Jeremiah 2:14

14 Whether Israel is a bondman, either is born bond? Why therefore is he made into prey? (Is Israel a slave, or was he born into slavery? And so why is he made into prey, or into spoils?)

Jeremiah 2:14 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 2:14

Is Israel a servant?
&c.] That he does not abide in the house, in his own land, but is carried captive, becomes subject to others, and is used as a slave; so the Targum,

``as a servant;''

is he not the Lord's first born? are not the people of Israel called the children of the living God? how come they then to be treated not as children, as free men, but as servants? this cannot be owing to any breach of covenant or promise on God's part, or to the failure of the blessing of national adoption bestowed on them; but to some sin or sins of theirs, which have brought them into this miserable condition: is he a home born slave?
or born in the house, of the handmaid, and so in the power of the master of the family in whose house he was born, ( Exodus 21:4 ) or the sense is, either Israel is a servant, or a son of the family
^F4, as some render the words; not the former, being not only the son of a free woman, but Jehovah's firstborn; if the latter, why is he spoiled?
why is he delivered up to the spoilers? as the Targum; why should he be given up into the hands of the Babylonians, and become their prey? is it usual for fathers to suffer their children, or those born in their house, to be so used? some reason must be given for it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (tyb dyly) "filius familias", Munster.

Jeremiah 2:14 In-Context

12 Heavens, be ye astonied on this thing, and, ye gates of heaven, be ye desolate greatly, saith the Lord. (Ye heavens, be ye astonished by this, and, ye gates of heaven, be ye greatly desolate, or in great despair, saith the Lord.)

13 For why my people hath done twain evils; they have forsaken me, the well of quick water, and have digged to them cisterns, that were destroyed, that may not hold waters. (For my people have done two evils; they have deserted me, the well of living water, and they have dug for themselves cisterns, that were destroyed, or cracked, and so cannot hold any water.)

14 Whether Israel is a bondman, either is born bond? Why therefore is he made into prey? (Is Israel a slave, or was he born into slavery? And so why is he made into prey, or into spoils?)

15 Lions roared on him, and gave their voice; they have set the land of him into wilderness, the cities of him be burnt [up], and none there is that dwelleth in those. (The lions roared at him, and gave out their voice; they have turned his land into a wilderness, his cities be burned down, and there is no one who liveth in them.)

16 Also the sons of Memphis and Tahpanhes have defouled thee, unto the top of the head.