, for the idolatries and other sins of their forefathers: see chap. xv. 4. This gave occasion to the proverb mentioned in this verse, which they that were in captivity applied to their own case; as if the miseries they endured were chiefly owing to their fathers' sins: see Lam. v. 7; Ezek. xviii. 2. But when this judgment should be removed, then there would be no farther occasion to use this proverb, as Ezekiel speaks in the before-mentioned place. W. Lowth. 30. But every one shall die for his own iniquity:] These national judgments ceasing, every one should suffer only for his own faults. This prophecy will be remarkably verified, when God shall cease to visit upon the Jewish nation that imprecation, which they laid upon themselves for the death of Christ; "His blood be on us, and on our children," Matt. xxvii. 25. W. Lowth. 66 "Every one shall die for his own iniquity:" see also Ezek. xviii. 20. Yet Jeremiah elsewhere complains, "Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities," Lam. v. 7. To reconcile such 24. — husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.] places of Scripture, which seem to be at variance with These words are descriptive of the circumstances, in each other, let it be observed, that where the Scripwhich the ancestors of the Jews were placed upon their ture ascribes one man's punishment to another man's first introduction into the land of Canaan; when every sin, it points us to God's wisdom and providence; who citizen was literally a "husbandman," and a shepherd, for good and just ends sometimes makes choice of these or "feeder of flocks," in consequence of the allotment occasions, rather than others, to inflict upon men those of land, which he was forbidden to alienate. Dr. Blay-punishments, which their own sins have otherwise abun Christ's new covenant. Before CHRIST JEREMIAH. about 606. the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: g Heb. 8. 8. The stability, and 31 ¶ Behold, the 5 days come, saith | every man his neighbour, and every 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; Or, should I which my covenant they brake, || although I was an husband unto them, husband unto saith the LORD: have con tinued an them. 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their h Chap. 24.7. hearts; hand will be their God, and they shall be my people. & 30. 22. 34 And they shall teach no more dantly deserved. On the contrary, where the Scripture attributes all punishments to the personal sins of the sufferer, it points us to God's justice: which looks still to the desert, and does not upon any occasion whatsoever inflict punishments, but where there are personal sins to deserve them so that every man, who is punished in any manner, or upon any occasion, may join in David's confession, Against thee have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged," Ps. li. 4. Bp. Sanderson. 31.—I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel,] Behold, the days of the Messiah are coming, wherein I will make a new covenant with my Church. Bp. Hall. To what time or person the promises, made here by Jeremiah, and by Ezekiel, chap. xxxiv. 23. 26; xxxvi. 26, related, might be uncertain before Malachi prophesied; though they have internal marks which point to the Messiah. But Malachi, by his prophecy concerning "the Messenger of the covenant," chap. iii. 1, put it out of all doubt. This was to say in other words, that Messiah should be the declarer, the publisher, the mediator of that better covenant, as Moses was of the old covenant; and that a law should be given by Him. Bp. Chandler. 32. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers] Not according to the form of the legal covenant. Bp. Hall. The old covenant, as opposed to the new, signifies that system of laws and ordinances which were the condition of the covenant made with the Jews on mount Sinai. In this sense the word "law" is usually taken in the New Testament, when it is opposed to the "Gospel." See Acts xv. 5; Rom. iii. 19; Gal. iii. 17. W. Lowth. although I was an husband unto them,] See the note on chap. ii. 2. 33.I will put my law in their inward parts, &c.] Though all people have some natural sense of their duty left them, yet generally it is so little, that it does not excite them to the practice of their duty. Hence it is, that God promises, in the new covenant, to quicken and actuate it, saying, "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts:" that is, He will write his law in our hearts, as He did at first, by giving us so quick and strong a sense of our duty to Him, as shall excite and stir us up to the sincere performance of it. This He does, by expounding to us our duty in the 35 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves m Isa 51.15. thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: Old and New Testament, and by his Holy Spirit cooperating with the means of grace, which for that purpose He hath settled in his Church. Bp. Beveridge. and will be their God, &c.] Together with the promise of giving us such a measure of his grace and Holy Spirit, to influence and direct our hearts, that we shall be inclined of our own accord to do whatever He commands; God further promises, that then "He will be our God," to bless, preserve, and keep us; and we "shall be his people," his peculiar people, zealous of good works, of all such works as He hath set us to do: which that we may, He will give us a right knowledge of Himself and his holy will, so that we shall all know him from the least to the greatest," and all that He requires of us. And then He promises in the last place, that we being thus qualified by Him for it, He will forgive us all our sins, that He will look upon us no longer as guilty, but as just and righteous persons, and therefore fit to live with Him in glory: "for whom he justifieth, them he also glorifieth," Rom. viii. 30. Bp. Beveridge. 34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, &c.] This passage is to be understood of that greater degree of light which the Gospel of Christ would bring into the world; not only a fuller discovery of Divine truth than the Gentiles were able by natural reason to acquire; but a clearer knowledge of God and heavenly things, than the ancient people of God had ever attained to under the dispensation of the law. Wogan. 