And when this people, or a prophet, or a priest, shall
ask
thee
Any of the people, who were grown very profane; or any of the
false prophets, who encouraged them in their irreligion and
impiety; or any of the priests, who were in combination with them
against the true prophets of the Lord; when any of these, in a
scoffing jeering manner, should ask the Prophet Jeremiah,
saying, what [is] the burden of the Lord?
or prophesy in the name of the Lord, as the Targum; and because
some of the prophecies are called "burdens", see ( Isaiah 13:1 ) ; hence,
by way of derision, they called every one so; and because many of
these, though not all, were predictions of judgments and
calamities that were to come on men; therefore they accounted all
that the true prophets brought from the Lord as such, and
sneering asked, what bad news do you bring now? what calamities
are now to befall us? as if he was always a bringer of evil
tidings; thou shalt then say unto [them], what
burden?
making as if he was ignorant of what they meant; or rather as
expressing indignation and resentment at the question; do you ask
me such a question? I will tell you what it is, as follows:
though the words may be rendered without an interrogation, "thou
shalt then say unto [them], that which is a burden" F20; which
will fall heavy upon them, and be a burden unto them, and sink
them down into ruin and destruction; I will even forsake
you, saith the Lord;
so that they should have no more of his presence among them, or
of prophecy with them, or of his protection of them.