Jer 23:9-38 | JFB | STEP | 9. because of the prophets-- so the Masorites and Targum. But Vulgate, Septuagint, &c., make this the inscription of the prophecy, Concerning the Prophets: as in ; ; . Jeremiah expresses his horror at the so-called "prophets" not warning the people, though iniquity so fearfully abounded, soon to be followed by awful judgments. bones shake-- ( ). drunken-- God's judgments are represented as stupefying like wine. The effects of the Holy Spirit also are compared to those of wine ( ). In both cases ecstasy was produced. This accounts for the denial of wine to those likely to be inspired, Nazarites, &c. ( ). It was necessary to put it out of men's power to ascribe inspired ecstasy to the effects of wine. because of ... words of ... holiness-- because of Jehovah's holy words, wherewith He threatened severe penalties, soon to be inflicted, against the breakers of His law.

‏ Jeremiah 23:9-38

9. because of the prophets--so the Masorites and Targum. But Vulgate, Septuagint, &c., make this the inscription of the prophecy, Concerning the Prophets: as in Jr 46:2; 48:1; 49:1. Jeremiah expresses his horror at the so-called "prophets" not warning the people, though iniquity so fearfully abounded, soon to be followed by awful judgments.

bones shake--(Ha 3:16).

drunken--God's judgments are represented as stupefying like wine. The effects of the Holy Spirit also are compared to those of wine (Ac 2:17). In both cases ecstasy was produced. This accounts for the denial of wine to those likely to be inspired, Nazarites, &c. (Lu 1:15). It was necessary to put it out of men's power to ascribe inspired ecstasy to the effects of wine.

because of ... words of ... holiness--because of Jehovah's holy words, wherewith He threatened severe penalties, soon to be inflicted, against the breakers of His law.

10. adulterers--spiritual, that is, forsakers of God, Israel's true Husband (Is 54:5) for idols, at the instigation of the false "prophets" (Jr 23:9, 15). Literal adultery and fornication, the usual concomitants of idolatry, are also meant.

swearing--Maurer, &c., translate, "Because of the curse (of God on it), the land mourneth" (De 27:15-26; 28:15-68; Is 24:6). More than usual notoriety had been given to the curses of the law, by the finding and reading of it in Josiah's time (2Ki 22:11, &c.). But Ho 4:2, 3, favors English Version (compare Jr 12:4). A drought was sent by God on the pastures ("pleasant places," oases) in the desert, on account of the "profaneness" of the priests, prophets, and people (Jr 23:11).

course ... evil--They (both prophets and people) rush into wickedness (Jr 23:21; Is 59:7).

force ... not right--Their powers are used not on the side of rectitude, but on that of falsehood.

11. profane--(Eze 23:39; Zep 3:4).

in my house--(Jr 7:30). They built altars to idols in the very temple (2Ki 23:12; Eze 8:3-16). Compare as to covetousness under the roof of the sanctuary, Mt 21:13; Joh 2:16.

12. slippery ways in ... darkness--Their "way" is their false doctrine which proves fatal to them (Jr 13:16; Psa 35:6; Pr 4:19).

I will bring evil ... visitation--still more calamities than those already inflicted. See on Jr 11:23; "visitation," namely, in wrath.

13. folly--literally, "insipidity," "unsavouriness" (Job 6:6), not having the salt of godliness (Col 4:6).

in Baal--in the name of Baal; in connection with his worship (see Jr 2:8).

caused ... to err--(Is 9:16).

14. "Jerusalem" and Judah were even worse than "Samaria" and the ten tribes; the greater were the privileges of the former, the greater was their guilt. They had the temple in their midst, which the ten tribes had not; yet in the temple itself they practised idolatry.

strengthen ... hands of evildoers--(Eze 13:22).

as Sodom--(De 32:32; Is 1:10).

15. gall--poison (see on Jr 8:14; Jr 9:15).

16. make you vain--They seduce you to vanity, that is, idolatry, which will prove a vain trust to you (Jr 2:5; 2Ki 17:15; Jon 2:8), [Gesenius]. Rather, "they delude you with vain promises of security" (Jr 23:17; compare Psa 62:10) [Maurer].

of their own heart--of their own invention (Jr 23:21; Jr 14:14).

17. say still--Hebrew, "say in saying," that is, say incessantly.

peace--(Jr 6:14; Eze 13:10; Zec 10:2).

imagination--Hebrew, "obstinacy."

no evil--(Mi 3:11).

18. A reason is given why the false prophets should not be heeded: They have not stood in the counsels of Jehovah (an image from ministers present in a standing posture at councils of Eastern kings) (compare Jr 23:22; Job 15:8). The spiritual man alone has the privilege (Ge 18:17; Psa 25:14; Am 3:7; Joh 15:15; 1Co 2:16).

