John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 22:6

"For thus saith Jehovah concerning the house of the king of Judah: Thou art Gilead unto me, [and] the head of Lebanon; [yet] surely I will make thee a wilderness, [and] cities which are not inhabited." — Jeremiah 22:6 (ASV)

He confirms the preceding declaration and explains in more detail what had been stated sufficiently clearly; for the false boasting of the Jews could scarcely be restrained, as they still thought that the kingdom in the family of David would be permanent and exempt from any danger of change.

But interpreters differ regarding the meaning of the words. I will not repeat their views, nor is it necessary: I will only state what seems to me to be the real meaning. All others indeed give a different explanation; but the Prophet, I do not doubt, means the same thing as we have observed in Jeremiah 7:12, where he says,

Go to Shiloh, and see what is the state of that place, for the ark of the covenant had a long time dwelt there.

Though they thought that place sacred, it was nevertheless reduced to desolation, and thus it must have become a dreadful spectacle to the whole people. For the same reason now, it seems to me, the Prophet compares Lebanon to Mount Gilead; for what some say, that Gilead was the chief city of the ten tribes, has no basis.

But we must remember the state of things at that time: the kingdom of Israel was wholly demolished when our Prophet spoke these words. Judea had indeed been much reduced by many calamities, but still some kind of kingdom remained.

Therefore, by Mount Gilead the Prophet doubtless meant—representing the whole by a part—the kingdom of Israel, but for a purpose different from that assigned by interpreters: namely, because the whole land of Israel was then laid waste. For all the inhabitants had been led into exile, all the spoils had been removed, and nothing had escaped the rapacity and cruelty of their enemies.

Since, then, the land of Israel had been reduced to desolation, God says now that Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah would not be of greater value in His sight than the whole country of the ten tribes had been, which was doubtless larger in extent and in wealth. This meaning may be easily gathered from the words of the passage. He does not say, “You are like Gilead, the head of Lebanon,” but rather, Gilead to me art thou the head of Lebanon.

He calls Jerusalem Lebanon because it was, as it were, the queen of that land; for by Mount Lebanon he designated whatever was precious in that country, for the reason we mentioned yesterday.

Regarding Gilead, I do not consider that the Prophet refers especially to the city, but by representing the whole by a part, he includes the whole country. This is because Mount Gilead was full of many fruitful trees, particularly the balsam and the rosin tree, and many fragrant herbs and aromatics, which even today are brought from there to different parts of the world. And thus we found it asked in Jeremiah 8:22:

Is there no rosin in Gilead?
is there no medicine found there to heal the Church?

Why then was Mount Gilead mentioned? It was because the best aromatics grew there, especially the balsam tree, and also many fragrant trees and most precious fruits.

The meaning then is this: “What do you think yourself to be? Or for what reason do you trust so much in yourself? I did not spare Mount Gilead and that extensive country which was much superior to you. What then does this foolish presumption mean, that you persuade yourself that all danger is far off? You shall be to me as Gilead. Think of My judgment on Mount Gilead and of the dreadful desolation of the land of Israel; the same that you may now see there shall happen to you.”

We now perceive in what sense the Prophet says that, before God, the head of Lebanon—that is, Jerusalem itself, which ruled over Lebanon—would become like Gilead.

He then adds, If I make thee not a desert. God again makes an oath, for it is, we know, an elliptical mode of expression when the particle אם, am, is used alone, because an imprecation is to be understood—such as: “Let me not be thought a God;” or, “Let my power be deemed nothing;” or, “Let me not be hereafter counted true and faithful.”

However this may be, God makes an oath that the city would become a desert, like those cities which are not inhabited. Thus the whole context appears consistent: Jerusalem would at length be like the land of Israel, for He would no more spare Lebanon than Mount Gilead.

The text continues: