Jeremiah 15:4

4 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh^[a] son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 15:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 15:4

And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the
earth
Not only into Babylon, but into other countries; which has had its full accomplishment in this their last captivity by the Romans: or "I will give them for a commotion" ^F26; shaking and trembling; they shall be like Cain, fugitives and vagabonds, and be in fear and trembling everywhere, for what is, or is about to come upon them: or "for horror unto all kingdoms" ^F1; all that see the calamities and judgments that come upon them will be struck with dread and horror, plainly seeing the hand of the Lord in them: because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah;
because of the idolatry and murder committed by him; and which were the more aggravated, by having so good a parent, and so religious an education, and by his high office and dignity as king of Judah; and though these sins were personally forgiven him, yet, being imitated and continued in by the Jews, captivity is threatened them. The Targum is,

``because they turned not (or were not converted) as Manasseh;''

and so in the Talmud ^F2, because Manasseh repented, and they did not; but this sense the words will not bear, because of what goes before, of which these are a reason; and because of what follows after, which are connected with them: for that which he did in Jerusalem;
the innocent blood he shed there, and the idolatrous worship he there set up; even where the temple was, the place of God's worship, and which was the metropolis of the nation, and so set an example, which must influence the whole country.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (hewzl) "in commotionem", Calvin, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F1 "In horrorem", Cocceius.
F2 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 102. 2.

Jeremiah 15:4 In-Context

2 If they ask you: Where will we go? you must tell them: This is what the Lord says: Those [destined] for death, to death; those [destined] for the sword, to the sword. Those [destined] for famine, to famine; those [destined] for captivity, to captivity.

3 "I will ordain four kinds [of judgment] for them"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land to devour and destroy.

4 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

5 Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? Who will show sympathy toward you? Who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?

6 You have left Me. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. You have turned your back, so I have stretched out My hand against you and destroyed you. I am tired of showing compassion.

Footnotes

• [a] 2 Kg 21:1-18; 2 Ch 33:1-20