Bible Commentaries

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the ^a dearth.

(a) Which came for lack of rain as in (Jeremiah 14:4).

Judah mourneth, and her gates languish; they are ^b black to the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

(b) The word signifies extreme sorrow.

And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, [and] found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and ^c covered their heads.

(c) That is, with ashes in token of sorrow.

Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook ^d [it], because there was no grass.

(d) Meaning, that the brute beasts for drought were compelled to forsake their young, contrary to nature, and to go seek water which they could not find.

And the wild donkeys stood in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like ^e dragons; their eyes failed, because [there was] no grass.

(e) Who are so hot by nature, that they cannot be cooled by drinking water, but still gasp for the air to refresh them.

^f O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou [it] for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

(f) He shows the only way to remedy God's plagues, which is by true confession of our sins, and returning to him by repentance.

O the hope of Israel, his saviour in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a ^g stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man [that] turneth aside to tarry for a night?

(g) That takes no care for us.

Why shouldest thou be as a man astonished, as ^h a mighty man [that] cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, [art] in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.

(h) That takes no care for us.

Then said the LORD to me, ⁱ Pray not for this people for [their] good.

(i) Read (Jeremiah 7:16) , (Jeremiah 11:14).

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the ^k prophets say to them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

(k) He pities the people, and accuses the false prophets who deceived them: but the Lord answered that both the prophets who deceived and the people who permitted themselves to be seduced, will perish, (Jeremiah 23:15) , (Jeremiah 27:8-9) , (Jeremiah 29:8).

Therefore thou shalt say this word to them; Let my eyes run down with ^l tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

(l) The false prophets promised peace and assurance, but Jeremiah calls to tears, and repentance for their affliction, which is at hand, as in (Jeremiah 9:1) ; (Lamentations 1:16) , (Lamentations 2:18).

If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about ^m into a land that they know not.

(m) Both high and low will be led captive into Babylon.

Hast thou utterly rejected ⁿ Judah? hath thy soul abhorred Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and [there is] no healing for us? we looked for peace, and [there is] no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

(n) Though the prophet knew that God had cast off the multitude, who were hypocrites and bastard children, yet he was assured that for his promise sake he would still have a Church, for which he prays.

We ^o acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, [and] the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.

(o) He teaches the Church a form of prayer to humble themselves to God by true repentance, which is the only way to avoid this famine, which was the beginning of God's plagues.

Are there [any] among the ^p vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

(p) Meaning their idols, read (Jeremiah 10:15).