Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 18

In the first prophecy of the series (Jeremiah 18:0), the fate of Jerusalem was still undetermined; a long line of kings might yet reign there in splendor, and the city be inhabited forever. This was possible only as long as it was still undecided whether Josiah’s efforts would end in a national reformation, and before Jehoiakim threw the weight of the kingly office into the opposite balance. In the present prophecy, mercy is still offered to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but they reject it (Jeremiah 18:11–12).

They have made their final choice; and then follows the third prophecy of “the broken vessel” (Jeremiah 19:1–15), in which the utter overthrow of the city and kingdom is foretold. We should therefore place this prophecy of the potter very early in the reign of Jehoiakim, and that of the broken vessel at the beginning of his fourth year. This internal evidence is confirmed by external proof.

House - that is, workshop. The clay-field where the potters exercised their craft lay to the south of Jerusalem just beyond the valley of Hinnom. Compare (Zechariah 11:13); (Matthew 27:10).

The wheels - literally, “the two wheels.” The lower one was worked by the feet to give motion to the upper one, which was a flat disc or plate of wood, on which the potter laid the clay, and molded it with his fingers as it revolved rapidly.

So are ye in mine hand - When a vessel was ruined, the potter did not throw it away, but crushed it together, dashed it back upon the wheel, and began his work anew, until the clay had taken the predetermined shape. It was God’s purpose that Judaea should become the proper scene for the manifestation of the Messiah, and her sons be fit to receive the Saviour’s teaching and carry the good news to all lands. If therefore at any stage of the preparation the Jewish nation took such a course as would have frustrated this purpose of Providence, it was crushed by affliction into an unresisting mass, in which the formative process began again immediately.

At what instant—literally, “in a moment.” Here, “at one time—at another time.”