John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 4:16

"make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, [that] watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah." — Jeremiah 4:16 (ASV)

The beginning of this verse is variously explained. Some read, "Remember you the nations," and think that the Prophet says this because many of the nations were heralds of that vengeance of God, which the Jews despised, as they thought that what the true heralds of God declared were mere fables.

They therefore take the meaning of this passage as if Jeremiah sent the Jews to the nations, intimating that they were unworthy that God should send them His usual teachers. But as the verb is in Hiphil, we should rather read, Rehearse it; and some give this explanation: "Rehearse," or "tell of the nations;" that is, "Announce that the Chaldeans are hastening to lay waste the land, to pull down the cities of Judah, and to destroy the people."

But there is a third meaning which, in my judgment, fits better with the passage. He literally says, Rehearse it to the nations; behold, proclaim against Jerusalem. For as the Prophet saw that he spent his labor in vain on that obstinate people, who had become so hardened in their perverseness that they were wholly inattentive and unteachable, he turned his address to the nations and said, "Rehearse it to the Gentiles." This was as if he had said, "I have long ago reminded this people that God had other teachers; but what have we gained by our labor, except that the people become continually worse? Since it is so, now he says, 'Declare it to the nations concerning Jerusalem.' Let the Jews hear nothing more of their ruin, but let God’s vengeance on them be made known to the heathens." There is nothing strained or obscure in this explanation, and it is wholly consistent with the prophetic style.

He then no longer deigned to favor his own nation with heavenly truth, because this would have cast what was holy to the dogs. Instead, he directs his discourse to the heathens, as if he had said, "There is more knowledge in the blind and unbelieving than in the chosen people of God." This does not mean, however, that he did not afterwards continue for a long time in the discharge of his office. For the prophets, inflamed with zeal for God, often threatened the people with utter ruin and afterwards performed their charge, trying whether those of whom they seemed to despair could be healed.

He says that besiegers would come from a far country. Some render נצרים, netserim, "keepers;" and they think that Jeremiah alludes to Nebuchadnezzar, because his captains would come to destroy Jerusalem and to demolish the cities of Judah. But I prefer to render the word "besiegers." Though some think that נצר, netser, sometimes means to destroy or lay waste, the other meaning seems more suitable, as is evident from the next verse.

To render it "keepers" seems weak, though this is what is done by almost all. I render it "besiegers" — Come then shall besiegers; for נצר, netser, means not only to keep, but also to shut up in a confined place. Come, he says, shall besiegers from a far country.

He used these expressions so that the people might not promise themselves impunity, as has been stated before, because of God's forbearance. For when God deferred His vengeance, they thought themselves relieved from all fear. Hence he says that though the enemy was not yet present, though they did not yet hear the sound of the coming enemy, God at the same time did not threaten them in vain; for He would instantly send for those from a distant land who would execute His vengeance.

What follows, they shall send forth their voice against the cities of Judah, is added so that the Jews might know that by no hindrances could they prevent God from quickly bringing the Chaldeans to terrify their cities by their sound. What he means is, in fact, the shout by which soldiers rouse one another to fight: but as this is commonly done as a sign of victory, he intimates that it was all over for the Jews, for the soldiers had, as it were, already uttered their triumphant shouts.