John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 17:3

"O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures for a spoil, [and] thy high places, because of sin, throughout all thy borders." — Jeremiah 17:3 (ASV)

The Prophet again repeats that punishment was near the Jews, and that it was useless for them to seek hiding places for themselves, because God would draw them out from the mountains and expose them as prey to their enemies.

Some render הררי, erri, as “O my mountain,” and so on. At first glance, this meaning seems appropriate. However, because the context requires this to be understood of the Israelites and the Jews, who always retreated to their hiding places whenever they feared their enemies, I prefer another rendering.

Since, then, in times of distress they retreated to their hiding places, the Prophet says that their attempt to escape would be in vain, because the mountains would be like the fields. I will expose, he says, as in the field, or the plain, your riches and treasures, so that they may become prey to your enemies.

The meaning is that the Prophet proclaims vengeance against the Jews and, at the same time, dispels their foolish confidence, which made them feel secure, causing them to despise all God's warnings. “You think,” he says, “that there will be a safe refuge for you on the mountains; but God will draw out from there all your possessions and expose them in the open field, so that they may become easy prey.”

He again repeats what he had said: that God would inflict a just punishment on the Jews because they had sinned greatly on their high places. By high places, he undoubtedly means all their ungodly and corrupt forms of worship.

For God had chosen for Himself a temple on Mount Zion; He intended for sacrifices to be offered there. But they, carried away by foolish zeal, had built many altars for themselves, so that there was no hill where they had not set up an altar.

By mentioning a part for the whole, the Prophet here refers to everything inconsistent with God's law. To amplify their sin, he says, In all your borders; that is, their impiety was widespread and extensive, so that no part of the land was free from their corrupt superstition.

Since, then, the entire land was contaminated, the Prophet justly says, In all your borders; he declares that there would be no refuge for them to preserve them and their treasures from becoming prey to their enemies.