19. So far from all prosperity awaiting the people as the false prophets say (Jr 23:17), wrath is in store for them.

grievous--literally, "eddying," whirling itself about, a tornado. In Jr 30:23, "continuing" is substituted for "grievous."

fall grievously--it shall be hurled on.

20. in ... latter days--that is, "the year of their visitation" (Jr 23:12). Primarily the meaning is: the Jews will not "consider" now God's warnings (De 32:29); but when the prophecies shall be fulfilled in their Babylonish exile, they will consider and see, by bitter experience, their sinful folly. The ultimate scope of the prophecy is: the Jews, in their final dispersion, shall at last "consider" their sin and turn to Messiah "perfectly" (Ho 3:5; Zec 12:5, 10-14; Lu 13:35).

21. sent ... spoken--"sent" refers to the primary call: "spoken" to the subsequent charges given to be executed. A call is required, not only external, on the part of men, but also internal from God, that one should undertake a pastor's office [Calvin].

22. stood in ... counsel--(Jr 23:18).

they should have turned them from their evil way--They would have given such counsels to the people as would have turned them from their sins (Jr 25:5; Is 55:11), and so would have averted punishment. Their not teaching the law in which God's counsel is set forth proves they are not His prophets, though they boast of being so (Mt 7:15-20).

23. Let not the false prophets fancy that their devices (Jr 23:25) are unknown to Me. Are ye so ignorant as to suppose that I can only see things near Me, namely, things in heaven, and not earthly things as being too remote?

24. (Psa 139:7, &c.; Am 9:2, 3).

fill heaven and earth--with My omniscience, providence, power, and essential being (1Ki 8:27).

25. dreamed--I have received a prophetic communication by dream (Nu 12:6; De 13:1, &c. Joe 2:28).

26. prophets--a different Hebrew form from the usual one, "prophesiers." "How long," cries Jeremiah, impatient of their impious audacity, "shall these prophecy-mongers go on prophesying lies?" The answer is given in Jr 23:29-34.

27. They "think" to make My people utterly to forget Me. But I will oppose to those dreamers my true prophets.

fathers ... for Baal--(Jud 3:7; 8:33, 34).

28. God answers the objection which might be stated, "What, then, must we do, when lies are spoken as truths, and prophets oppose prophets?" Do the same as when wheat is mixed with chaff: do not reject the wheat because of the chaff mixed with it, but discriminate between the false and the true revelations. The test is adherence to, or forgetfulness of, Me and My law (Jr 23:27).

that hath a dream--that pretends to have a divine communication by dream, let him tell it "faithfully," that it may be compared with "my word" (2Co 4:2). The result will be the former (both the prophets and their fictions) will soon be seen to be chaff; the latter (the true prophets and the word of God in their mouth) wheat (Psa 1:4; Ho 13:3).

29. As the "fire" consumes the "chaff," [Jr 23:28], so "My word" will consume the false prophets (Mt 3:12; He 4:12). "My word" which is "wheat" [Jr 23:28], that is, food to the true prophet and his hearers, is a consuming "fire," and a crushing "hammer" (Mt 21:44) to false prophets and their followers (2Co 2:16). The Word of the false prophets may be known by its promising men peace in sin. "My word," on the contrary, burns and breaks the hard-hearted (Jr 20:9). The "hammer" symbolizes destructive power (Jr 50:23; Na 2:1, Margin).

30. steal my words--a twofold plagiarism; one steals from the other, and all steal words from Jehovah's true prophets, but misapply them (see Jr 28:2; Joh 10:1; Re 22:19).

31. use--rather, "take" their tongue: a second class (compare Jr 23:30) require, in order to bring forth a revelation, nothing more than their tongues, wherewith they say, He (Jehovah) saith: they bungle in the very formula instead of the usual "Jehovah saith," being only able to say "(He) saith."

32. Third class: inventors of lies: the climax, and worst of the three.

lightness--wanton inventions (Zep 3:4).

not profit--that is, greatly injure.

33. What is the burden--play on the double sense of the Hebrew: an oracle and a burden. They scoffingly ask, Has he got any new burden (burdensome oracle: for all his prophecies are disasters) to announce (Mal 1:1)? Jeremiah indignantly repeats their own question, Do you ask, What burden? This, then, it is, "I will forsake you." My word is burdensome in your eyes, and you long to be rid if it. You shall get your wish. There will be no more prophecy: I will forsake you, and that will be a far worse "burden" to you.

34. The burden--Whoever shall in mockery call the Lord's word "a burden," shall be visited (Margin) in wrath.

35. The result of My judgments shall be, ye shall address the prophet more reverentially hereafter, no longer calling his message a burden, but a divine response or word. "What hath the Lord answered?"

36. every man's word ... his burden--As they mockingly call all prophecies burdens, as if calamities were the sole subject of prophecy, so it shall prove to them. God will take them at their own word.

living God--not lifeless as their dumb idols, ever living so as to be able to punish.