Jeremiah 1

10. set thee over--literally, "appointed thee to the oversight." He was to have his eye upon the nations, and to predict their destruction, or restoration, according as their conduct was bad or good. Prophets are said to do that which they foretell shall be done; for their word is God's word; and His word is His instrument whereby He doeth all things ( Genesis 1:3 , Psalms 33:6 Psalms 33:9 ). Word and deed are one thing with Him. What His prophet saith is as certain as if it were done. The prophet's own consciousness was absorbed into that of God; so closely united to God did he feel himself, that Jehovah's words and deeds are described as his. In Jeremiah 31:28 , God is said to do what Jeremiah here is represented as doing (compare Jeremiah 18:7 , 1 Kings 19:17 , Ezekiel 43:3 ).
root out--( Matthew 15:13 ).
pull down--change of metaphor to architecture ( 2 Corinthians 10:4 ). There is a play on the similar sounds, lintbosh, linthotz, in the Hebrew for "root out . . . pull down."
build . . . plant--restore upon their repenting. His predictions were to be chiefly, and in the first instance, denunciatory; therefore the destruction of the nations is put first, and with a greater variety of terms than their restoration.

11. rod--shoot, or branch.
almond tree--literally, "the wakeful tree," because it awakes from the sleep of winter earlier than the other trees, flowering in January, and bearing fruit in March; symbol of God's early execution of His purpose; Jeremiah 1:12 , "hasten My word" (compare Amos 8:3 ).

12. hasten--rather, "I will be wakeful as to My word," &c.; alluding to Jeremiah 1:11 , "the wakeful tree" [MAURER].

13. Another vision, signifying what is the "word" about to be "performed," and by what instrumentality.
seething--literally, "blown under"; so boiling by reason of the flame under it kept brisk by blowing. An Oriental symbol of a raging war.
toward--rather, "from the north." Literally, "from the face of the region situated towards the north" (compare Jeremiah 1:14 Jeremiah 1:15 ) [MAURER]. The pot in the north rested on one side, its mouth being about to pour forth its contents southwards, namely, on Judea. Babylon, though east of Judea, was regarded by the Hebrews as north, because they appropriated the term "east" to Arabia-Deserta, stretching from Palestine to the Euphrates; or rather [BOCHART], the reference here is not to the site, but to the route of the Babylonians; not being able to cross the desert, they must enter the Holy Land by the northern frontier, through Riblah in Hamath ( Jeremiah 39:5 , 52:9 ).

14. break forth--"shall disclose itself."
Out of the north--( Jeremiah 4:6 , Jeremiah 6:1 Jeremiah 6:22 , 10:22 , 25:9 , Ezekiel 26:7 ). The Chaldeans did not cast off the yoke of Assyria till several years after, under Nabopolassar, 625 B.C.; but long previously they had so increased as to threaten Assyria, which was now grown weak, and other neighboring peoples.

15. families--the tribes or clans composing the various kingdoms of Babylon; the specification of these aggravates the picture of calamity ( Jeremiah 25:9 ).
throne at . . . gates--the usual place of administering justice. The conquering princes will set up their tribunal there ( Jeremiah 39:3 Jeremiah 39:5 , 52:9 ). Or the reference is to the military pavilion ( Jeremiah 43:10 ) [MAURER].

16. utter--pronounce. The judicial sentences, pronounced against the Jews by the invading princes, would be virtually the "judgments of God" ( Isaiah 10:5 ).
works--idols.

17. gird . . . loins--resolutely prepare for thy appointed task. Metaphor from the flowing robes worn in the East, which have to be girt up with a girdle, so as not to incommode one, when undertaking any active work ( Job 38:3 , Luke 12:35 , 1 Peter 1:13 ).
dismayed . . . confound--the same Hebrew word; literally, "to break." Be not dismayed at their faces (before them), lest I make thee dismayed before their faces (before them), that is, "lest I should permit thee to be overcome by them" (compare Jeremiah 49:37 ).

18. defenced city, &c.--that is, I will give thee strength which no power of thine enemies shall overcome ( Jeremiah 6:27 , 15:20 , Isaiah 50:7 , 54:17 , Luke 21:15 , Acts 6:10 ).
walls--plural, to express the abundant strength to be given him. DE ROSSI'S'S manuscripts read singular, "wall."
people of the land--the general masses, as distinguished from the princes and priests.