18 Then said H559 they, Come, H3212 and let us devise H2803 devices H4284 against Jeremiah; H3414 for the law H8451 shall not perish H6 from the priest, H3548 nor counsel H6098 from the wise, H2450 nor the word H1697 from the prophet. H5030 Come, H3212 and let us smite H5221 him with the tongue, H3956 and let us not give heed H7181 to any of his words. H1697
But I was like a lamb H3532 or an ox H441 that is brought H2986 to the slaughter; H2873 and I knew H3045 not that they had devised H2803 devices H4284 against me, saying, Let us destroy H7843 the tree H6086 with the fruit H3899 thereof, and let us cut him off H3772 from the land H776 of the living, H2416 that his name H8034 may be no more remembered. H2142
For they intended H5186 evil H7451 against thee: they imagined H2803 a mischievous device, H4209 which they are not able H3201 to perform.
Woe H1945 to them that devise H2803 iniquity, H205 and work H6466 evil H7451 upon their beds! H4904 when the morning H1242 is light, H216 they practise H6213 it, because it is H3426 in the power H410 of their hand. H3027 And they covet H2530 fields, H7704 and take them by violence; H1497 and houses, H1004 and take them away: H5375 so they oppress H6231 a man H1397 and his house, H1004 even a man H376 and his heritage. H5159 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, against this family H4940 do I devise H2803 an evil, H7451 from which ye shall not remove H4185 your necks; H6677 neither shall ye go H3212 haughtily: H7317 for this time H6256 is evil. H7451
Then spake H559 Azariah H5838 the son H1121 of Hoshaiah, H1955 and Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the proud H2086 men, H582 saying H559 unto Jeremiah, H3414 Thou speakest H1696 falsely: H8267 the LORD H3068 our God H430 hath not sent H7971 thee to say, H559 Go H935 not into Egypt H4714 to sojourn H1481 there:
Now therefore go to, speak H559 to the men H376 of Judah, H3063 and to the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, I frame H3335 evil H7451 against you, and devise H2803 a device H4284 against you: return H7725 ye now every one H376 from his evil H7451 way, H1870 and make your ways H1870 and your doings H4611 good. H3190
My soul H5315 is among H8432 lions: H3833 and I lie H7901 even among them that are set on fire, H3857 even the sons H1121 of men, H120 whose teeth H8127 are spears H2595 and arrows, H2671 and their tongue H3956 a sharp H2299 sword. H2719
He taketh H3920 the wise H2450 in their own craftiness: H6193 and the counsel H6098 of the froward H6617 is carried headlong. H4116
Then G3767 answered G611 them G846 the Pharisees, G5330 Are G4105 ye G5210 also G2532 deceived? G4105 G3361 Have any G3387 of G1537 the rulers G758 or G2228 of G1537 the Pharisees G5330 believed G4100 on G1519 him? G846 But G235 this G3778 people G3793 who G3588 knoweth G1097 not G3361 the law G3551 are G1526 cursed. G1944
And G2532 some of G1537 the Pharisees G5330 which G3588 were G5607 with G3326 him G846 heard G191 these words, G5023 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 Are G3361 G2070 we G2249 blind G5185 also? G2532
But we will certainly H6213 do H6213 whatsoever thing H1697 goeth forth H3318 out of our own mouth, H6310 to burn incense H6999 unto the queen H4446 of heaven, H8064 and to pour out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto her, as we have done, H6213 we, and our fathers, H1 our kings, H4428 and our princes, H8269 in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and in the streets H2351 of Jerusalem: H3389 for then had we plenty H7646 of victuals, H3899 and were well, H2896 and saw H7200 no evil. H7451
Thus speaketh H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Because thou hast sent H7971 letters H5612 in thy name H8034 unto all the people H5971 that are at Jerusalem, H3389 and to Zephaniah H6846 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 the priest, H3548 and to all the priests, H3548 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 hath made H5414 thee priest H3548 in the stead of Jehoiada H3077 the priest, H3548 that ye should be officers H6496 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 for every man H376 that is mad, H7696 and maketh himself a prophet, H5012 that thou shouldest put H5414 him in prison, H4115 and in the stocks. H6729 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved H1605 Jeremiah H3414 of Anathoth, H6069 which maketh himself a prophet H5012 to you? For therefore he sent H7971 unto us in Babylon, H894 saying, H559 This H1931 captivity is long: H752 build H1129 ye houses, H1004 and dwell H3427 in them; and plant H5193 gardens, H1593 and eat H398 the fruit H6529 of them. And Zephaniah H6846 the priest H3548 read H7121 this letter H5612 in the ears H241 of Jeremiah H3414 the prophet. H5030
Then the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, The prophets H5030 prophesy H5012 lies H8267 in my name: H8034 I sent H7971 them not, neither have I commanded H6680 them, neither spake H1696 unto them: they prophesy H5012 unto you a false H8267 vision H2377 and divination, H7081 and a thing of nought, H457 H434 and the deceit H8649 of their heart. H3820 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 concerning the prophets H5030 that prophesy H5012 in my name, H8034 and I sent H7971 them not, yet they say, H559 Sword H2719 and famine H7458 shall not be in this land; H776 By sword H2719 and famine H7458 shall those prophets H5030 be consumed. H8552 And the people H5971 to whom they prophesy H5012 shall be cast out H7993 in the streets H2351 of Jerusalem H3389 because H6440 of the famine H7458 and the sword; H2719 and they shall have none to bury H6912 them, H1992 them, their wives, H802 nor their sons, H1121 nor their daughters: H1323 for I will pour H8210 their wickedness H7451 upon them.
