Jeremiah 7

Jeremiah 7:1-34 . THE SEVENTH THROUGH NINTH CHAPTERS. DELIVERED IN THE BEGINNING OF JEHOIAKIM'S REIGN, ON THE OCCASION OF SOME PUBLIC FESTIVAL.

The prophet stood at the gate of the temple in order that the multitudes from the country might hear him. His life was threatened, it appears from Jeremiah 26:1-9 , for this prophecy, denouncing the fate of Shiloh as about to befall the temple at Jerusalem. The prophecy given in detail here is summarily referred to there. After Josiah's death the nation relapsed into idolatry through Jehoiakim's bad influence; the worship of Jehovah was, however, combined with it ( Jeremiah 7:4 Jeremiah 7:10 ).

2. the gate--that is, the gate of the court of Israel within that of the women. Those whom Jeremiah addresses came through the gate leading into the court of the women, and the gate leading into the outer court, or court of the Gentiles ("these gates").

3. cause you to dwell--permit you still to dwell ( Jeremiah 18:11 , 26:13 ).

4. The Jews falsely thought that because their temple had been chosen by Jehovah as His peculiar dwelling, it could never be destroyed. Men think that ceremonial observances will supersede the need of holiness ( Isaiah 48:2 , Micah 3:11 ). The triple repetition of "the temple of Jehovah" expresses the intense confidence of the Jews (see Jeremiah 22:29 , Isaiah 6:3 ).
these--the temple buildings which the prophet points to with his finger ( Jeremiah 7:2 ).

5. For--"But" [MAURER].
judgment--justice ( Jeremiah 22:3 ).

6. this place--this city and land ( Jeremiah 7:7 ).
to your hurt--so Jeremiah 7:19 ; "to the confusion or their own faces" ( Jeremiah 13:10 , Proverbs 8:36 ).

7. The apodosis to the "if . . . if" ( Jeremiah 7:5 Jeremiah 7:6 ).
to dwell--to continue to dwell.
for ever and ever--joined with "to dwell," not with the words "gave to your fathers" (compare Jeremiah 3:18 , Deuteronomy 4:40 ).

8. that cannot profit--MAURER translates, "so that you profit nothing" (see Jeremiah 7:4 , Jeremiah 5:31 ).

9, 10. "Will ye steal . . . and then come and stand before Me?"
whom ye know not--Ye have no grounds of "knowing" that they are gods; but I have manifested My Godhead by My law, by benefits conferred, and by miracles. This aggravates their crime [CALVIN] ( Judges 5:8 ).

10. And come--And yet come ( Ezekiel 23:39 ).
We are delivered--namely, from all impending calamities. In spite of the prophet's threats, we have nothing to fear; we have offered our sacrifices, and therefore Jehovah will "deliver" us.
to do all these abominations--namely, those enumerated ( Jeremiah 7:9 ). These words are not to be connected with "we are delivered," but thus: "Is it with this design that ye come and stand before Me in this house," in order that having offered your worthless sacrifices ye may be taken into My favor and so do all these abominations ( Jeremiah 7:9 ) with impunity? [MAURER].

11. den of robbers--Do you regard My temple as being what robbers make their den, namely, an asylum wherein ye may obtain impunity for your abominations ( Jeremiah 7:10 )?
seen it--namely, that ye treat My house as if it were a den of thieves. Jehovah implies more than is expressed, "I have seen and will punish it" ( Isaiah 56:7 , Matthew 21:13 ).