Jeremiah 9

Jeremiah 9:1-26 . JEREMIAH'S LAMENTATION FOR THE JEWS' SINS AND CONSEQUENT PUNISHMENT.

1. This verse is more fitly joined to the last chapter, as Jeremiah 9:23 in the Hebrew (compare Isaiah 22:4 , Lamentations 2:11 , 3:48 ).

2. lodging-place--a caravanseral for caravans, or companies travelling in the desert, remote from towns. It was a square building enclosing an open court. Though a lonely and often filthy dwelling, Jeremiah would prefer even it to the comforts of Jerusalem, so as to be removed from the pollutions of the capital ( Psalms 55:7 Psalms 55:8 ).

3. bend . . . tongues . . . for lies--that is, with lies as their arrows; they direct lies on their tongue as their bow ( Psalms 64:3 Psalms 64:4 ).
not valiant for . . . truth--( Jeremiah 7:28 ). MAURER translates, "They do not prevail by truth" or faith ( Psalms 12:4 ). Their tongue, not faith, is their weapon.
upon . . . earth--rather, "in the land."
know not me--( Hosea 4:1 ).

4. supplant--literally, "trip up by the heel" ( Hosea 12:3 ).
walk with slanders--( Jeremiah 6:28 ).

5. weary themselves--are at laborious pains to act perversely [MAURER]. Sin is a hard bondage ( Habakkuk 2:13 ).

6. Thine--God addresses Jeremiah, who dwelt in the midst of deceitful men.
refuse to know me--Their ignorance of God is wilful ( Jeremiah 9:3 , Jeremiah 5:4 Jeremiah 5:5 ).

7. melt . . . try them--by sending calamities on them.
for how shall I do--"What else can I do for the sake of the daughter of My people?" [MAURER], ( Isaiah 1:25 , Malachi 3:3 ).

8. tongue . . . arrow shot out--rather, "a murdering arrow" [MAURER] ( Jeremiah 9:3 ).
speaketh peaceably . . . in heart . . . layeth . . . wait--layeth his ambush [HENDERSON], ( Psalms 55:21 ).

9. ( Jeremiah 5:9 Jeremiah 5:29 ).

10. Jeremiah breaks in upon Jehovah's threats of wrath with lamentation for his desolated country.
mountains--once cultivated and fruitful: the hillsides were cultivated in terraces between the rocks.
habitations of . . . wilderness--rather, "the pleasant herbage (literally, 'the choice parts' of any thing) of the pasture plain." The Hebrew for "wilderness" expresses not a barren desert, but an untilled plain, fit for pasture.
burned up--because no one waters them, the inhabitants being all gone.
none can pass through them--much less inhabit them.
fowl--( Jeremiah 4:25 ).

11. And--omit "And." Jehovah here resumes His speech from Jeremiah 9:9 .
dragons--jackals.

12. Rather, "Who is a wise man? (that is, Whosoever has inspired wisdom, 2 Peter 3:15 ); let him understand this (weigh well the evils impending, and the causes of their being sent); and he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken (that is, whosoever is prophetically inspired), let him declare it to his fellow countrymen," if haply they may be roused to repentance, the only hope of safety.

13. Answer to the "for what the land perisheth" ( Jeremiah 9:12 ).