Jeremiah 6:1-8

1 confortamini filii Beniamin in medio Hierusalem et in Thecua clangite bucina et super Bethaccharem levate vexillum quia malum visum est ab aquilone et contritio magna
2 speciosae et delicatae adsimilavi filiam Sion
3 ad eam venient pastores et greges eorum fixerunt in ea tentoria in circuitu pascet unusquisque eos qui sub manu sua sunt
4 sanctificate super eam bellum consurgite et ascendamus in meridie vae nobis quia declinavit dies quia longiores factae sunt umbrae vesperi
5 surgite et ascendamus in nocte et dissipemus domos eius
6 quia haec dicit Dominus exercituum caedite lignum eius et fundite circa Hierusalem aggerem haec est civitas visitationis omnis calumnia in medio eius
7 sicut frigidam facit cisterna aquam suam sic frigidam fecit malitiam suam iniquitas et vastitas audietur in ea coram me semper infirmitas et plaga
8 erudire Hierusalem ne forte recedat anima mea a te ne forte ponam te desertam terram inhabitabilem

Jeremiah 6:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 6

This chapter is of the same argument with the former; and contains two things in it, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and the causes of it, which are intermixedly handled in it; a lively description is made of the notice of the approach of the enemy by blowing of trumpets and firing of beacons, Jer 6:1, and of the siege of the city, by pitching tents around it, casting up a mount against it, and scaling its walls at noon and by night, Jer 6:2-6, and this destruction is illustrated by the simile of gleaning of grapes, Jer 6:9, and amplified by the universality of it, with respect to persons and things; it reaching to persons of every age, and in every state, as old men, young men, and children, husbands and wives, and to all sorts of possessions, houses and fields, Jer 6:11,12,21, a description is given of the instruments of it, the Chaldeans, Jer 6:22,23 and it is aggravated by the anxiety, distress, and sorrow, the Jews would be in on account of it, Jer 6:24-26, the causes of it are in general the great aboundings of sin and wickedness in the midst of them, illustrated by a fountain casting out its waters, Jer 6:6,7, in particular, their neglect and contempt of the word of the Lord, Jer 6:10, the sin of covetousness, which prevailed among all sorts of people, high and low, in civil or religious life, Jer 6:13, the unfaithfulness of the prophets to the people, declaring peace, when there was none, Jer 6:14, their impenitence and hardness, Jer 6:15, their disregard to all instructions and warnings, Jer 6:16,17, their rejection of the law, and the precepts of it, Jer 6:18,19, their hypocritical sacrifices, Jer 6:20, and the chapter is concluded with an address to the prophet, setting forth his character and office, and the end of it, Jer 6:27 and his testimony concerning the people, showing their obstinacy and stubbornness, illustrated by a simile of refining metal in a furnace without success, Jer 6:28-30.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.