Albert Barnes Commentary


Albert Barnes Commentary
"Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: thou didst not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things." — Jeremiah 2:34 (ASV)
I have not found it ... - Rather, you did not find them breaking into your house. The meaning is that these poor innocents had committed no crime: they were not thieves caught in the act, whom the Law permitted men to kill (Exodus 22:2), and therefore Israel in killing them was guilty of murder. The one crime here of theft stands for crime generally.
Upon all these - Or, because of all this. You killed the poor innocents, not for any crime, but because of this your lust for idolatry.