John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 17:27

"But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." — Jeremiah 17:27 (ASV)

But if you will not listen to me: With respect to this particular point, more especially: to hallow the sabbath day; to keep it holy to the Lord in a religious way, in the exercise of the duties of religion, both public and private: and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day;

or, "and go through"; or, so as "to go through" ^F12 &c; and may intend either one and the same thing, namely entering in at the gates with a burden upon the shoulders; or two things, bearing a burden, and carrying it anywhere in or out of the city; and an unnecessary passing and repassing through the gates of the city, whether a man has or has not a burden upon him, since the sabbath might be violated either way:

then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof; where the prophet was to publish all this, and where the people sinned by passing and repassing, and carrying burdens in and out on the sabbath day: and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem; the king's palace, and the palaces of the princes and nobles, as well as the cottages of the poorer sort: and it shall not be quenched; until it has utterly destroyed the city: this was fulfilled by the Chaldeans, (Jeremiah 52:13).

The Jews say there is no fire kindled but where the sabbath is profaned; and that Jerusalem was destroyed because they profaned the sabbath ^F13.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F12: (vb abw) "et intretis per portas", Cocceius, Schmidt.
• F13: T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 119. 2.