@Jer 17:1-27. THE JEWS' INVETERATE LOVE OF IDOLATRY.
The the Septuagint omits the first four verses, but other Greek versions have them.
1. The first of the four clauses relates to the third, the second to
the fourth, by alternate parallelism. The sense is: They are as keen
after idols as if their propensity was "graven with an iron pen
(@Job 19:24) on their hearts," or as if it were sanctioned by a law
"inscribed with a diamond point" on their altars. The names of their
gods used to be written on "the horns of the altars" (@Ac 17:23). As
the clause "on their hearts" refers to their inward propensity, so
"on . . . altars," the outward exhibition of it. Others refer "on
the horns of . . . altars" to their staining them with the blood of
victims, in imitation of the Levitical precept (@Ex 29:12 Le 4:7,18),
but "written . . . graven," would thus be inappropriate.
table of . . . heart--which God intended to be inscribed very
differently, namely, with His truths (@Pr 3:3 2Co 3:3).
your--Though "their" preceded, He directly addresses them to charge
the guilt home to them in particular.
2. children remember--Instead of forsaking the idolatries of their
fathers, they keep them up (@Jer 7:18). This is given as proof that
their sin is "graven upon . . . altars" (@Jer 17:1), that is, is not
merely temporary. They corrupt their posterity after them.
CASTALIO less
probably translates, "They remember their altars as (fondly as) they do
their children."
groves--rather, "images of Astarte," the goddess of the heavenly
hosts, represented as a sacred tree, such as is seen in the Assyrian
sculptures (@2Ki 21:7 2Ch 24:18). "Image of the grove." The
Hebrew for "grove" is Asherah, that is, Assarak, Astarte, or
Ashtaroth.
by the green trees--that is, near them: the sacred trees (idol
symbols) of Astarte being placed in the midst of natural trees: "green
trees" is thus distinguished from "groves," artificial trees.
HENDERSON, to avoid taking the same Hebrew particle in the same
sentence differently, "by . . . upon" translates "images of Astarte
on the green trees." But it is not probable that images, in the form
of a sacred tree, should be hung on trees, rather than near them.
3. mountain--Jerusalem, and especially Zion and the temple.
in the field--As Jerusalem was surrounded by mountains (@Ps 125:2), the sense probably is, Ye rely on your mountainous
position (@Jer 3:23), but I will make "My mountain" to become as if
it were in a plain (field), so as to give thy substance an easy prey
to the enemy [CALVIN]. "Field" may, however, mean all Judea; it and
"My mountain" will thus express the country and its capital.
(GESENIUS translates, "together with," instead of "in"; as the
Hebrew is translated in @Jer 11:19 Ho 5:6; but this is not
absolutely needed), "the substance" of both of which God "will give to
the spoil."
thy high places--corresponding in parallelism to "My mountain"
(compare @Isa 11:9), as "all thy borders," to "the field"
(which confirms the view that "field" means all Judea).
for sin--connected with high places" in English Version, namely,
frequented for sin, that is, for idolatrous sacrifices. But @Jer 15:13
makes the rendering probable, "I will give thy substance . . .
to . . . spoil . . . on account of thy sin throughout all thy borders."
4. even thyself--rather, "owing to thyself," that is, by thy own
fault (@Jer 15:13).
discontinue from--be dispossessed of. Not only thy substance, but
thyself shall be carried off to a strange land (@Jer 15:14).
5. Referring to the Jews' proneness to rely on Egypt, in its fear of
Assyria and Babylon (@Isa 31:1,3).
trusteth--This word is emphatic. We may expect help from men, so far
as God enables them to help us, but we must rest our trust in God alone
(@Ps 62:5).
6. heath--In @Ps 102:17 Isa 32:11 Hab 3:9, the Hebrew is
translated, "bare," "naked," "destitute"; but as the parallel in
@Jer 17:8 is "tree," some plant must be meant of which this is the
characteristic epithet (@Jer 48:6, Margin), "a naked tree."
ROBINSON translates, "the juniper tree," found in the Arabah or Great
Valley, here called "the desert," south of the Dead Sea. The "heath" was
one of the plants, according to PLINY (13.21; 16.26), excluded from
religious uses, because it has neither fruit nor seed, and is neither
sown nor planted.
not see . . . good--(@Job 20:17).
salt land--(@De 29:23), barren ground.
