3 For, lo, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will bring again H7725 the captivity H7622 of my people H5971 Israel H3478 and Judah, H3063 saith H559 the LORD: H3068 and I will cause them to return H7725 to the land H776 that I gave H5414 to their fathers, H1 and they shall possess H3423 it.
Therefore, behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that they shall no more say, H559 The LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 which brought up H5927 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of the land H776 of Egypt; H4714 But, The LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 which brought up H5927 and which led H935 the seed H2233 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478 out of the north H6828 country, H776 and from all countries H776 whither I had driven H5080 them; and they shall dwell H3427 in their own land. H127
And they of the south H5045 shall possess H3423 the mount H2022 of Esau; H6215 and they of the plain H8219 the Philistines: H6430 and they shall possess H3423 the fields H7704 of Ephraim, H669 and the fields H7704 of Samaria: H8111 and Benjamin H1144 shall possess Gilead. H1568 And the captivity H1546 of this host H2426 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall possess that of the Canaanites, H3669 even unto Zarephath; H6886 and the captivity H1546 of Jerusalem, H3389 which is in Sepharad, H5614 shall possess H3423 the cities H5892 of the south. H5045
And I will bring again H7725 the captivity H7622 of my people H5971 of Israel, H3478 and they shall build H1129 the waste H8074 cities, H5892 and inhabit H3427 them; and they shall plant H5193 vineyards, H3754 and drink H8354 the wine H3196 thereof; they shall also make H6213 gardens, H1593 and eat H398 the fruit H6529 of them. And I will plant H5193 them upon their land, H127 and they shall no more be pulled up H5428 out of their land H127 which I have given H5414 them, saith H559 the LORD H3068 thy God. H430
And I will cause the captivity H7622 of Judah H3063 and the captivity H7622 of Israel H3478 to return, H7725 and will build H1129 them, as at the first. H7223 And I will cleanse H2891 them from all their iniquity, H5771 whereby they have sinned H2398 against me; and I will pardon H5545 all their iniquities, H5771 whereby they have sinned, H2398 and whereby they have transgressed H6586 against me. And it shall be to me a name H8034 of joy, H8342 a praise H8416 and an honour H8597 before all the nations H1471 of the earth, H776 which shall hear H8085 all the good H2896 that I do H6213 unto them: and they shall fear H6342 and tremble H7264 for all the goodness H2896 and for all the prosperity H7965 that I procure H6213 unto it. Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Again there shall be heard H8085 in this place, H4725 which ye say H559 shall be desolate H2720 without man H120 and without beast, H929 even in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and in the streets H2351 of Jerusalem, H3389 that are desolate, H8074 without man, H120 and without inhabitant, H3427 and without beast, H929 The voice H6963 of joy, H8342 and the voice H6963 of gladness, H8057 the voice H6963 of the bridegroom, H2860 and the voice H6963 of the bride, H3618 the voice H6963 of them that shall say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD H3068 of hosts: H6635 for the LORD H3068 is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 and of them that shall bring H935 the sacrifice of praise H8426 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 For I will cause to return H7725 the captivity H7622 of the land, H776 as at the first, H7223 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will perform H6965 that good H2896 thing H1697 which I have promised H1696 unto the house H1004 of Israel H3478 and to the house H1004 of Judah. H3063 In those days, H3117 and at that time, H6256 will I cause the Branch H6780 of righteousness H6666 to grow up H6779 unto David; H1732 and he shall execute H6213 judgment H4941 and righteousness H6666 in the land. H776
Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 When I shall have gathered H6908 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 from the people H5971 among whom they are scattered, H6327 and shall be sanctified H6942 in them in the sight H5869 of the heathen, H1471 then shall they dwell H3427 in their land H127 that I have given H5414 to my servant H5650 Jacob. H3290 And they shall dwell H3427 safely H983 therein, and shall build H1129 houses, H1004 and plant H5193 vineyards; H3754 yea, they shall dwell H3427 with confidence, H983 when I have executed H6213 judgments H8201 upon all those that despise H7590 them round about H5439 them; and they shall know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 their God. H430
