HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

JEREMIAS 5

CHAPTER V.

Ver. 1. Go, Jeremias, and you who publicly adhere to me. --- Man. Sodom would have been spared for the sake of ten just people. Gen. xviii. 32. Before the reform of Josias, Jerusalem was strangely corrupted, though these expressions be hyperbolical, and spoken as it were in the heat of debate. Josias, Holda, and others, were living at this time, and renowned for their piety.

Ver. 2. Falsely. Some may confess my name. But they swear falsely. C. iv. 2. C. --- Unless the requisite conditions be observed, an oath is unlawful. W.

Ver. 3. Return. The miseries with which, Achaz, &c. were afflicted, produced no amendment.

Ver. 4. Foolish idiots, (C.) who have had no means of receiving instruction. H. --- Such might be more excusable; but when the chiefs offend, the evil is irremediable.

Ver. 6. Lion. Nabuchodonosor. --- Wolf. Cambyses, (C.) and leopard. Epiphanes. H. --- The Chaldees, Persians and Greeks afflicted them. S. Jer. --- The first beast may designate Nabuc: the second Nabuzardon: the third, Alexander or Epiphanes. W.

Ver. 7. How can. I have only the character of judge left. C.

Ver. 8. Stallions. Heb. mashcim, (H.) "stretching out," as others translate. Ezec. xxiii. 20. S. Jer. --- The horse is the most intemperate of all animals but man. Aristot. Hist. vi. 22.

Ver. 10. Destroy, at the first taking of the city, v. 18. and C. iv. 27. --- Branches. Children of Jechonias, (C. xxii. 30.) and the people. C. --- Heb. "her battlements," (H.) Chal. "palaces."

Ver. 13. Them. The evil shall fall on the head of these impostors. So the wicked deride the prophets (C.) impugning the known truth. H.

Ver. 14. Fire. Thou shalt declare their impending ruin.

Ver. 15. Ancient. Nemrod founded the empire of Ninive and of Babylon. Gen. x. 10. Nabopolassar had succeeded to the ancient Assyrian and Chaldee sovereigns. Under his son, Nabuchodonosor, the dominions were much enlarged. --- Say. 4 K. xviii. 26.

Ver. 17. Devour. Heb. "destroy." They did not eat human flesh.

Ver. 19. Own. You shall thus know the difference between the masters. C.

Ver. 21. Understanding. Lit. "heart." C. iv. 22. H.

Ver. 22. It. Nature and chance are improper terms. God regulates all, and has established those laws which preserve the world.

Ver. 24. Rain, in autumn and in spring. Deut. xi. 14. C. --- Fulness. Heb. "the weeks for harvest." H. --- That of barley began at the Passover, and that of wheat ended before the feast of weeks, (Ex. xxxiv. 22. Lev. xxiii. 10. C.) or Pentecost. H.

Ver. 25. Away. The rain comes unseasonably.

Ver. 26. Man. As some tyrants have done, though this implies (C.) the eagerness with which the wicked strive to corrupt mankind. H.

Ver. 28. Of the widow, is not in Heb. C. --- Fatherless. Prot. add, "yet they prosper, and they," &c. H.

Ver. 29. Nation? It is contrary to God's justice not to punish the guilty. W.

Ver. 31. Clapped. Heb. "came down to, or received in, or domineered by their hands." The priests concurred with these impostors for their own ends. C.