Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 30:18-22

"Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob`s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling-places; and the city shall be builded upon its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited after its own manner. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all that oppress them. And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is he that hath had boldness to approach unto me? saith Jehovah. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." — Jeremiah 30:18-22 (ASV)

The prophet speaks of Judah as the type of the Church, with Immanuel as her king.

Regarding Jeremiah 30:18: tents – The word suggests that a considerable portion of the people were still nomads.

The city ... the palace – Or, each city ... each palace. The heap means an artificial mount to keep the city out of the reach of inundations and to increase the strength of the fortifications.

The biblical phrase Shall remain after the manner thereof means, rather, that it shall be inhabited according to its rights, that is, suitably.

In Jeremiah 30:19, Them refers to the city and palace. Understand the last words, become few, become mean, as meaning despised, lightly esteemed.

Jeremiah 30:21 may be translated: And his glorious one shall spring from himself, and his ruler shall go forth from his midst ... who is this that has pledged his heart, that is, has staked his life, to draw near to Me? This means, “Messiah shall be revealed to them out of their own midst.” He can draw near to God without fear of death because, being in the form of God and Himself God, He can claim equality with God (Philippians 2:6).

This is the effect of Messiah’s ministry (Jeremiah 30:22). Men cannot become God’s people until one of themselves has been revealed—a man who can approach God, being also God, and so can bridge the gulf that separates the finite from the Infinite.