7. (@Ps 34:8 Pr 16:20 Isa 30:18). Jeremiah first removed the weeds (false trusts), so that there might be room for the good grain [CALVIN].
8. (@Ps 1:3).
shall not see--that is, feel. Answering to @Jer 17:6; whereas
the unbelievers "shall not see (even) when good cometh," the
believer "shall not see (so as to be overwhelmed by it even) when heat
(fiery trial) cometh." Trials shall come upon him as on all, nay, upon
him especially (@Heb 12:6); but he shall not sink under them,
because the Lord is his secret strength, just as the "roots spread out
by a river" (or, "water-course") draw hidden support from it
(@2Co 4:8-11).
careful--anxious, as one desponding (@Lu 12:29 1Pe 5:7).
drought--literally, "withholding," namely, of rain (@Jer 14:1);
he here probably alludes to the drought which had prevailed, but makes
it the type of all kinds of distress.
9. deceitful--from a root, "supplanting," "tripping up insidiously
by the heel," from which Jacob (@Ho 12:3) took his name. In speaking
of the Jews' deceit of heart, he appropriately uses a term alluding
to their forefather, whose deceit, but not whose faith, they followed.
His "supplanting" was in order to obtain Jehovah's blessing. They
plant Jehovah for "trust in man" (@Jer 17:5), and then think to
deceive God, as if it could escape His notice, that it is in
man, not in Him, they trust.
desperately wicked--"incurable"
[HORSLEY], (@Mic 1:9). Trust in
one's own heart is as foolish as in our fellow man (@Pr 28:26).
10. Lest any should infer from @Jer 17:9, "who can know it?"
that even the Lord does not know, and therefore cannot punish, the
hidden treachery of the heart, He says, "I the Lord search the heart,"
&c. (@1Ch 28:9 Ps 7:9 Pr 17:3 Re 2:23).
even to give--and that in order that I may give (@Jer 32:19).
11. partridge--(@1Sa 26:20). Hebrew, korea, from a root, "to
call," alluding to its cry; a name still applied to a bustard by the
Arabs. Its nest is liable, being on the ground, to be trodden under
foot, or robbed by carnivorous animals, notwithstanding all the
beautiful manoeuvres of the parent birds to save the brood. The
translation, "sitteth on eggs which it has not laid," alludes to the
ancient notion that she stole the eggs of other birds and hatched them
as her own; and that the young birds when grown left her for the true
mother. It is not needful to make Scripture allude to an exploded
notion, as if it were true.
MAURER thinks the reference is to
Jehoiakim's grasping cupidity (@Jer 22:13-17). Probably the sense
is more general; as previously He condemned trust in man (@Jer 17:5),
He now condemns another object of the deceitful hearts' trust,
unjustly gotten riches (@Ps 39:6 49:16,17 55:23).
fool--(@Pr 23:5 Lu 12:20); "their folly" (@Ps 49:13). He
himself, and all, shall at last perceive he was not the wise man he
thought he was.
12. throne--the temple of Jerusalem, the throne of Jehovah. Having condemned false objects of trust, "high places for sin" (@Jer 17:3), and an "arm of flesh," he next sets forth Jehovah, and His temple, which was ever open to the Jews, as the true object of confidence, and sanctuary to flee to. HENDERSON makes Jehovah, in @Jer 17:13, the subject, and this verse predicate, "A throne of glory, high from the beginning, the place of our sanctuary, the hope of Israel is Jehovah." "Throne" is thus used for Him who sits on it; compare thrones (@Col 1:16). He is called a "sanctuary" to His people (@Isa 8:14 Eze 11:16). So Syriac and Arabic.
13. me--"Jehovah." Though "Thee" precedes. This sudden transition is
usual in the prophetic style, owing to the prophet's continual
realization of Jehovah's presence.
all that forsake thee--(@Ps 73:27 Isa 1:28).
written in the earth--in the dust, that is, shall be consigned to
oblivion. So Jesus' significant writing "on the ground
(probably the accusers' names)"
(@Joh 8:6). Names written in the dust are
obliterated by a very slight wind. Their hopes and celebrity are wholly
in the earth, not in the heavenly book of life (@Re 13:8 20:12,15).
