Jer 18:18-19:15 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 18. Come, and let us devise devices ] Let us form a conspiracy against him, accuse him of being a false prophet , and a contradicter of the words of God, for God has promised us protection, and he says we shall be destroyed, and that God will forsake his people. Let us smite him with the tongue ] ON the tongue ; so it should be rendered. Lying and false testimony are punished in the eastern countries, to the present day, by smiting the person on the mouth with a strong piece of leather like the sole of a shoe. Sometimes a bodkin is run through the tongue. Blasphemy, calumny, and cursing of parents, are usually punished in that way among the Chinese.

‏ Jeremiah 18:18-23

Verse 18. Come, and let us devise devices] Let us form a conspiracy against him, accuse him of being a false prophet, and a contradicter of the words of God, for God has promised us protection, and he says we shall be destroyed, and that God will forsake his people.

Let us smite him with the tongue] ON the tongue; so it should be rendered. Lying and false testimony are punished in the eastern countries, to the present day, by smiting the person on the mouth with a strong piece of leather like the sole of a shoe. Sometimes a bodkin is run through the tongue. Blasphemy, calumny, and cursing of parents, are usually punished in that way among the Chinese.

Verse 20. They have digged a pit for my soul.] For my life; this they wish to take away.

Stood before thee to speak good for them] I was their continual intercessor.

Verse 21. Therefore deliver up their children] The execrations in these verses should be considered as simply prophetic declarations of the judgments which God was about to pour out on them.

If we consider them in their grammatical meaning, then they are not directions to us, to whom our Lawgiver has said, "Love your enemies."

‏ Jeremiah 19

CHAPTER XIX

By the significant type of breaking a potter's vessel, Jeremiah is directed to predict the utter desolation of Judah and Jerusalem, 1-15.

The prophets taught frequently by symbolic actions as well as by words.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIX

Verse 1. Go and get a potter's earthen bottle] This discourse was also delivered some time in the reign of Jehoiakim. Under the type of breaking a potter's earthen bottle or jug, Jeremiah shows his enemies that the word of the Lord should stand, that Jerusalem should be taken and sacked, and they all carried into captivity.

Ancients of the priests] The chiefs of the twenty-four classes which David had established. See 1Ch 24:4.

Verse 4. Estranged this place] Ye have devoted my temple to a widely different purpose from that for which it was erected.

Verse 5. Offerings unto Baal] A general name for all the popular idols; Baal, Moloch, Ashtaroth, &c.

Verse 7. I will make void the counsel of Judah] Probably this refers to some determination made to proclaim themselves independent, and pay no more tribute to the Chaldeans.

To be meat for the fowls] See Clarke on Jer 7:33.

Verse 9. I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons] This was literally fulfilled when Jerusalem was besieged by the Romans. This also the prophet might have had in view.

Verse 11. Even so will I break this people and this city] The breaking of the bottle was the symbolical representation of the destruction of the city and of the state.

That cannot be made whole again] This seems to refer rather to the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, than to what was done by the Chaldeans. Jerusalem was healed after 70 years: but nearly 1800 years have elapsed since Jerusalem was taken and destroyed by the Romans; and it was then so broken, that it could not be made whole again.

Verse 12. And even make this city as Tophet] A place of slaughter and destruction.

Verse 14. Then came Jeremiah from Tophet] He had probably gone to the valley of Hinnom, and there repeated the discourse which he had a little before delivered to the chief priests and elders.

Verse 15. Because they have hardened their necks] A metaphor taken from unruly and unbroken oxen, who resist the yoke, break and run away with their gears. So this people had broken and destroyed the yoke of the law.