Jeremiah 31:39

39 The master plan will extend west to Gareb Hill and then around to Goath.

Jeremiah 31:39 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:39

And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it,
&c.] Or, "before it" ^F16; the gate proceeding right on from it; of the length of the measuring line, or reed; see ( Ezekiel 40:5 ) ; though some render it, "before him" ^F17; before the Lord, under whose direction and powerful providence the work went on; so the city gates and walls of the New Jerusalem are said to be measured with a reed, ( Revelation 21:15 ) ; upon the hill Gareb;
which signifies a "scab", so called, as is supposed, from scabby and leprous persons sent here to dwell, which was a "lazaretto" for them. Lightfoot, following Lyra, takes it to be the same with Mount Calvary: it was on the north side of the city, bending to the west; and, if the same with Calvary, it was on the west side. The Targum renders it,

``the hill which was near to Gareb:''

and shall compass about to Goath;
so called perhaps from the difficulty of its ascent, it being a laborious work to go up to it, enough to make a man breathe. Lyra takes it to be Golgotha, which is not very likely; it seems to be at some distance from the former; since from that there was a round about, a compass fetched to this: it is supposed to lie on the west side of the city, towards the south. The Targum renders it the calves' pool, or the round pool; it is thought by some more likely to be the hill Josephus ^F18 speaks of, that hung over the valley of Siloam.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (wdgn) "ante ipsam", Tigurine version, Gataker
F17 "Coram eo", Pagninus, Montanus; "coram ipso", Calvin.
F18 De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 12. sect. 2.

Jeremiah 31:39 In-Context

37 God's Message: "If the skies could be measured with a yardstick and the earth explored to its core, Then and only then would I turn my back on Israel, disgusted with all they've done." God's Decree.

38 "The time is coming" - it's God's Decree - "when God's city will be rebuilt, rebuilt all the way from the Citadel of Hanamel to the Corner Gate.

39 The master plan will extend west to Gareb Hill and then around to Goath.

40 The whole valley to the south where incinerated corpses are dumped - a death valley if there ever was one! - and all the terraced fields out to the Brook Kidron on the east as far north as the Horse Gate will be consecrated to me as a holy place. "This city will never again be torn down or destroyed."