Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 15
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 15
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 15
"Then said Jehovah unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth." — Jeremiah 15:1 (ASV)
Cast them out of my sight - Rather, “send them out of My presence, and let them go away.” The prophet is to dismiss them, because their mediators, Moses and Samuel, whose intercession had been accepted in old times (marginal references), would intercede now in vain.
"And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith Jehovah: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and to destroy." — Jeremiah 15:3 (ASV)
Kinds – literally, as noted in the margin, that is, classes of things. The first is to destroy the living, the other three to mutilate and consume the dead.
To tear – literally, “to drag along the ground.” It forcibly expresses the indignity to which the bodies of the slain will be exposed.
"And I will cause them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem." — Jeremiah 15:4 (ASV)
To be removed - Rather, “to be a terror.”
Because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah - The name of the pious father intensifies the horror at the wickedness of the son.
"Thou hast rejected me, saith Jehovah, thou art gone backward: therefore have I stretched out my hand against thee, and destroyed thee; I am weary with repenting." — Jeremiah 15:6 (ASV)
This verse gives the reason why Yahweh refused to hear the prophet’s intercession. The due punishment has been delayed to the point of weariness, and this apparent failure of justice has caused Judah to withdraw further from God.
"And I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved [them] of children, I have destroyed my people; they returned not from their ways." — Jeremiah 15:7 (ASV)
I will fan them ... - Or, “I have winnowed them with a winnowing shovel.” “Gates of the land” means the places by which people enter or leave it. As God winnows them, they are driven out of the land through all its outlets in every direction.
I will bereave - Rather, “I have bereaved, I have destroyed my people.” Omit “of children.”
Since they return not ... - Rather, “from their ways they have not returned.”
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