Jeremiah 10:17

17 Gather from the land thy merchandise, O dweller in the bulwark,

Jeremiah 10:17 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 10:17

Gather up thy wares out of the land
Or thy merchandise, as the Targum; or thy substance, as the Septuagint; all valuable effects and goods that are movable, which might be carried from place to place. The meaning is, that the Jews would gather up their riches from the several parts of the land of Judea, and bring them to Jerusalem, a fortified place; or they would be in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. Kimchi interprets the words as if spoken of Babylon, and directed to the Chaldeans, not to be elated with the captivity of Israel; and because the word (enk) signifies "to humble and subdue" he takes the sense to be,

``gather in or contract thine humiliation or subjection;''

that is, of other nations; refrain thyself, or cease from subduing kingdoms; that is now at an end, it shall be no more so; but the words manifestly respect the people of the Jews, as is clear from the next verse. O inhabitant of the fortress;
of the fortress of Zion, or the fortified city, Jerusalem. The Targum is,

``O thou that dwellest in the strong place, in the fortified cities.''

It may be rendered, "that dwellest in the siege" ^F25; in the besieged city, Jerusalem.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (rwumb ytbvwy) "quae habitas in obsidione", V. L. Cocceius, Schmidt.

Jeremiah 10:17 In-Context

15 Vanity [are] they, work of erring ones, In the time of their inspection they perish.

16 Not like these [is] the Portion of Jacob, For framer of all things [is] He, And Israel [is] the rod of His inheritance, Jehovah of Hosts [is] His name.

17 Gather from the land thy merchandise, O dweller in the bulwark,

18 For thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, And have been an adversary to them, So that they are found out.

19 Wo to me for my breaking, Grievious hath been my smiting, And I said, Only, this [is] my sickness, and I bear it.