HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

JEREMIAS 29

CHAPTER XXIX.

Ver. 1. Letter. Lit. "book." H. --- It was probably sent at the beginning of the reign of Sedecias by his ambassadors, and is different from that sent by Baruch i. and C. lii. 28. --- Prophets. Chal. "scribes." C. --- Sept. "false prophets." v. 8. H. --- Daniel had begun to prophesy, A. 3402. Ezechiel commenced only five years after the captivity of Jechonias. One prophet frequently instructs another, as Nathan did David. Dan. ix. 2. and 1 Pet. i. 11. C. --- Jeremias declares that the captivity would continue long. He comforts and rebukes to C. xl. W.

Ver. 2. Queen. Nohesta. --- Eunuchs. Real, (Heb.) or "Grandee." Chal. --- Engravers. C. xxiv. 2.

Ver. 3. Gamarias, the son of Saphan, is different. These two are unknown.

Ver. 5. Build. Establish yourselves, as you must remain a long time in captivity. We are exhorted not to be attached to the things of the world, to remind us that we shall not live long. C. xvi. 2. and xxxv. 7. and 1 Cor. vii. 29.

Ver. 7. Peace. We must submit to the magistrates, where we reside. Bar. i. 11. and 1 Tim. ii. 1.

Ver. 8. Prophets. There were many false ones. v. 21. Ezec. xiii. --- Dreams. The prophets, or people. They are vain.

Ver. 10. Seventy. Dating from the 4th of Joakim to the 1st of Cyrus, A. 3468. C. See C. xxv. 1. 11. H.

Ver. 11. An end. Sept. "these things." This version is much abridged. From v. 15. to 21. is omitted in S. Jerom's and the Rom. edit.; but not in the Comp. or Theodoret. C. --- Grabe inserts what is wanting, and places the 15th at the end of our 20th verse. H.

Ver. 15. Said. Expressing your confidence in Providence; or rather, if we join this with what follows, he rebukes them for trusting in false prophets, who represented their condition as worse than that of their brethren, who were left behind; whereas it was really better. v. 17. and C. xxiv. 2. 8. C. --- The deluded people suppose that the false prophets had been sent by God. W.

Ver. 19. By night, or "early," de nocte, as soon as the night was over. H.

Ver. 22. Curse. v. 18. The malediction which has befallen the Jews, "overtake thee." W. --- Fire, in frying-pans, (see 2 Mac. vii. 5.) or cauldrons of boiling oil. This death shews that these were not the infamous judges who tempted Susanna, (C.) as the Jews quoted by (H.) S. Jerom, Salien, &c. would infer from v. 23. and Dan. xiii. 57. They were stoned to death by the people. ib. lxii. C. --- Yet the king might order their dead bodies to be cut in two and burnt, to express his horror of their wicked conduct. Dan. xiii. 55. 59. H.

Ver. 23. Folly. A crime. Judge xix. 23. and 2 K. xiii. 12. --- Witness, the sovereign truth. C.

Ver. 24. And. God orders his prophet what to say, to an accusation sent from Babylon, in consequence of the former letter. v. 5. 28. H. --- Nehelamite, "torrent," (S. Jer.) or "dreamer." We know of no place of this name.

Ver. 25. The second priest, (4 K. xxv. 18.) a chief officer of the temple. C. xxi. 1.

Ver. 26. Joiada, whose zeal had been conspicuous long before, under Joas, in persuading him to destroy the false prophets. 4 K. xi. 17. Sophonias is exhorted to imitate him, by treating Jeremias in like manner. C. --- Thou. Heb. "ye should be officers." Prot. H. --- There were many chief priests. --- Raveth. Heb. "is possessed, and counterfeits the prophet." Such were to be slain, being confined till sentence had been passed. Deut. xviii. 20. C.

Ver. 28. Time, before you will return. H. --- Sophonias read the letter, approving of its contents, (S. Jer.) though this is not certain. He took no violent steps against Jeremias, as Phassur had done. H.

Ver. 32. Sit, in an honourable station, or they shall all die. C.