Jer. 6 God sendeth and strengtheneth the Babylonians against Judah, Jer. 6:1–5; for her oppression and spoils, Jer. 6:6–8, and obstinacy; which provoke God’s wrath and their destruction, Jer. 6:9–12. Their covetousness, false confidence, and impudence; people and priests refuse to obey God, Jer.

Children of Benjamin: he means either the inhabitants of Jerusalem, because part of it stood in the lot of Benjamin, Josh. 18:28; or else he means all Judah, because when the ten tribes fell off, the tribe of Benjamin adhered to Judah, and was incorporated into them.

Woman: this supplement is not in the text; they that approve it render the epithet comely variously, for one dwelling at home, as the Hebrew nays doth also signify, Hab.

The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her: the prophet here proceeds in his metaphor, and possibly the rather, because he chooseth to speak in the style of his own education, which may also give some countenance to the supplement of pasture or land in the former verse instead of woman:…

Prepare ye war against her: the prophet now passeth from his metaphor to tell them plainly what he means by the shepherds, viz. warriors: some make these the words of the Chaldeans, making preparations for their invasion, and it may be by some of their accustomed rites that they used before war;…

Let us go by night, or, this night. They were set upon it, they would lose neither day nor night; which shows that they were extraordinarily stirred up by God in this expedition. Let us destroy her palaces: this was the bait or motive that they propounded to themselves, viz.

Said, viz. to the Chaldeans. Here God declares whence they have their commission: q.d. They come not up on their own heads: see Jer. 5:14–15. God would have the Jews to know that they have not so much to do with the Chaldeans as with him; that they are his rod to scourge them for their sins, Jer.

In this verse God aggravates their sin of oppression, mentioned in the former. As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness; a metaphor, to express how natural all manner of wickedness is to her, how full she is of it, and how incessant in it, noting her impudence, a…

Be thou instructed, Heb. corrected: q.d. By the correction thou hast felt, and what is threatened, be persuaded to repentance before it be too late, Prov. 29:15.

Though gleaning be a term proper for all kind of harvest, yet the word used here is appropriated to the vintage, and implies the thorough riddance that the Chaldeans shall make, contrary to the law for gathering the vintage, though it may seem to allude to it, Lev. 19:10.

Give warning, Heb. make protestation; noting with what earnestness the prophet would bespeak them in his warning of them: see Jer. 11:7. The prophet taking notice of their obstinacy, speaks as one astonished, and highly makes complaint, being greatly grieved that he can find none that will take…

Therefore. Heb. And; which seems to be a better connexion; for that which putteth him upon this work seems rather to be that Spirit of prophecy that is in him than any consideration drawn from them.

Their houses shall be turned unto others, i.e. their houses and their lands shall be devolved or turned over to strangers, Jer. 8:10, even that land which they thought had been entailed upon them, and they so firmly fixed in for ever, Ps. 132:13–14.

From the least of them; not respecting so much their age as degree and quality, poor and rich; the prophet notes the generality of their corruption as the reason of God’s severity against them, as Jer.

They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly: this refers peculiarly to the prophets; either slighting or making light of these threatenings, tending to the reproach either, 1. Of the prophets of God, bringing their message into contempt; or, 2.

Were they, viz. the false prophets, ashamed? Some read it actively, as sometimes it is taken, Did they put the people to shame? but that is not so proper here; it rather notes how bold and confident, or rather impudent, they were in their flatteries, and deceiving the people, a great aggravation of…

Having told the false prophets their doom, he now turns his speech to the people, and gives them counsel; for he rather propounds than commands, by a metaphor taken from travellers, that being in doubt of their way, do stand still, pause, and consider, whether the direction they have received from…

Watchmen, viz. prophets and messengers, that sought their good, and endeavoured to prevent their miseries by foretelling what was coming upon them, Ezek. 3:17, Ezek. 33:7 A metaphor from watchmen, that are usually set upon high places to espy out dangers afar off.

Hear, ye nations: he calls upon the nations round about to be as so many spectators of his severity against Judah, though they were his own people. 1. Partly to vindicate the justice of his proceedings, that they may not think him too severe. 2.

Hear, O earth; the inhabitants of the earth; or else God having spoken to the rational, he now speaks to the very senseless creatures to observe his proceedings, Ezek. 36:4. I will bring evil; the Chaldean army, with all the direful effects of it. The fruit of their thoughts: q.d.

To what purpose? an interrogation of expostulation and contempt, wherein God by the prophet meets with their hypocrisy, who pleased themselves with their outward oblations and sacrifices, and thought God would be pleased with them too; but he tells them plainly they are to no purpose; as he speaks…

I will lay stumbling-blocks; God gives this name to all the occasions of the Jews’ ruin; he exposeth them, or suffereth such things to be laid in their way, as shall be the occasion of their destruction; such things which they shall not get over.

Now the prophet is showing what these destructive stumbling-blocks shall be, of which he had prophesied forty years already, and yet they would not be warned. The north country: see Jer. 6:1. A great nation shall be raised; God shall stir up the Chaldeans like a great storm or tempest, Jer.

They shall lay hold on bow and spear; or, They shall carry; they shall not want military ammunition of all sorts for the despatch of this great work; synecdochically expressed for all sorts of weapons. So Ps. 35:2–3. Have no mercy; see Jer.

We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble. The prophet personates the people’s affections: q.d. At the very report of the. approach and fierceness of this people we are dismayed and discouraged, our hearts melt within us; all warlike courage is taken from us, 2 Sam.

Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; expressing the great danger that there would be every where, there would be no stirring out of their fenced cities or houses, Jer.

O daughter of my people, i.e. O my people, that art beloved as a daughter. Gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: he calls upon them to mourning in the deepest manner wherein they can express it, girding with sackcloth, close mourning, Jer. 4:8, wallowing in ashes, Jer. 25:34, Mic.

Here God speaks by way of encouragement to the prophet, and tells him he had made him a fortified tower, that he might both discover the carriages of his people, which is one use of a high tower, Isa. 21:5, Isa. 21:8, Hab.

Grievous revolters; obstinate and refractory, Isa. 31:6, Jer. 5:3, Jer. 5:23. Walking with slanders; being their main business to detract from thee and the other prophets, Jer. 18:18, Jer. 20:10; a sin expressly forbidden, Lev. 19:16.

The bellows are burned: the prophet prosecutes his metaphor taken from refining of metals, intimating herein that the prophets had spent their lungs to no purpose; see the like Ps. 22:15, Ps. 69:3; and their strength was consumed by their so much labour and pains: q.d.

Reprobate silver; or, Refuse silver; such as will be rejected in payments; they are not to be purged or reformed. Shall men call them; or, be called, i.e. they shall be esteemed such as will not pass for current before God or good men, Lam. 3:45.