Jer. 4 An invitation to true repentance, by promises, Jer. 4:1–4; and judgments coming on them by the Babylonians, contrary to the predictions of their false prophets, for their sins, Jer. 4:5–18. A grievous lamentation for the miseries of Judah, Jer. 4:19–31.

Return unto me: this seems to be a continuation of the former sermon; so that Israel having promised repentance, they are here directed how it must be qualified, viz. it must not be hypocritical and reigned, but real and hearty, Jer.

And thou shalt swear: this is to be understood, partly by way of command, as Deut. 10:20; and partly by way of direction, if thou swear, or when thou swearest: it is put here synecdochically for the whole worship of God, hereby acknowledging and owning God as the only God.

To the men, Heb. man, i.e. to each man; I speak to every individual among you, Ezek. 20:7–8. Of Judah and Jerusalem: the Lord having spoke what he had to say at present to Israel, turns now his speech from Israel to Judah, and so continues it; which consists of several subjects, and first begins…

Circumcise yourselves; put away your natural corruptions; which was signified by the sacrament of circumcision, Col. 2:11, 1 Pet. 3:21; the same thing with the other, but expressed in other words. To the Lord; or, to me, viz. so as I will approve.

The Lord being now about to bring enemies upon them, he bespeaks them in martial language, by stirring them to a speedy provision, and warning of them of the nature of their approaching judgment; not famine or plague within them, but a foreign enemy from without, Jer. 6:1, viz.

Set up the standard, i.e. for them to resort to, as is usual in war; and it is therefore said to he towards Zion or Jerusalem, as being a signal to show them whither they should repair; see Jer. 1:5; Jerusalem being their principal place of strength, and Zion the strongest part of it, 2 Sam. 5:6–7.

The lion is come up from his thicket, i.e. Nebuchadnezzar, called here a lion from his fierceness and strength, Prov. 30:30; a metaphor; especially in this expedition; see Isa. 5:27–29 shall come up from Babylon, where his chief seat is, Dan.

Gird you with sackcloth; the usual habit of mourners, especially in those days, Isa. 22:12, Jer. 6:26; it is a calling upon them to repent. Lament and howl: probably these expressions do import the several ways that men have to set forth their bitter complaints and sorrows of the mind, both by the…

The heart of the king shall perish; the king, viz. of Judah, and the great men, that should have encouraged the people in such a calamitous day, and been their great support, shall not only be afraid, but their own hearts shall melt within them, they shall be even at their wits’ end; see Josh.

Ah, Lord God: the Hebrew aha is a word both of admiration and lamentation together; they are Jeremiah’s words and complaint breathed out in the great sorrow and. sighing of soul, which he expresseth more emphatically Jer. 23:9.

At that time, viz. when Nebuchadnezzar is upon this expedition, Jer. 4:7, shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem; there shall be tidings brought both to the country and city, Jer. 4:5.

A full wind from those places, Heb. fuller than they. A wind too strong for them. This is a further description of the former wind; it shall be full, even a fuller wind, that shall do its work thoroughly. Shall come unto me: these are either God’s words: q. d.

He shall come up as clouds; either noting the vast number of them, Isa. 60:8, Heb. 12:1; or the suddenness of them, when not expected, clouds often rising on a sudden, and overspreading the whole face of the heavens; or rather, the great speed and swiftness with which Nebuchadnezzar shall march…

O Jerusalem, wash thine heart; cleanse your inward parts, O ye men of Jerusalem; not your hands only, as hypocrites do, but your hearts, James 4:8. The same exhortation with Jer.

A voice, i.e. either the voice of the prophets, that is still sounding it in your ears, and declaring it unto you; or rather, the rumour and noise of this army is already come through your land; you have the heavy tidings of this great affliction, Jer. 8:16, to note the near approach of it.

Make ye mention to the nations: these are either the nations in Judea; or these words are a proclamation, summoning in the nations by the Chaldeans, as it were, in pursuance of a commission from God, to bring great armies together against Jerusalem; or they are the prophets turning away from Judah,…

They will strictly besiege her, as keepers of a field will be careful who go in and who go out, Zech. 12:2; they will watch that none go in to relieve them, and also that none get out to escape: see 2 Chron. 16:1.

Thy way; thy manner of life, and particularly thy idolatries. Have procured these things unto thee: q.d. Thou canst not lay any blame upon me. This is thy wickedness, because it is bitter; thy wickedness hath been the cause of this thy grievous affliction, Isa. 1:1, Jer. 2:17, Jer.

My bowels, my bowels! here begins the woeful complaint of, and the great trouble the prophet was in, upon the consideration of these things, crying out as one even under great pain and torment, doubling his words for want of vent, thereby expressing the excess of his sorrow, which in words was…

Destruction upon destruction; a further expression of his bitter lamentation, redoubling his complaint; the end of one, but the beginning of another; q.d. worse and worse, Deut. 32:23, Ezek. 7:26; good Josiah slain, and four of his successors carried away or slain, or both, 2 Chron. 36:0.

He seems to have these concomitants of war, both of Judea preparing for defence, and especially these of the enemy preparing for ruin and destruction. always in his eye and ear, Jer.

For my people is foolish: though God show them here that the cause of all these calamities is their folly, Jer. 2:17, Jer. 2:19, Ps. 38:3, Ps. 38:5, yet he owns them for his people, Jer. 2:11, Jer. 2:31–32.

I beheld; either I Jeremiah saw all this in a vision, or I fancied and framed such an idea of it in my mind; it seems to be impressed upon my thoughts graphically, as in a map, in such a rueful manner; for in this and the three following verses he doth, as one transported with sorrow, elegantly and…

He proceeds in his figurative elegancies: q.d. Behold how the mountains of Judea tremble! a like expression Ps. 18:7–8, Isa. 5:25; as if the very senseless creatures were astonished at the greatness of God’s anger; and he mentions these as being the most stable part of the earth, yet shake before…

There was no man; quite depopulated and laid waste, all either slain, or carried captive, or fled; for after the flight of men, women, and children into Egypt, upon the death of Gedaliah, scarce a Jew was left in Judea.

The fruitful place, Heb. Carmel, either properly, for that part of the land so called for its fruitfulness; or rather appellatively, for not only their most pleasant, but most fruitful lands, that were kept dressed and occupied for food, both for necessity and delight, Jer. 4:27, Isa. 29:17, Isa.

Some expound it, Neither shall this punishment suffice, nor my fury stop here; I will not thus have done with them; and so look to what they were further to endure in their long captivity. See Lev. 26:36, Lev. 26:39.

For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; expressions to set forth the dreadfulness of the judgment; he makes the elements to personate mourners, a sad face of things above and below, a metaphor, and therein to shame the stupidity of his people. Because I have spoken it: q.d.

The whole city shall flee; the inhabitants of all ranks and qualities shall seek to escape the fury of this Chaldean army, Jer. 39:4. For the noise; either upon the report of their coming, hereby as it were deriding their confidence; or rather at the approach of their vast armies, for they were…

When thou art spoiled; which will certainly come upon thee; or when this destruction shall come upon thee, which is very near thee. What wilt thou do? viz. when thou, O daughter of Zion, as Jer. 4:31, art besieged by the Babylonians, what course wilt thou take? It is not to be avoided.

A voice as of a woman in travail: when the Scripture would express any exquisite sorrow, exceeding all other pains, it doth it by a woman in travail, Isa. 13:8–9, Jer. 6:24, Jer. 30:6–7.