Jeremiah 25

1 verbum quod factum est ad Hieremiam de omni populo Iudae in anno quarto Ioachim filii Iosiae regis Iuda ipse est annus primus Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis

2 quae locutus est Hieremias propheta ad omnem populum Iuda et ad universos habitatores Hierusalem dicens

3 a tertiodecimo anno Iosiae filii Amon regis Iuda usque ad diem hanc iste est tertius et vicesimus annus factum est verbum Domini ad me et locutus sum ad vos de nocte consurgens et loquens et non audistis

4 et misit Dominus ad vos omnes servos suos prophetas consurgens diluculo mittensque et non audistis neque inclinastis aures vestras ut audiretis

5 cum diceret revertimini unusquisque a via sua mala et a pessimis cogitationibus vestris et habitabitis in terram quam dedit Dominus vobis et patribus vestris a saeculo et usque in saeculum

6 et nolite ire post deos alienos ut serviatis eis adoretisque eos neque me ad iracundiam provocetis in operibus manuum vestrarum et non adfligam vos

7 et non audistis me dicit Dominus ut me ad iracundiam provocaretis in operibus manuum vestrarum in malum vestrum

8 propterea haec dicit Dominus exercituum pro eo quod non audistis verba mea

9 ecce ego mittam et adsumam universas cognationes aquilonis ait Dominus et ad Nabuchodonosor regem Babylonis servum meum et adducam eos super terram istam et super habitatores eius et super omnes nationes quae in circuitu illius sunt et interficiam eos et ponam eos in stuporem et in sibilum et in solitudines sempiternas

10 perdamque ex eis vocem gaudii et vocem laetitiae vocem sponsae et vocem sponsi vocem molae et lumen lucernae

11 et erit universa terra eius in solitudinem et in stuporem et servient omnes gentes istae regi Babylonis septuaginta annis

12 cumque impleti fuerint anni septuaginta visitabo super regem Babylonis et super gentem illam dicit Dominus iniquitatem eorum et super terram Chaldeorum et ponam illam in solitudines sempiternas

13 et adducam super terram illam omnia verba mea quae locutus sum contra eam omne quod scriptum est in libro isto quaecumque prophetavit Hieremias adversum omnes gentes

14 quia servierunt eis cum essent gentes multae et reges magni et reddam eis secundum opera eorum et secundum facta manuum suarum

15 quia sic dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israhel sume calicem vini furoris huius de manu mea et propinabis de illo cunctis gentibus ad quas ego mittam te

16 et bibent et turbabuntur et insanient a facie gladii quem ego mittam inter eos

17 et accepi calicem de manu Domini et propinavi cunctis gentibus ad quas misit me Dominus

18 Hierusalem et civitatibus Iudae et regibus eius et principibus eius ut darem eos in solitudinem et in stuporem in sibilum et in maledictionem sicut est dies ista

19 Pharaoni regi Aegypti et servis eius et principibus eius et omni populo eius

20 et universis generaliter cunctis regibus terrae Ausitidis et cunctis regibus terrae Philisthim et Ascaloni et Gazae et Accaroni et reliquiis Azoti

21 Idumeae et Moab et filiis Ammon

22 et cunctis regibus Tyri et cunctis regibus Sidonis et regibus terrae insularum qui sunt trans mare

23 et Dedan et Theman et Buz et universis qui adtonsi sunt in comam

24 et cunctis regibus Arabiae et cunctis regibus occidentis qui habitant in deserto

25 et cunctis regibus Zambri et cunctis regibus Aelam et cunctis regibus Medorum

26 et cunctis regibus aquilonis de prope et de longe unicuique contra fratrem suum et omnibus regnis terrae quae super faciem eius sunt et rex Sesach bibet post eos

27 et dices ad eos haec dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israhel bibite et inebriamini et vomite et cadite neque surgatis a facie gladii quem ego mittam inter vos

28 cumque noluerint accipere calicem de manu ut bibant dices ad eos haec dicit Dominus exercituum bibentes bibetis

29 quia ecce in civitate in qua invocatum est nomen meum ego incipio adfligere et vos quasi innocentes inmunes eritis non eritis inmunes gladium enim ego voco super omnes habitatores terrae dicit Dominus exercituum

30 et tu prophetabis ad eos omnia verba haec et dices ad illos Dominus de excelso rugiet et de habitaculo sancto suo dabit vocem suam rugiens rugiet super decorem suum celeuma quasi calcantium concinetur adversus omnes habitatores terrae

31 pervenit sonitus usque ad extrema terrae quia iudicium Domino cum gentibus iudicatur ipse cum omni carne impios tradidit gladio dicit Dominus

