Jeremiah 8:15

15 We hoped things would turn out for the best, but it didn't happen that way. We were waiting around for healing - and terror showed up!

Jeremiah 8:15 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 8:15

We looked for peace
Outward prosperity, affluence of temporal blessings, peace with enemies, and safety from them, which the false prophets had given them reason to expect; or which last they concluded and hoped for, from their being in the defenced cities: but no good came;
they were disappointed in their expectation; the good that was promised them, and they looked for, never came, but all the reverse: and for a time of health;
or, of healing ^F12; the political wounds of the commonwealth of Israel: and behold trouble!
or "terror" ^F13; at the approach of the enemy, described in the following verses. The Targum is,

``a time of pardon of offences, and, lo, a punishment of sins.''

Healing, in Scripture, signifies pardon of sin; see ( Psalms 41:4 ) ( 103:3 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 (hprm) "medelae, [vel] sanationis", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Schmidt.
F13 (hteb) "terror", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Schmdit.

Jeremiah 8:15 In-Context

13 "'I went out to see if I could salvage anything'" - God's Decree - "'but found nothing: Not a grape, not a fig, just a few withered leaves. I'm taking back everything I gave them.'"

14 So why are we sitting here, doing nothing? Let's get organized. Let's go to the big city and at least die fighting. We've gotten God's ultimatum: We're damned if we do and damned if we don't - damned because of our sin against him.

15 We hoped things would turn out for the best, but it didn't happen that way. We were waiting around for healing - and terror showed up!

16 From Dan at the northern borders we hear the hooves of horses, Horses galloping, horses neighing. The ground shudders and quakes. They're going to swallow up the whole country. Towns and people alike - fodder for war.

17 "'What's more, I'm dispatching poisonous snakes among you, Snakes that can't be charmed, snakes that will bite you and kill you.'" God's Decree! Advancing from One Evil to the Next