Jeremiah 20

Jeremiah 20:1-18 . JEREMIAH'S INCARCERATION BY PASHUR, THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER OF THE TEMPLE, FOR PROPHESYING WITHIN ITS PRECINCTS; HIS RENEWED PREDICTIONS AGAINST THE CITY, &c., ON HIS LIBERATION.

1. son--descendant.
of Immer--one of the original "governors of the sanctuary and of the house of God," twenty-four in all, that is, sixteen of the sons of Eleazar and eight of the sons of Ithamar ( 1 Chronicles 24:14 ). This Pashur is distinct from Pashur, son of Melchiah ( Jeremiah 21:1 ). The "captains" ( Luke 22:4 ) seem to have been over the twenty-four guards of the temple, and had only the right of apprehending any who were guilty of delinquency within it; but the Sanhedrim had the judicial power over such delinquents [GROTIUS] ( Jeremiah 26:8 Jeremiah 26:10 Jeremiah 26:16 ).

2. The fact that Pashur was of the same order and of the same family as Jeremiah aggravates the indignity of the blow ( 1 Kings 22:24 , Matthew 26:67 ).
stocks--an instrument of torture with five holes, in which the neck, two hands, and two feet were thrust, the body being kept in a crooked posture ( Jeremiah 29:26 ). From a Hebrew root, to "turn," or "rack." This marks Pashur's cruelty.
high--that is, the upper gate ( 2 Kings 15:35 ).
gate of Benjamin--a gate in the temple wall, corresponding to the gate of Benjamin, properly so called, in the city wall, in the direction of the territory of Benjamin ( Jeremiah 7:2 , 37:13 , 38:7 ). The temple gate of Benjamin, being on a lofty position, was called "the high gate," to distinguish it from the city wall gate of Benjamin.

3. Pashur--compounded of two roots, meaning "largeness (and so 'security') on every side"; in antithesis to Magor-missabib, "terror round about" ( Jeremiah 20:10 , Jeremiah 6:25 , 46:5 , 49:29 , Psalms 31:13 ).

4. terror . . . to all thy friends--who have believed thy false promises ( Jeremiah 20:6 ). The sense must be in order to accord with "fear round about" ( Jeremiah 20:3 ). I will bring terror on thee and on all thy friends, that terror arising from thyself, namely, thy false prophecies. Thou and thy prophecies will be seen, to the dismay both of thee and thy dupes, to have caused their ruin and thine. MAURER'S translation is therefore not needed, "I will give up thee and all thy friends to terror."

5. strength--that is, resources.
labours--fruits of labor, gain, wealth.

6. prophesied lies--namely, that God cannot possibly leave this land without prophets, priests, and teachers ("the wise") ( Jeremiah 18:18 ; compare Jeremiah 5:31 ).

7. Jeremiah's complaint, not unlike that of Job, breathing somewhat of human infirmity in consequence of his imprisonment. Thou didst promise never to give me up to the will of mine enemies, and yet Thou hast done so. But Jeremiah misunderstood God's promise, which was not that he should have nothing to suffer, but that God would deliver him out of sufferings ( Jeremiah 1:19 ).
deceived--Others translate as Margin, "Thou hast enticed" or "persuaded me," namely, to undertake the prophetic office, "and I was persuaded," that is, suffered myself to be persuaded to undertake what I find too hard for me. So the Hebrew word is used in a good sense ( Genesis 9:27 , Margin; Proverbs 25:15 , Hosea 2:14 ).
stronger than I--Thou whose strength I could not resist hast laid this burden on me, and hast prevailed (hast made me prophesy, in spite of my reluctance) ( Jeremiah 1:5-7 ); yet, when I exercise my office, I am treated with derision ( Lamentations 3:14 ).