INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH.. and to which, in order to avoid repetition, I must refer my readers. What is farther necessary to be added will be found in the following notes." As a writer, the character of Jeremiah has been well drawn by Bishop Lowth. paring him with Isaiah, the learned prelate says: "Jeremiah is by no means wanting either in elegance, or sublimity; although, generally speaking, inferior to Isaiah in both. St. Jerome has objected to him a certain rusticity in his diction; of which, I must confess, I do not discover the smallest trace. His thoughts, indeed, are somewhat less elevated, and he is commonly more large and diffuse in his sentences; but the reason of this may be, that he is mostly taken up with the gentler passions of grief and pity, for the expressing of which he has a peculiar talent. This is most evident in the Lamentations, where those passions altogether predominate; but it is often visible also in his Prophecies; in the former part of the book more especially, which is principally poetical. . The middle parts are for the most part historical; but the last part, consisting of six chapters, is entirely poetical; and contains several oracles distinctly marked, in which this prophet falls very little short of the loftiest style of Isaiah." It has often been remarked, that although several of the prophecies in this book have their dates distinctly noted, and most of the rest may be ascertained from collateral evidence; yet there is a strange disorder in the arrangement. "There is," says Dr. Blayney, "a prepos terous jumbling together of the prophecies of the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah in the seventeen chapters which follow the twentieth, according to the Hebrew copies; so that, without any apparent reason, many of the latter reigns precede those of the former; and in the same reign, the last delivered are put first, and the first, last." In order to prevent the confusion arising from this, Dr. Blayney has transposed the chapters where he thought it needful, without altering the numerals as they stand in our common Bibles. This defect has been noticed, and attempts made to remedy it, by others. Dr. John George Dahler, Professor of Theology in the Protestant seminary of Strasburg, has just now published the first volume of a work, entitled, JEREMIE, traduit sur le Texte original, accompagné de Notes Explicatives, Historiques, et Critiques, 8vo., (antedated) Strasbourg, 1824. After a preface, and very judicious historical introduction, consisting, the first of twenty-two, the second of thirty-six pages, the text and notes follow. The poetical parts of the text are translated, in the hemistich manner, as the original appears in the best copies; and the whole is divided into sections; each of which is introduced with judicious observations relative to time, place, circumstances, and the matter contained in that section. The discourses or prophecies delivered under a particular reign, are all produced under that reign in their chronological order. A table of this arrangement I shall here introduce, and refer to the use of it afterwards : The kings under whom Jeremiah prophesied succeeded each other in the following order: 1. Josiah; 2. Jehoahaz; 3. Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah; 4. Jehoiakim; 5. Zedekiah. To render the transpositions evident which have taken place in these prophetical discourses we have only to look at those which bear the date of their delivery. Taking into consideration the order of the reigns, a child may perceive that the above prophecies are not in the order of the times of their delivery; and that the sheets or skins on which the text of that MS. was written, from which the present copies have derived their origin, have been pitifully interchanged, huddled and tacked together, without connexion or arrangement. To remedy this defect, Dr. Blayney has arranged the chapters in the following order, which he terms a new arrangement of the chapters in Jeremiah, from chap. xx. to chap. xlvi., inclusive: xx, xxii., xxiii, xxv, xxvi., xxxv., xxxvi., xlv., xxiv., xxix., xxx., xxxi., xxvii., xxviii., xxi., xxxiv., xxxvíi., xxxii., xxxiii., xxxviii., xxxix. 15–18, xxxix. 1–14, xl., xli., xlii., xliii., xliv., xlvi., &c. The preceding and subsequent chapters Dr. Blayney thought sufficiently correct for all the general purposes of chronology; and it is according to this order that he prints the text in his edition and translation of this prophet, Where he has dates, as are shown Dr. Dahler, as we have seen, is more circumstantial. in the preceding table, he produces the text in that order; where there are not positive dates, he ascertains several by circumstantial intimations, which bear great evidence of accuracy; but there is a numerous class of discourses which he is obliged to insert in this work by critical conjecture. In such a case as this, when the arrangement of the common text is so evidently defective, and in many respects absurd, this procedure is quite allowable; for although the present text as to its arrangement has the sanction of antiquity, yet when a remedy is found, it would be absurd, if not sinful, to follow an order which we may rest satisfied never did proceed from the inspired writer. I hope none will suppose that these observations detract any thing from the Divine inspiration of the book. The prophet delivered his discourses at particular times in select portions, INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. during forty or forty-three years; these were afterwards gathered together and stitched up without any attention to