Jeremiah 16

1 et factum est verbum Domini ad me dicens

2 non accipies uxorem et non erunt tibi filii et filiae in loco isto

3 quia haec dicit Dominus super filios et filias qui generantur in loco isto et super matres eorum quae genuerunt eos et super patres eorum de quorum stirpe sunt nati in terra hac

4 mortibus aegrotationum morientur non plangentur et non sepelientur in sterquilinium super faciem terrae erunt et gladio et fame consumentur et erit cadaver eorum in escam volatilibus caeli et bestiis terrae

5 haec enim dicit Dominus ne ingrediaris domum convivii neque vadas ad plangendum neque consoleris eos quia abstuli pacem meam a populo isto dicit Dominus misericordiam et miserationes

6 et morientur grandes et parvi in terra ista non sepelientur neque plangentur et non se incident neque calvitium fiet pro eis

7 et non frangent inter eos lugenti panem ad consolandum super mortuo et non dabunt eis potum calicis ad consolandum super patre suo et matre

8 et domum convivii non ingredieris ut sedeas cum eis et comedas et bibas

9 quia haec dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israhel ecce ego auferam de loco isto in oculis vestris et in diebus vestris vocem gaudii et vocem laetitiae vocem sponsi et vocem sponsae

10 et cum adnuntiaveris populo huic omnia verba haec et dixerint tibi quare locutus est Dominus super nos omne malum grande istud quae iniquitas nostra et quod peccatum nostrum quod peccavimus Domino Deo nostro

11 dices ad eos quia dereliquerunt patres vestri me ait Dominus et abierunt post deos alienos et servierunt eis et adoraverunt eos et me dereliquerunt et legem meam non custodierunt

12 sed et vos peius operati estis quam patres vestri ecce enim ambulat unusquisque post pravitatem cordis sui mali ut me non audiat

13 et eiciam vos de terra hac in terram quam ignoratis vos et patres vestri et servietis ibi diis alienis die ac nocte qui non dabunt vobis requiem

14 propterea ecce dies veniunt dicit Dominus et non dicetur ultra vivit Dominus qui eduxit filios Israhel de terra Aegypti

15 sed vivit Dominus qui eduxit filios Israhel de terra aquilonis et de universis terris ad quas eieci eos et reducam eos in terram suam quam dedi patribus eorum

16 ecce ego mittam piscatores multos dicit Dominus et piscabuntur eos et post haec mittam eis multos venatores et venabuntur eos de omni monte et de omni colle et de cavernis petrarum

17 quia oculi mei super omnes vias eorum non sunt absconditae a facie mea et non fuit occulta iniquitas eorum ab oculis meis

18 et reddam primum duplices iniquitates et peccata eorum quia contaminaverunt terram meam in morticinis idolorum suorum et abominationibus suis impleverunt hereditatem meam

19 Domine fortitudo mea et robur meum et refugium meum in die tribulationis ad te gentes venient ab extremis terrae et dicent vere mendacium possederunt patres nostri vanitatem quae eis non profuit

20 numquid faciet sibi homo deos et ipsi non sunt dii

21 idcirco ecce ego ostendam eis per vicem hanc ostendam eis manum meam et virtutem meam et scient quia nomen mihi Dominus

Jeremiah 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

Prohibitions given to the prophet. (1-9) The justice of God in these judgments. (10-13) Future restoration of the Jews, and the conversion of the Gentiles. (14-21)

Verses 1-9 The prophet must conduct himself as one who expected to see his country ruined very shortly. In the prospect of sad times, he is to abstain from marriage, mourning for the dead, and pleasure. Those who would convince others of the truths of God, must make it appear by their self-denial, that they believe it themselves. Peace, inward and outward, family and public, is wholly the work of God, and from his loving-kindness and mercy. When He takes his peace from any people, distress must follow. There may be times when it is proper to avoid things otherwise our duty; and we should always sit loose to the pleasures and concerns of this life.

Verses 10-13 Here seems to be the language of those who quarrel at the word of God, and instead of humbling and condemning themselves, justify themselves, as though God did them wrong. A plain and full answer is given. They were more obstinate in sin than their fathers, walking every one after the devices of his heart. Since they will not hearken, they shall be hurried away into a far country, a land they know not. If they had God's favour, that would make even the land of their captivity pleasant.

Verses 14-21 The restoration from the Babylonish captivity would be remembered in place of the deliverance from Egypt; it also typified spiritual redemption, and the future deliverance of the church from antichristian oppression. But none of the sins of sinners can be hidden from God, or shall be overlooked by him. He will find out and raise up instruments of his wrath, that shall destroy the Jews, by fraud like fishers, by force like hunters. The prophet, rejoicing at the hope of mercy to come, addressed the Lord as his strength and refuge. The deliverance out of captivity shall be a figure of the great salvation to be wrought by the Messiah. The nations have often known the power of Jehovah in his wrath; but they shall know him as the strength of his people, and their refuge in time of trouble.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 16

In this chapter the ruin and destruction of the Jews is set forth, and confirmed by the prophet's being forbid to be merry, or to go into the house of feasting or mourning, with the reasons thereof; also the sins of the people, the cause of it, are pointed at; and afterwards a promise of their restoration is made; and the chapter is concluded with a prayer of the prophet, pressing his faith in the divine protection, and in the calling of the Gentiles. After the preface or introduction, Jer 16:1, the prophet is forbid to take a wife, or have any children, with the reason of it; because that parents and children would die of grievous deaths unlamented, and not be buried, Jer 16:2-4 and he is also forbid to go into the house of mourning, because peace, lovingkindness, and mercy, were taken from the people, and both great and small would die, and no lamentation be made for them, nor have any burial also, Jer 16:5-7, nor might he go into the house of feasting, because the voice of joy and gladness would cease out of the land, Jer 16:8,9, and upon the people's inquiring the reason of all this, the prophet is bid to tell them, that it was for their forsaking the Lord and his worship, and for their idolatrous practices; of which they were more guilty than their forefathers, and therefore would be cast out of the land, and carried captive into a strange country, Jer 16:10-13 but, after all this, they should be restored again to their own land, and have a greater deliverance than that out of Egypt, as they themselves would own, Jer 16:14,15 but before this would be, fishers and hunters should be sent to distress them, and all because of their iniquities, which God's eye was upon, and would recompense, Jer 16:16-18, and the chapter is closed with the prophet's prayer, in which he expresses his faith in the Lord, and in the conversion of the Gentiles, who would be convinced of their idolatry, and made to know the power and name of the Lord, Jer 16:19,20.