Then shalt thou say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Behold, I will fill H4390 all the inhabitants H3427 of this land, H776 even the kings H4428 that sit H3427 upon David's H1732 throne, H3678 and the priests, H3548 and the prophets, H5030 and all the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 with drunkenness. H7943 And I will dash H5310 them one H376 against another, H251 even the fathers H1 and the sons H1121 together, H3162 saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 I will not pity, H2550 nor spare, H2347 nor have mercy, H7355 but destroy H7843 them.
They have belied H3584 the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 It is not he; neither shall evil H7451 come H935 upon us; neither shall we see H7200 sword H2719 nor famine: H7458 And the prophets H5030 shall become wind, H7307 and the word H1696 is not in them: thus shall it be done H6213 unto them.
The priests H3548 said H559 not, Where is the LORD? H3068 and they that handle H8610 the law H8451 knew H3045 me not: the pastors H7462 also transgressed H6586 against me, and the prophets H5030 prophesied H5012 by Baal, H1168 and walked H1980 after H310 things that do not profit. H3276
And Absalom H53 and all the men H376 of Israel H3478 said, H559 The counsel H6098 of Hushai H2365 the Archite H757 is better H2896 than the counsel H6098 of Ahithophel. H302 For the LORD H3068 had appointed H6680 to defeat H6565 the good H2896 counsel H6098 of Ahithophel, H302 to the intent H5668 that the LORD H3068 might bring H935 evil H7451 upon Absalom. H53
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 18
Commentary on Jeremiah 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
In this chapter we have,
Jer 18:1-10
The prophet is here sent to the potter's house (he knew where to find it), not to preach a sermon as before to the gates of Jerusalem, but to prepare a sermon, or rather to receive it ready prepared. Those needed not to study their sermons that had them, as he had this, by immediate inspiration. "Go to the potter's house, and observe how he manages his work, and there I will cause thee, by silent whispers, to hear my words. There thou shalt receive a message, to be delivered to the people.' Note, Those that would know God's mind must observe his appointments, and attend where they may hear his words. The prophet was never disobedient to the heavenly vision, and therefore went to the potter's house (v. 3) and took notice how he wrought his work upon the wheels, just as he pleased, with a great deal of ease, and in a little time. And (v. 4) when a lump of clay that he designed to form into one shape either proved too stiff, or had a stone in it, or some way or other came to be marred in his hand, he presently turned it into another shape; if it will not serve for a vessel of honour, it will serve for a vessel of dishonour, just as seems good to the potter. It is probable that Jeremiah knew well enough how the potter wrought his work, and how easily he threw it into what form he pleased; but he must go and observe it now, that, having the idea of it fresh in his mind, he might the more readily and distinctly apprehend that truth which God designed thereby to represent to him, and might the more intelligently explain it to the people. God used similitudes by his servants the prophets (Hos. 12:10), and it was requisite that they should themselves understand the similitudes they used. Ministers will make a good use of their converse with the business and affairs of this life if they learn thereby to speak more plainly and familiarly to people about the things of God, and to expound scripture comparisons. For they ought to make all their knowledge some way or other serviceable to their profession.
Now let us see what the message is which Jeremiah receives, and is entrusted with the delivery of, at the potter's house. While he looks carefully upon the potter's work, God darts into his mind these two great truths, which he must preach to the house of Israel:-
Jer 18:11-17
These verses seem to be the application of the general truths laid down in the foregoing part of the chapter to the nation of the Jews and their present state.
Jer 18:18-23
The prophet here, as sometimes before, brings in his own affairs, but very much for instruction to us.