35. and the ordinances of the moon &c.] Who hath ordained a due, constant, and regular motion of the moon and stars for a light by night. Bp. Hall. 36. If those ordinances depart from before me, &c.] If that course which I have set in nature for the motions of the heavens may be altered, then may it be possible for my Church to fail upon earth. Bp. Hall. God preserved a remnant of "the seed of Israel," that were led captive, and restored them to their own country and government. He preserved another remnant at the beginning of the Gospel, called “the saved,” Luke xiii. 23; Acts ii. 47; who, by embracing the faith of Christ, escaped those terrible judgments that were inflicted on the main body of the nation. And Providence still continues them in a distinct body from all other people in the world, in order to their conversion in God's due time. W. Lowth. implitude of the church. Before CHRIST about 606. about 590. CHAP. XXXI, XXXII. Jeremiah buyeth Hanameel's field. ven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. 38 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. CHAP. XXXII. 1 Jeremiah, being imprisoned by Zedekiah for his prophecy, 6 buyeth Hanameel's field. 13 Baruch must preserve the evidences, as tokens of the people's return. 16 Jeremiah in his prayer complaineth to God. 26 God confirmeth the captivity for their sins, 36 and promiseth a gracious return. HE word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchad rezzar. 2 For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house. Before CHRIST 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost about 590. thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, a Behold, I will give this a Chap. 34. 2. city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; b 4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be b Chap. 34.8. delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes; 5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper. 6 ¶ And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that demption is thine to buy it. is in Anathoth for the right of re- Lev. 25. 24. c 8 So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. Ruth 4. 4. 9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even || seventeen shekels of shekels and silver. li Or, seven ten pieces of silver. Chap. XXXII. The date of the following transaction and prophecy was in the tenth year of Zedekiah's reign, whilst the Chaldeans invested the city, and Jeremiah was confined in the court of the prison. Dr. Blayney. Ver. 3. For Zedekiah-had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, &c.] This refers to the prophecy recorded, chap. xxxiv. 2, &c.: the particulars there mentioned being in order of time before the occurrences related in this chapter. W. Lowth. 5. there shall he be until I visit him,] There shall he be until the time that I put an end to his captivity, by death. Bp. Hall. Or, till I visit him in his posterity, whom I will restore to their own country. So God tells Jacob, "I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again," Gen. xlvi. 4; which promise was made good to his posterity. W. Lowth. 7. Behold, Hanameel-shall come unto thee, saying, &c.] See Exod. iv. 14, and the last note there. - 9. - seventeen shekels of silver.] Not much above forty shillings in our money: a small price for a field or piece of ground. But the quantity of land is uncer || Or, hid from thee. d Exod. 34. 7. Deut. 5. 9. 11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: 12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. 13 ¶ And I charged Baruch before them, saying, 14 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. 15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. 16 Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying, 17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing || too hard for thee: 18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom tain and the circumstances of the time must have greatly lessened its value; the field being then in the enemy's possession, and the purchaser knowing that neither he nor his heirs should enter on it till after seventy years. W. Lowth, Dr. Blayney. 11.both that which was sealed—and that which was open:] The open or unsealed writing was probably either a copy of the sealed deed, or else a certificate of the witnesses, in whose presence the deed of purchase was signed and sealed. W. Lowth. : Sir J. Chardin thinks this ancient story is illustrated by the modern management in the conveyance of Eastern property: After a contract is made, the deed is kept by the party himself, not the notary and a copy of it is made, signed by the notary alone, which is shewn upon proper occasions, whereas the other is never exhibited." According to this account, the two writings mentioned in the text were to the same effect: the one being sealed up with solemnity, not to be used on common occasions; the other being open, to be perused at pleasure, upon all occasions. The sealed one answered complaineth to God. Before CHRIST of their children after them: the Great, the mighty God, the LORD about 90 of hosts, is his name. e Job 34. 21. 19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open + Heb.ding. upon all the ways of the sons of men: Prov. 5. 11. to give every one according to his ch. 16. 17. ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: 20 Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day; 2 Sam. 7. 23. 21 And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt f Exod. 6. 5. with signs, and with wonders, and 1 Chron. 17. with a strong hand, and with a stretch- 21. ed out arm, and with great terror; 22 And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; 23 And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them: 24 Behold the mounts, they are I Or, engines come unto the city to take it; and the of shot. city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. 25 And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the to a record with us; the other a writing for common use. Harmer. 12. And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch] Baruch was a scribe by profession; and it may be supposed, that the attendance of such an one, skilled in the forms of the law, was necessary on those occasions, both to draw up the writings, and to officiate in the capacity of a notary publick with us. And to his custody as being a publick officer, the custody of the title-deeds was intrusted. Dr. Blayney. 14.- put them in an earthen vessel, &c.] Lay up these evidences sure in an earthen vessel, where they may be kept from rotting, for a long time; as those, whereof I shall have most certain use hereafter: for this land shall be in due time repossessed. Bp. Hall. 24. Behold the mounts,] The ramparts raised against the walls, for the siege of Jerusalem: for placing "engines of shot," (as in the margin,) in order to assault and take the city. Compare chap. xxxiii. 4. W. Lowth. The "mount," as used by the Greeks, is thus described by Archbishop Potter: "It was raised so high, as to |