Jeremiah 22

Jeremiah 22:1-30 . EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE; JUDGMENT ON SHALLUM, JEHOIAKIM, AND CONIAH.

Belonging to an earlier period than the twenty-first chapter, namely, the reigns of Shallum or Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Jeconiah ( Jeremiah 22:10 Jeremiah 22:13 Jeremiah 22:20 ). Jeremiah often groups his prophecies, not by chronological order, but by similarity of subjects; thus Jeremiah 22:3 corresponds to Jeremiah 21:12 . GROTIUS thinks that Jeremiah here repeats to Zedekiah what he had announced to that king's predecessors formerly (namely, his brother and brother's son), of a similar bearing, and which had since come to pass; a warning to Zedekiah. Probably, in arranging his prophecies they were grouped for the first time in the present order, designed by the Holy Spirit to set forth the series of kings of Judah, all four alike, failing in "righteousness," followed at last by the "King," a righteous Branch raised unto David, in the house of Judah, "the Lord our righteousness" ( Jeremiah 23:6 ). The unrighteousness of Zedekiah suggested the review of his predecessors' failure in the same respects, and consequent punishment, which ought to have warned him, but did not.

1. Go down--The temple (where Jeremiah had been prophesying) was higher than the king's palace on Mount Zion ( Jeremiah 36:10 Jeremiah 36:12 , 2 Chronicles 23:20 ). Hence the phrase, "Go down."
the king of Judah--perhaps including each of the four successive kings, to whom it was consecutively addressed, here brought together in one picture: Shallum, Jeremiah 22: Jeremiah 22:11 ; Jehoiakim, Jeremiah 22: Jeremiah 22:13-18 ; Jeconiah, Jeremiah 22:24 ; Zedekiah, the address to whom ( Jeremiah 21:1 Jeremiah 21:11 Jeremiah 21:12 ) suggests notice of the rest.

2. these gates--of the king's palace.

3. Jehoiakim is meant here especially: he, by oppression, levied the tribute imposed on him by Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt ( 2 Chronicles 36:3 ), and taxed his people, and took their labor without pay, to build gorgeous palaces for himself ( Jeremiah 22:13-17 ), and shed innocent blood, for example, that of Urijah the prophet ( Jeremiah 26:20-24 , 2 Kings 23:35 , 24:4 ).

4. upon the throne of David--literally, "or David on his throne" Jeremiah 17:25 .
his servants--so the Keri. But Chetib, singular, "his servant;" that is, distributively, "each with his servants;" Jeremiah 17:25 , "their princes."

5. I swear by myself--( Hebrews 6:13 Hebrews 6:17 ). God swears because it seemed to them incredible that the family of David should be cast off.
this house--the king's, where Jeremiah spake ( Jeremiah 22:4 ).