Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 20
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 20
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 20
"Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of Jehovah, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things." — Jeremiah 20:1 (ASV)
Pashur, probably the father of the Gedaliah mentioned in (Jeremiah 38:1), was the head of the 16th course (shift) of priests; the other Pashur (Jeremiah 21:1) belonged to the fifth course, the sons of Melchiah. Both these houses returned in great strength from the exile. See (Ezra 2:37–38).
Chief governor - Or, “deputy governor.” The Nagid or governor of the temple was the high priest (1 Chronicles 9:11), and Pashur was his Pakid, i.e., deputy (see Jeremiah 1:10 note). Zephaniah held this office (Jeremiah 29:26), and his relation to the high priest is exactly defined (2 Kings 25:18; Jeremiah 52:24). The Nagid at this time was Seraiah the high priest, the grandson of Hilkiah, or (possibly) Azariah, Hilkiah’s son and Jeremiah’s brother (1 Chronicles 6:13; Ezra 7:1).
"Then Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in the house of Jehovah." — Jeremiah 20:2 (ASV)
Jeremiah the prophet - Jeremiah is nowhere called this in the first 19 chapters. In this place, he characterizes himself in this way because Pashur’s conduct was a violation of the respect due to the prophetic office.
The stocks - This instrument of torture comes from a root meaning “twist.” It therefore implies that the body was kept in a distorted position. Compare Acts 16:24.
The high gate ... - Rather, “the upper gate of Benjamin in the house of Yahweh (compare 2 Kings 15:35)”; to be distinguished from the city gate of Benjamin leading toward the north.
"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashhur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, Jehovah hath not called thy name Pashhur, but Magor-missabib." — Jeremiah 20:3 (ASV)
Magor-missabib - See Jeremiah 6:25 note. Jeremiah uses it no less than five times, having probably adopted it as his watchword from Psalm 31:13.
"For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it; and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword." — Jeremiah 20:4 (ASV)
A terror to thyself, and to all thy friends – Jeremiah plays upon the meaning of Magor-missabib, saying that Pashur would be a terror to all around. It is remarkable that he prophesies no evil against Pashur (Jeremiah 20:6). His was to be the milder fate of being carried into captivity with Jehoiachin and dying peaceably at Babylon (Jeremiah 20:6), whereas his successor Zephaniah was put to death at Riblah (Jeremiah 52:24, 27).
His punishment probably consisted in this: he had prophesied lies. So when he saw the dreadful slaughter of his countrymen, Jehoiakim put to death, his young son dragged into captivity, and the land stripped of all that was best, his conscience so condemned him as the guilty cause of such great misery that in the agonies of remorse, he became a terror to himself and his friends.
"Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all the gains thereof, and all the precious things thereof, yea, all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies; and they shall make them a prey, and take them, and carry them to Babylon." — Jeremiah 20:5 (ASV)
All the strength - “ All the stores.”
The labors - The gains of the citizens.
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