This chapter contains prophecy of a drought, which produced a famine, Jer. 14:1, and is described by the dismal effects of it; and general distress in the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, Jer.

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. ] Or, “concerning the words of straints” [[22]]; that is, concerning the businesses of a drought, as the Targum; concerning the Lord’s restraining rain from the earth, and forbidding the heavens dropping it down; the consequence of…

Judah mourneth That is, the inhabitants of Judah; those of the house of Judah, as the Targum; these mourned because of the drought and famine that were upon the land: and the gates thereof languish; the cities of Judah, as the Targum; the inhabitants of them, which used to be supplied from the…

And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters, &c.] To places where water used to be; to the pools, the upper and the lower, particularly to the fountain of Shiloah, which, Jerom says, was the only one the city of Jerusalem used.

Because the ground is chapt Through the violent heat of the sun, and want of rain; or, is broken [[23]]; and crumbles into dust. The Targum is, “because of sins, the inhabitants of the earth are broken:” for there was no rain in the earth; this was the reason of the dearth, and of the famine, and…

Yea, the hind also calved in the field Or brought forth her young in the field; of which see , and which they sometimes did through fear, particularly when frightened with thunder and lightning; and which are common in a time of heat and drought, which is the case here; see of these sort of…

And the wild asses did stand in the high places To see where any grass was to be had, or where the wind blows more freely and cooly, to draw it in; as follows.

O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us That we deserve such judgments to be inflicted on us; and that God is righteous in bringing them; and we are altogether undeserving of the favour now about to be asked.

O the hope of Israel The author, object, ground, and foundation of hope of all good things, both here and hereafter; in whom Israel had been used to hope in times past, and had great encouragement so to do, or, “the expectation of Israel” [[5]]; whom they looked for to come: the Saviour thereof in…

Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied Astonished, and so surprised as not to know what to say or do; or “asleep”, as the Septuagint; taking no notice of us, and being altogether unconcerned what becomes of us; or, as one “dumb” [[8]]; that will give no answer to our prayers: as a mighty man that…

Thus saith the Lord unto this people Instead of answering the prophet directly and immediately, he first speaks to the people, and observes their sin is the cause of his conduct; and whom he does not vouchsafe to call his people; they having broken covenant with him, and so notoriously backslidden…

Then said the Lord unto me To the prophet; now the Lord gives a more direct answer to him, and to his prayers and intercession for the people; which he forbids, saying, pray not for this people for their good; or “for good things”, as the Septuagint; for rain, that the famine might cease; and for…

When they fast, I will not hear their cry Or, “though they fast” [[9]]; very probably on account of the want of rain, and the dearth or famine, a fast was proclaimed; see , when they prayed and cried aloud, and made a great noise; but their prayers being hypocritical, and not arising from a pure…

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! &c.] Being grieved at heart for the people, because he was forbid to pray for them, and because the Lord had resolved on the ruin of them; and the rather he pitied them, because they were deceived by the false prophets, and therefore he tries to excuse them, and lay the…

Then said the Lord unto me In reply to the above excuse, in favour of the people: the prophets prophesy lies in my name; it is a wicked thing to tell lies; it is more so to foretell them, and that in the name of the Lord; pretending they have his authority, and are under the influence and guidance…

Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets The false prophets, as the following description shows: that prophecy in my name, and I sent them not; made use of his name, pretending his authority, though they were not sent by him: yet they say, sword and famine shall not be in the land;…

And the people to whom they prophesy That is, such of them as gave credit to their prophecies: shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, because of the famine and the sword; they dying of the famine and of the sword, their carcasses should be cast out of their houses into the open streets, and…

Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them Instead of praying for the people, the prophet has a doleful lamentation put into his mouth, to pronounce in their hearing, in order to assure them of the calamities that were coming upon them, and to affect them with them.

If I go forth into the field Without the city, where was the camp of the enemy besieging it then behold the slain with the sword! the sword of the enemy; who by sallying out of the city upon them, or by endeavouring to make their escape into the country, fell into their hands, and were slain by…

Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? &c.] The prophet, though forbid, proceeds to prayers and expostulations on account of this people, the people of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin: or, “in rejecting hast thou rejected Judah?” [[18]] from being a nation, from being under thy care and protection?…

We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers This is said by the prophet, in the name of the few faithful that were among this people, who were sensible of their own sins, the sins of their ancestors, and which they ingenuously confess; their fathers had sinned, and they…

Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake Which was called upon them, and which they called upon; they deserved to be abhorred, they had done those things which might justly render them abominable, being what was abhorrent to him; and they deprecate this, not, for their own sake, who were unworthy of…

Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? &c.] The blessing wanted; none of the idols of the Gentiles, called vanities, because it was a vain thing to apply to them, or hope for anything from them, none of these could give a shower of rain; though the name of one of…