32 haec dicit Dominus exercituum ecce adflictio egredietur de gente in gentem et turbo magnus egredietur a summitatibus terrae

33 et erunt interfecti Domini in die illa a summo terrae usque ad summum eius non plangentur et non colligentur neque sepelientur in sterquilinium super faciem terrae iacebunt

34 ululate pastores et clamate et aspergite vos cinere optimates gregis quia conpleti sunt dies vestri ut interficiamini et dissipationes vestrae et cadetis quasi vasa pretiosa

35 et peribit fuga a pastoribus et salvatio ab optimatibus gregis

36 vox clamoris pastorum et ululatus optimatium gregis quia vastavit Dominus pascuam eorum

37 et conticuerunt arva pacis a facie irae furoris Domini

38 dereliquit quasi leo umbraculum suum facta est terra eorum in desolationem a facie irae columbae et a facie irae furoris Domini

Jeremiah 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

The Jews rebuked for not obeying calls to repentance. (1-7) Their captivity during seventy years is expressly foretold. (8-14) Desolations upon the nations shown by the emblem of a cup of wrath. (15-29) The judgments again declared. (30-38)

Verses 1-7 The call to turn from evil ways to the worship and service of God, and for sinners to trust in Christ, and partake of his salvation, concerns all men. God keeps an account how long we possess the means of grace; and the longer we have them, the heavier will our account be if we have not improved them. Rising early, points out the earnest desire that this people should turn and live. Personal and particular reformation must be insisted on as necessary to a national deliverance; and every one must turn from his own evil way. Yet all was to no purpose. They would not take the right and only method to turn away the wrath of God.

Verses 8-14 The fixing of the time during which the Jewish captivity should last, would not only confirm the prophecy, but also comfort the people of God, and encourage faith and prayer. The ruin of Babylon is foretold: the rod will be thrown into the fire when the correcting work is done. When the set time to favour Zion is come, Babylon shall be punished for their iniquity, as other nations have been punished for their sins. Every threatening of the Scripture will certainly be accomplished.

Verses 15-29 The evil and the good events of life are often represented in Scripture as cups. Under this figure is represented the desolation then coming upon that part of the world, of which Nebuchadnezzar, who had just began to reign and act, was to be the instrument; but this destroying sword would come from the hand of God. The desolations the sword should make in all these kingdoms, are represented by the consequences of excessive drinking. This may make us loathe the sin of drunkenness, that the consequences of it are used to set forth such a woful condition. Drunkenness deprives men of the use of their reason, makes men as mad. It takes from them the valuable blessing, health; and is a sin which is its own punishment. This may also make us dread the judgments of war. It soon fills a nation with confusion. They will refuse to take the cup at thy hand. They will not believe Jeremiah; but he must tell them it is the word of the Lord of hosts, and it is in vain for them to struggle against Almighty power. And if God's judgments begin with backsliding professors, let not the wicked expect to escape.

Verses 30-38 The Lord has just ground of controversy with every nation and every person; and he will execute judgment on all the wicked. Who can avoid trembling when God speaks in displeasure? The days are fully come; the time fixed in the Divine counsels, which will make the nations wholly desolate. The tender and delicate shall share the common calamity. Even those who used to live in peace, and did nothing to provoke, shall not escape. Blessed be God, there is a peaceable habitation above, for all the sons of peace. The Lord will preserve his church and all believers in all changes; for nothing can separate them from his love.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 25

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of Judea by the king of Babylon; and also of Babylon itself, after the Jews' captivity of seventy years; and likewise of all the nations round about. The date of this prophecy is in Jer 25:1; when the prophet puts the Jews in mind of the prophecies that had been delivered unto them by himself and others, for some years past, without effect, Jer 25:2-7; wherefore they are threatened with the king of Babylon, that he should come against them, and strip them of all their desirable things; make their land desolate, and them captives for seventy years, Jer 25:8-11; at the expiration of which he in his turn shall be punished, and the land of Chaldea laid waste, and become subject to other nations and kings, Jer 25:12-14; and by a cup of wine given to all the nations round about, is signified the utter ruin of them, and who are particularly mentioned by name, Jer 25:15-26; which is confirmed by beginning with the city of Jerusalem, and the destruction of that, Jer 25:27-29; wherefore the prophet is bid to prophesy against them, and to declare the Lord's controversy with them, and that there should be a slaughter of them from one end of the earth to the other, Jer 25:30-33; upon which the shepherds, kings, and rulers of them, are called to lamentation and howling, Jer 25:34-38.