John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 22:16

"He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith Jehovah." — Jeremiah 22:16 (ASV)

He expresses more fully what he had said: that Josiah lived usefully and was honored and esteemed, for royal majesty shone forth in him. He then repeats in other words what he had said, but he did this for the sake of explanation.

He undertook, he says, the cause, or the quarrel, of the poor and needy. Here, a part is stated for the whole. For when anyone deals kindly with the poor, he may yet plunder the wealth of the rich, which cannot be deemed right.

But as it is most commonly the case that those who rule neglect the poor and helpless, the Prophet includes under one heading the whole duty of rulers. He says that King Josiah was upright, just, and equitable; he not only abstained from wrongs but also assisted the innocent whom he saw oppressed, and of his own accord intervened to prevent anyone from harming them.

He then, under one heading, includes everything that belongs to the office of a just and upright judge. For the first duty of judges is to abstain from all rapacity and violence; and the second is to extend a hand to the poor and bring them aid whenever they see them exposed to the wrongs of others.

He then judged the judgment, or undertook the cause, of the poor and needy; and it is added, Then well; that is, as I have explained, “This was the happiness of your father Josiah, so that he was not despised by the people, nor did he desire anything more.”

It then follows, Was not this to know me, saith Jehovah? The Prophet shows again from where came the license King Jehoiakim took in luxury and excessive display, as well as in plunder, cruelty, and oppression: namely, because he had cast away every care and concern for religion.

For where a real knowledge of God exists, men must necessarily have regard for uprightness and moderation. Therefore, he who acts so cruelly towards his neighbors clearly shows that every thought of religion and every care for it is rooted out of his heart.

In short, the Prophet means that Jehoiakim was not only unjust towards men but was also guilty of impiety; for unless he had become a profane despiser of God, he would not have so unjustly oppressed his neighbors.

But this passage deserves to be noticed, as it shows that piety leads men to all the duties of love. Therefore, where God is known, kindness to man also appears.

So also, on the other hand, we may conclude that all regard for God is extinguished, and all fear of him is abolished, when men willfully do wrong to one another and when they seek to oppress or defraud one another. There is therefore no doubt that gross impiety will be found where the duties of love are neglected.

For when Jeremiah commended the piety of Josiah on this account, because he executed judgment and justice, he doubtless condemned Jehoiakim, as though he had said that he was an abandoned and irreclaimable apostate; for had he retained a spark of religion, he would not have acted more justly and humanely towards his people.