Geremia 16:1-8

1 La parola dell’Eterno mi fu rivolta in questi termini:

2 Non ti prender moglie e non aver figliuoli né figliuole in questo luogo.

3 Poiché così parla l’Eterno riguardo ai figliuoli e alle figliuole che nascono in questo paese, e alle madri che li partoriscono, e ai padri che li generano in questo paese:

4 Essi morranno consunti dalle malattie, non saranno rimpianti, e non avranno sepoltura; serviranno di letame sulla faccia del suolo; saranno consumati dalla spada e dalla fame, e i loro cadaveri saran pasto agli uccelli del cielo, e alle bestie della terra.

5 Poiché così parla l’Eterno: Non entrare nella casa del lutto, non andare a far cordoglio con loro né a compiangerli, perché, dice l’Eterno, io ho ritirato da questo popolo la mia pace, la mia benignità, la mia compassione.

6 Grandi e piccoli morranno in questo paese; non avranno sepoltura, non si farà cordoglio per loro, nessuno si farà incisioni addosso o si raderà per loro;

7 non si romperà per loro il pane del lutto per consolarli d’un morto, e non si offrirà loro a bere la coppa della consolazione per un padre o per una madre.

8 Parimente non entrare in alcuna casa di convito per sederti con loro a mangiare ed a bere.

Geremia 16:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 16

In this chapter the ruin and destruction of the Jews is set forth, and confirmed by the prophet's being forbid to be merry, or to go into the house of feasting or mourning, with the reasons thereof; also the sins of the people, the cause of it, are pointed at; and afterwards a promise of their restoration is made; and the chapter is concluded with a prayer of the prophet, pressing his faith in the divine protection, and in the calling of the Gentiles. After the preface or introduction, Jer 16:1, the prophet is forbid to take a wife, or have any children, with the reason of it; because that parents and children would die of grievous deaths unlamented, and not be buried, Jer 16:2-4 and he is also forbid to go into the house of mourning, because peace, lovingkindness, and mercy, were taken from the people, and both great and small would die, and no lamentation be made for them, nor have any burial also, Jer 16:5-7, nor might he go into the house of feasting, because the voice of joy and gladness would cease out of the land, Jer 16:8,9, and upon the people's inquiring the reason of all this, the prophet is bid to tell them, that it was for their forsaking the Lord and his worship, and for their idolatrous practices; of which they were more guilty than their forefathers, and therefore would be cast out of the land, and carried captive into a strange country, Jer 16:10-13 but, after all this, they should be restored again to their own land, and have a greater deliverance than that out of Egypt, as they themselves would own, Jer 16:14,15 but before this would be, fishers and hunters should be sent to distress them, and all because of their iniquities, which God's eye was upon, and would recompense, Jer 16:16-18, and the chapter is closed with the prophet's prayer, in which he expresses his faith in the Lord, and in the conversion of the Gentiles, who would be convinced of their idolatry, and made to know the power and name of the Lord, Jer 16:19,20.