Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah 1:1-19 . THE GENERAL TITLE OR INTRODUCTION

Jeremiah 1:1-3 , probably prefixed by Jeremiah, when he collected his prophecies and gave them to his countrymen to take with them to Babylon [MICHAELIS].

1. Anathoth--a town in Benjamin, twenty stadia, that is, two or three miles north of Jerusalem; now Anata (compare Isaiah 10:30 , and the context, Isaiah 10:28-32 ). One of the four cities allotted to the Kohathites in Benjamin ( Joshua 21:18 ). Compare 1 Kings 2:26 1 Kings 2:27 ; a stigma was cast thenceforth on the whole sacerdotal family resident there; this may be alluded to in the words here, "the priests . . . in Anathoth." God chooses "the weak, base, and despised things . . . to confound the mighty."

2, 3. Jehoiakim . . . Josiah . . . Zedekiah--Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin are omitted for they reigned only three months each. The first and last of the kings under whom each prophet prophesied are often thus specified in the general title. See on these kings, and Jeremiah's life, my
thirteenth . . . of his reign--( Jeremiah 25:3 ).
fifth month--( 2 Kings 25:8 ).

4-10. Jeremiah's call to the prophetical office.
unto me--other manuscripts read "to him"; but English Version probably represents the true Hebrew text; this inscription was doubtless made by Jeremiah himself.

5. knew--approved of thee as My chosen instrument ( Exodus 33:12 Exodus 33:17 ; compare Isaiah 49:1 Isaiah 49:5 , Romans 8:29 ).
sanctified--rather, "separated." The primary meaning is, "to set apart" from a common to a special use; hence arose the secondary sense, "to sanctify," ceremonially and morally. It is not here meant that Jehovah cleansed Jeremiah from original sin or regenerated him by His Spirit; but separated him to his peculiar prophetical office, including in its range, not merely the Hebrews, but also the nations hostile to them (Jeremiah 25:12-38,27:1-21,46:1-51:64'), [HENDERSON]. Not the effect, but the predestination in Jehovah's secret counsel, is meant by the sanctification here (compare Luke 1:15 Luke 1:41 , Acts 15:18 , Galatians 1:15 , Ephesians 1:11 ).

6. From the long duration of his office ( Jeremiah 1:2 Jeremiah 1:3 , Jeremiah 40:1 , &c. Jeremiah 43:8 , &c.), it is supposed that he was at the time of his call under twenty-five years of age.
child--the same word is translated, "young man" ( 2 Samuel 18:5 ). The reluctance often shown by inspired ministers of God ( Exodus 4:10 , Exodus 6:12 Exodus 6:30 , Jonah 1:3 ) to accept the call, shows that they did not assume the office under the impulse of self-deceiving fanaticism, as false prophets often did.

7. to all that--to all "to whom" [ROSENMULLER]. Rather, "to all against whom"; in a hostile sense (compare Jeremiah 1:8 Jeremiah 1:17 Jeremiah 1:18 Jeremiah 1:19 ) [MAURER]. Such was the perversity of the rulers and people of Judea at that time, that whoever would desire to be a faithful prophet needed to arm himself with an intrepid mind; Jeremiah was naturally timid and sensitive; yet the Spirit moulded him to the necessary degree of courage without taking away his peculiar individuality.