And say H1696 unto them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I will take H3947 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 from among H996 the heathen, H1471 whither they be gone, H1980 and will gather H6908 them on every side, H5439 and bring H935 them into their own land: H127 And I will make H6213 them one H259 nation H1471 in the land H776 upon the mountains H2022 of Israel; H3478 and one H259 king H4428 shall be king H4428 to them all: and they shall be H5750 no more two H8147 nations, H1471 neither shall they be divided H2673 into two H8147 kingdoms H4467 any more at all: Neither shall they defile H2930 themselves any more with their idols, H1544 nor with their detestable things, H8251 nor with any of their transgressions: H6588 but I will save H3467 them out of all their dwellingplaces, H4186 wherein they have sinned, H2398 and will cleanse H2891 them: so shall they be my people, H5971 and I will be their God. H430 And David H1732 my servant H5650 shall be king H4428 over them; and they all shall have one H259 shepherd: H7462 they shall also walk H3212 in my judgments, H4941 and observe H8104 my statutes, H2708 and do H6213 them. And they shall dwell H3427 in the land H776 that I have given H5414 unto Jacob H3290 my servant, H5650 wherein your fathers H1 have dwelt; H3427 and they shall dwell H3427 therein, even they, and their children, H1121 and their children's H1121 children H1121 for ever: H5769 and my servant H5650 David H1732 shall be their prince H5387 for H5704 ever. H5769
Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Now will I bring again H7725 the captivity H7622 H7622 of Jacob, H3290 and have mercy H7355 upon the whole house H1004 of Israel, H3478 and will be jealous H7065 for my holy H6944 name; H8034 After that they have borne H5375 their shame, H3639 and all their trespasses H4604 whereby they have trespassed H4603 against me, when they dwelt H3427 safely H983 in their land, H127 and none made them afraid. H2729 When I have brought them again H7725 from the people, H5971 and gathered H6908 them out of their enemies' H341 lands, H776 and am sanctified H6942 in them in the sight H5869 of many H7227 nations; H1471 Then shall they know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 their God, H430 which caused them to be led into captivity H1540 among the heathen: H1471 but I have gathered H3664 them unto their own land, H127 and have left H3498 none of them any more there.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 30
Commentary on Jeremiah 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 30
Jer 30:1-24. Restoration of the Jews from Babylon after Its Capture, and Raising Up of Messiah.
2. Write … in a book—After the destruction of Jerusalem Jeremiah is not ordered as heretofore to speak, but to write the succeeding prophecy (Jer 30:4, &c.), so as thereby it might be read by his countrymen wheresoever they might be in their dispersion.
3. bring again … captivity of … Israel and Judah—the restoration not merely of the Jews (treated of in this thirtieth chapter), but also of the ten tribes ("Israel"; treated in the thirty-first chapter), together forming the whole nation (Jer 30:18; Jer 32:44; Eze 39:25; Am 9:14, 15). "Israel" is mentioned first because its exile was longer than that of Judah. Some captives of the Israelite ten tribes returned with those of Judah (Lu 2:36; "Aser" is mentioned). But these are only a pledge of the full restoration hereafter (Ro 11:26, "All Israel"). Compare Jer 16:15. This third verse is a brief statement of the subject before the prophecy itself is given.
5. We have heard … trembling—God introduces the Jews speaking that which they will be reduced to at last in spite of their stubbornness. Threat and promise are combined: the former briefly; namely, the misery of the Jews in the Babylonian captivity down to their "trembling" and "fear" arising from the approach of the Medo-Persian army of Cyrus against Babylon; the promise is more fully dwelt on; namely, their "trembling" will issue in a deliverance as speedy as is the transition from a woman's labor pangs to her joy at giving birth to a child (Jer 30:6).