The Jews, though boasting that they were the people of God, had no
portion in heaven, no status before God and His angels. Contrast
"written in heaven," that is, in the muster-roll of its blessed citizens
(@Lu 10:20). Also, contrast "written in a book," and "in the rock
for ever" (@Job 19:23,24).
living waters--(@Jer 2:13).
14-18. Prayer of the prophet for deliverance from the enemies whom
he excited by his faithful denunciations.
Heal . . . save--not only make me whole (as to the evils of soul
as well as body which I am exposed to by contact with ungodly foes,
@Jer 15:18), but keep me so.
my praise--He whom I have to praise for past favors, and therefore
to whom alone I look for the time to come.
15. Where is the word?--(@Isa 5:19 Am 5:18). Where is the fulfilment of the threats which thou didst utter as from God? A characteristic of the last stage of apostasy (@2Pe 3:4).
16. I have not refused Thy call of me to be a prophet (@Jon 1:3),
however painful to me it was to utter what would be sure to irritate the
hearers (@Jer 1:4, &c.).; therefore Thou shouldest not forsake me
(@Jer 15:15, &c.).
to follow thee--literally, "after thee"; as an under-pastor following
Thee, the Chief Shepherd (@Ec 12:11 1Pe 5:4).
neither . . . desired--I have not wished for the day of calamity,
though I foretell it as about to come on my countrymen; therefore they
have no reason for persecuting me.
thou knowest--I appeal to Thee for the truth of what I assert.
that which came out of my lips--my words (@De 23:23).
right before thee--rather, "was before Thee"; was
known to Thee--(@Pr 5:21).
17. a terror--namely, by deserting me: all I fear is Thine abandoning me; if Thou art with me, I have no fear of evil from enemies.
18. destroy . . . destruction--"break them with a double breach," Hebrew (@Jer 14:17). On "double," see on Jer 16:18.
19-27. Delivered in the reign of Jehoiakim, who undid the good
effected by Josiah's reformation, especially as to the observance of the
Sabbath [EICHORN].
gate of . . . children of . . . people--The gate next the king's
palace, called the gate of David, and the gate of the people, from
its being the principal thoroughfare: now the Jaffa gate. It is probably
the same as "the gate of the fountain" at the foot of Zion, near which
were the king's garden and pool
(@Jer 39:4 2Ki 25:4 Ne 2:14 3:15 12:37).
20. kings--He begins with the kings, as they ought to have repressed such a glaring profanation.
21. Take heed to yourselves--literally, "to your souls."
MAURER
explains, "as ye love your lives"; a phrase used here to give the
greater weight to the command.
sabbath--The non-observance of it was a chief cause of the captivity,
the number of years of the latter, seventy, being exactly made to agree
with the number of Sabbaths which elapsed during the four hundred ninety
years of their possession of Canaan from Saul to their removal
(@Le 26:34,35 2Ch 36:21). On the restoration, therefore, stress was
especially laid on Sabbath observance (@Ne 13:19).
Jerusalem--It would have been scandalous anywhere; but in the capital,
Jerusalem, it was an open insult to God. Sabbath-hallowing is
intended as a symbol of holiness in general (@Eze 20:12); therefore
much stress is laid on it; the Jews' gross impiety is manifested in
their setting God's will at naught, in the case of such an easy and
positive command.
23. (@Jer 7:24,26).
24. A part put for the whole, "If ye keep the Sabbath and My other laws."
25. kings . . . in chariots--The kingdom at this time had been brought
so low that this promise here was a special favor.
remain--Hebrew, "be inhabited" (@Jer 17:6 Isa 13:20).
26. plain mountains . . . south--(@Jos 15:1-4). The southern
border had extended to the river of Egypt, but was now much curtailed by
Egyptian invasions (@2Ch 35:20 36:3,4). The Hebrew for "south"
means dry; the arid desert south of Judea is meant. The
enumeration of all the parts of Judea, city, country, plain, hill, and
desert, implies that no longer shall there be aught wanting of the
integrity of the Jewish land (@Zec 7:7).
sacrifices--As in @Jer 17:22, one constituent of Judea's prosperity
is mentioned, namely, its kings on David's throne, the pledge of God
being its guardian; so in this verse another constituent, namely, its
priests, a pledge of God being propitious to it (@Ps 107:22).
27. burden . . . in . . . gates . . . fire in the gates--retribution answering to the sin. The scene of their sin shall be the scene of their punishment (@Jer 52:13 2Ki 25:9).