Matthew Henry Commentary Jeremiah 31:10-17

"Hear the word of Jehovah, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off; and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd doth his flock. For Jehovah hath ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow unto the goodness of Jehovah, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith Jehovah. Thus saith Jehovah: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not. Thus saith Jehovah: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith Jehovah; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for thy latter end, saith Jehovah; and [thy] children shall come again to their own border." — Jeremiah 31:10-17 (ASV)

He who scattered Israel knows where to find them. It is comforting to observe the goodness of the Lord in the gifts of providence.

But our souls are never valuable as gardens unless watered with the dews of God's Spirit and grace. A precious promise follows, which will not have its full accomplishment except in the heavenly Zion.

Let them be satisfied with God's loving-kindness; then they will be satisfied with it and will desire nothing more to make them happy.

Rachel is represented as rising from her grave and refusing to be comforted, supposing her offspring had been rooted out. The murder of the children at Bethlehem by Herod (Matthew 2:16–18) in some degree fulfilled this prediction, but this could not be its full meaning.

If we have hope in the end concerning an eternal inheritance for ourselves and those belonging to us, all temporal afflictions can be borne and will be for our good.