John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 37:9-10

"Thus saith Jehovah, Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us; for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yea would they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire." — Jeremiah 37:9-10 (ASV)

The Prophet confirms the former verse, and it was indeed necessary that this should be added. For though Zedekiah might not have freed himself from all anxiety and fear, he must still have been moved by that prophecy. Thus, he might have become more hardened in his stubbornness, as is the case with hypocrites, who, when they find they can gain nothing, become furious against God and run recklessly in their course. This might then have been the case with Zedekiah and also the Jews. Therefore, Jeremiah adds, by way of confirmation, Elate not your hearts, or, Deceive not yourselves; that is, on account of the report respecting the Egyptian army. Thus he told the Jews that they had no reason to expect any relief. And the reason is added: For if, he says, you had smitten the Chaldeans so that few remained, yet they would rise up every one from his tent, and burn this city.

The Prophet shows how foolishly and absurdly the Jews acted in casting their eyes on fortunate events and thus forming their opinions. He therefore exhorts them to cease relying on such a confidence as would deceive them. For he says that though they gained many battles and the war turned in their favor, yet they could not escape final ruin, for they had to do with God.

It was therefore the same thing as if he had said that they were not to judge their future state by their current situation, because God was at war with them. And therefore, if God had resolved to destroy them, though there were no enemy, He could still by one breath slay them all.

And for the same reason, he concludes that He could employ the Chaldeans. Though few in number remained, and even wounded, yet they would rise up from their tents, and set the buildings of Jerusalem on fire. This city, therefore, will be burned. Do not ask by whom or when: God will use the Chaldeans in this work, for He has so determined.

We may therefore conclude that the Jews had been for a time victorious, at least had successfully repelled their enemies in their attacks on the city. For the Prophet would not have said this had he not seen that the Jews entertained hope of deliverance on account of some success they had in the war.

He therefore says that all this was of no importance, for their city was to perish by fire. But the principle which I have mentioned must be kept in mind, for Jeremiah took it for granted that the destruction of the city Jerusalem was not to be effected by the forces of King Nebuchadnezzar, neither by the power or number of his army, nor by the courage of his soldiers, but by the judgment of God. Since it is so, he says, though few remained, and they wounded, even lying as half dead, yet they will rise up every one from his tent; that is, not together, nor in a regular order, nor under a banner, as soldiers are accustomed to do, but each one, though no comrade were near, though scattered here and there, would still rise up from his tent. He intimates, in short, that though the contest were only with shadows, they still could not escape that extreme vengeance which God had threatened. Therefore he says, they shall rise up every one from his tent, and burn this city.

Now he does not say that the Chaldeans would take possession of the city; he does not speak of the assault, but only of the burning. He therefore intimates that though the Chaldeans might have in themselves no power to hurt them, yet it was sufficient that they were armed by God for the purpose of setting fire to the houses, like women and children, who often burn whole cities and villages; for in this case, there is no need of courage or of any great skill. So then God declares that though the Chaldeans might not be prepared to fight, yet they were strong enough, indeed, even though they were lying down and half-dead after having been wounded. This is the meaning.

Prayer:

Grant, omnipotent God, that as You have been pleased kindly to invite us to Yourself, and set before us the reconciliation which is through Your only-begotten Son, — O grant, that we may not proceed in our wickedness so as to provoke You more and more against us, and to kindle the fire of Your vengeance on our own heads, but that we may so submit ourselves to You, as to flee in sincere repentance and true faith to Your mercy, that we may find You to be propitious to us, and that You may thus afford us reason to give glory to Your name, having shown mercy to us, through the same, Your only-begotten Son. — Amen.