chronological, arrangement. Though the Spirit of the Lord directed the prophet, yet it would be absurd to suppose that it guided the hand of every collector or scribe into whose custody these several parcels might come. Suppose a man buy a copy of the Bible in sheets, and not knowing how to collate them, stitches the whole confusedly together, so that in many places the sense cannot be made out from a preceding to a following sheet, would it not be singularly foolish for any person to say, "As God is the Fountain of wisdom and Author of reason, such incongruities cannot proceed from him, therefore this book was not given by Divine revelation." A child in. a. printer's office might reply, "Cut the stitching asunder, that is man's work; collate the sheets and put them in their proper order, and you will soon see that every paragraph is in harmony with the rest, and contains the words of Divine wisdom." Many an ancient MS., which appeared mutilated and imperfect, I have restored to order and perfection by cutting the binding asunder, and restoring the sheets and leaves to those places from which the ignorance and unskilfulness of the binder had detached them. May we not be allowed to treat the dislocations in the writings. of a prophet in the same way, when it is evident that in the lapse of time his work has suffered by the hand of the careless and ignorant, But it may be asked, "After all the evidence I have, and the concessions I have made, why I have not transposed those disjointed chapters, and produced them in the order in which I think they should be read?" I answer, Were I to give a new translation with notes of this prophet separately, as Drs. Blayney and Dahler have done, I should feel it my duty to do what the objection states; but as my province as a general commentator requires me to take up all the books of the sacred volume in the order in which I find them in the present authorized version, though convinced that this arrangement is neither correct nor convenient; so I take up the parts of each, however transposed, in the same manner, directing the reader by tables and notes to regulate his use of the work so as to produce general edification with as little embarrassment as possible. For general purposes, Dr. Blayney's chronological arrangement may be sufficient; but for greater accuracy Table I. may be preferred. These may at least be considered in the light of helps to a better understanding of these several prophecies; but no man is bound to follow either, farther than he is convinced that it follows what is specifically set down by the prophet himself, or fairly deducible from strong circumstantial evidence. In my notes on this prophet I have availed myself, as far as my plan would permit, of the best helps within my reach. The various readings of Kennicott and De Rossi I have carefully consulted, and occasionally strengthened the evidence in behalf of those readings, more particularly recommended by collations from my own MSS. I regret that I have not been able, for the reasons mentioned at the conclusion of the notes on Isaiah, to produce all the various readings of importance found in these ancient MSS., and especially in the Book of Lamentations, which is contained in five of them; but like the woman in the Gospels, I have done what I could, and must leave the rest to those who, with better abilities, may possess the greater advantages of youth and strength, with unimpaired sight. Reader! God designs thee a blessing by every portion of his word: in thy reading seek for this; and if these notes be helpful to thee, give Him the glory. Eastcott, Nov. 1, 1824. 254. A. C. THE BOOK PROPHET OF THE JEREMIAH. Chronological notes relative to the commencement of Jeremiah's prophesying. Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3375-Year from the Deluge, according to the generally received Hebrew text, conferred with Acts vii. 4, 1719:-Fourth year of the thirty-seventh Olympiad.-Year from the building of Rome according to the Varronian account, 125.-Year before the vulgar era of Christ's nativity, 629.-Twelfth year of Ancus Martius, the fourth king of the Romans: this was the one hundred and twentieth year before the expulsion of the Tarquins.-Nineteenth year of Phraortes, the second king of Media.-Twenty-third year of Archidamus, king of Lacedæmon, of the family of the Proclidæ.-Sixteenth year of Eurycrates II., king of Lacedæmon, of the family of the Eurysthenidæ. -Third year of Sadyattes, king of Lydia, which was the eighty-second year before the conquest of this kingdom by Cyrus.-Twelfth year of Philip, the sixth king of Macedon, or the two hundred and ninetythird before the commencement of the reign of Alexander the Great.-Thirteenth year of Josiah, king of Judah.-Epoch of the building of Cyrene by Battus, according to some chronologers. CHAPTER I.. General title to the whole Book, 1-3. Jeremiah receives a commission to prophesy concerning nations and kingdoms, a work to which in the Divine purpose he had been appointed before his birth, 4-10. The vision of the rod of an almond tree and of the seething pot, with their signification, 11–16. Promises of Divine protection to Jeremiah in the discharge of the arduous duties of his prophetical office, 17–19. b Ch. XXV. 8. Isa. xlix. 1, 5; Ecclus. xlix. 7.- a Josh. xxi. 18; 1 Chron. vi. 60; chap. xxxii. 7, 8, 9.xxv. 3. Chap. xxxix, 2.- Chap. lii. 12, 15.- e2 Kings NOTES ON CHAP. I. Exod. xxxiii. Heb. gave. ing away of the inhabitants of Jerusalem was in the fifth month of the same year. Verse 1-3. The words of Jeremiah] These three verses are the title of the Book; and were probably added by Ezra when he collected and arranged the sacred books, and put them in that order in which they are found in Hebrew Bibles in general. For particulars relative to this, prophet, the times of his prophesy-words which I should use in these declarations. ing, and the arrangement of his discourses, see the introduction. Verse 4: The word of the Lord came unto me] Then I first felt the inspiring influence of the Divine Spirit, not only revealing to me the subjects which he would have me to declare to the people, but also the Verse 5. Before I formed thee] I had destined thee to the prophetic office before thou wert born: I had formed Eleventh year of Zedekiah] That is, the last year my plan, and appointed thee to be my envoy to this peoof his reign; for he was made prisoner by the Chal-ple. St. Paul speaks of his own call to preach the Gosdeans in the fourth month of that year, and the carry-pel to the Gentiles in similar terms, Gal. i. 15, 16. The prophet's visions of the A. M. 3375. B. C. 629. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! throw down, to build, and to Ol. XXXVII. 4. behold, I cannot speak: for I am plant. Anci Martii, R. Roman., 12. a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and I whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 m Be not afraid of their faces; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and. touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to * Exod. iv. 10; vi. 12, 30; Isa. vi. 5. Num. xxii. 20, 38; Matt. xxviii. 20. Ezek. ii. 6; iii. 9; ver. 17.————|| Exod. iii. 12; Deut. xxxi. 6, 8; Josh. i. 5; chap. xv. 20; Acts xxvi. 17; Heb. xiii. 6. Verse 6. I cannot speak] Being very young, and wholly inexperienced, I am utterly incapable of conceiving aright, or of clothing these Divine subjects in suitable language. Those who are really called of God to the sacred ministry are such as have been brought to a deep acquaintance with themselves, feel their own ignorance, and know their own weakness. They know also the awful responsibility that attaches to the work; and nothing but the authority of God can induce such to undertake it. They whom God never called run, because of worldly honour and emolument : the others hear the call with fear and trembling, and can go only in the strength of Jehovah. "How ready is the man to go, Whom God hath never sent! Verse 7. Whatsoever I command thee] It is my words and message, not thine own, that thou shalt deliver. I shall teach thee; therefore thy youth and inexperience can be no hinderance. Verse 8. Be not afraid of their faces] That is, the Jews, whom he knew would persecute him because of the message which he brought. To be fore-warned is to be half armed. He knew what he was to expect from the disobedient and the rebellious, and must now be prepared to meet it. A. M. 3375. 11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen for I will hasten my word to perform it. 13. And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. 14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the "north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. from p shakad, "to be ready," "to hasten," "to watch for an opportunity to do a thing," to awake; because the almond tree is the first to flower and bring forth fruit. Pliny says, Floret prima omnium amygdala mense Januario; Martio vero pomum maturat. It blossoms in January, when other trees are locked up in their winter's repose; and it bears fruit in March, just at the commencement of spring, when other trees only begin to bud. It was here the symbol of that promptitude with which God was about to fulfil his promises and threatenings. As a rod, says Dahler, is an instrument of punishment, the rod of the almond may be intended here as the symbol of that punishment which the prophet was about to announce. Verse 12. I will hasten my word] Here is a paronomasia. What dost thou see? I see p shaked, "an almond," the hastening tree: that which first awakes. Thou hast well seen, for ("pw shoked) I will hasten my word. I will awake, or watch over my word for the first opportunity to inflict the judgments which I threaten. The judgment shall come speedily; it shall soon flourish, and come to maturity. Verse 13. A seething pot―toward the north.] We find, from Ezekiel xxiv. 3, &c., that a boiling pot was an emblem of war, and the desolations it produces. Some have thought that by the seething pot Judea is intended, agitated by the invasion of the Chaldeans, Verse 10. I have-set thee over the nations] God whose land lay north of Judea. But Dr. Blayney conrepresents his messengers the prophets as doing what tends that a mippeney tsaphonah should be he commanded them to declare should be done. In translated, From the face of the north, as it is in the this sense they rooted up, pulled down, and destroyed-margin; for, from the next verse, it appears that the declared God's judgments; they builded up and planted evil was to come from the north; and therefore the -declared the promises of his mercy. Thus God says steam, which was designed as an emblem of that evil, to Isaiah, chap. vi. 10: "Make the heart of this peo- must have arisen from that quarter also. The pot deple fat-and shut their eyes." Show them that they notes the empire of the Babylonians and Chaldeans are stupid and blind; and that, because they have shut lying to the north of Judea, and pouring forth its multheir eyes and hardened their hearts, God will in his titudes like a thick vapour, to overspread the land. judgments leave them to their hardness and darkness. Either of these interpretations will suit the text. Verse 11. A rod of an almond tree.] pw shaked, Verse 14. Shall break forth] non tippathach, shall |