6. Ask—Consult all the authorities, men or books, you can, you will not find an instance. Yet in that coming day men will be seen with their hands pressed on their loins, as women do to repress their pangs. God will drive men through pain to gestures more fitting a woman than a man (Jer 4:31; 6:24). The metaphor is often used to express the previous pain followed by the sudden deliverance of Israel, as in the case of a woman in childbirth (Isa 66:7-9).
paleness—properly the color of herbs blasted and fading: the green paleness of one in jaundice: the sickly paleness of terror.
7. great—marked by great calamities (Joe 2:11, 31; Am 5:18; Zep 1:14).
none like it … but he shall be saved—(Da 12:1). The partial deliverance at Babylon's downfall prefigures the final, complete deliverance of Israel, literal and spiritual, at the downfall of the mystical Babylon (Re 18:1-19:21).
8. his yoke … thy neck—his, that is, Jacob's (Jer 30:7), the yoke imposed on him. The transition to the second person is frequent, God speaking of Jacob or Israel, at the same time addressing him directly. So "him" rightly follows; "foreigners shall no more make him their servant" (Jer 25:14). After the deliverance by Cyrus, Persia, Alexander, Antiochus, and Rome made Judah their servant. The full of deliverance meant must, therefore, be still future.
9. Instead of serving strangers (Jer 30:8), they shall serve the Lord, their rightful King in the theocracy (Eze 21:27).
David, their king—No king of David's seed has held the scepter since the captivity; for Zerubbabel, though of David's line, never claimed the title of "king." The Son of David, Messiah, must therefore be meant; so the Targum (compare Isa 55:3, 4; Eze 34:23, 24; 37:24; Ho 3:5; Ro 11:25-32). He was appointed to the throne of David (Isa 9:7; Lu 1:32). He is here joined with Jehovah as claiming equal allegiance. God is our "King," only when we are subject to Christ; God rules us not immediately, but through His Son (Joh 5:22, 23, 27).
raise up—applied to the judges whom God raised up as deliverers of Israel out of the hand of its oppressors (Jud 2:16; 3:9). So Christ was raised up as the antitypical Deliverer (Ps 2:6; Lu 1:69; Ac 2:30; 13:23).
10. from afar—Be not afraid as if the distance of the places whither ye are to be dispersed precludes the possibility of return.
seed—Though through the many years of captivity intervening, you yourselves may not see the restoration, the promise shall be fulfilled to your seed, primarily at the return from Babylon, fully at the final restoration.
quiet … none … make … afraid—(Jer 23:6; Zec 14:11).
11. though … full end of all nations … yet … not … of thee—(Am 9:8). The punishment of reprobates is final and fatal; that of God's people temporary and corrective. Babylon was utterly destroyed: Israel after chastisement was delivered.
in measure—literally, "with judgment," that is, moderation, not in the full rigor of justice (Jer 10:24; 46:28; Ps 6:1; Isa 27:8).
not … altogether unpunished—(Ex 34:7).
12. The desperate circumstances of the Jews are here represented as an incurable wound. Their sin is so grievous that their hope of the punishment (their exile) soon coming to an end is vain (Jer 8:22; 15:18; 2Ch 36:16).
13. none to plead—a new image from a court of justice.
bound up—namely, with the bandages applied to tie up a wound.
no healing medicines—literally, "medicines of healing," or else applications, (literally, "ascensions") of medicaments.
14. lovers—the peoples formerly allied to thee, Assyria and Egypt (compare La 1:2).
seek thee not—have cast away all concern for thee in thy distress.
wound of an enemy—a wound such as an enemy would inflict. God condescends to employ language adapted to human conceptions. He is incapable of "enmity" or "cruelty"; it was their grievous sin which righteously demanded a grievous punishment, as though He were an "enemy" (Jer 5:6; Job 13:24; 30:21).
15. Why criest thou—as if God's severity was excessive. Thou hast no reason to complain, for thine affliction is just. Thy cry is too late, for the time of repentance and mercy is past [Calvin].
16. Therefore—connected with Jer 30:13, because "There is none to plead thy cause … therefore" I will plead thy cause, and heal thy wound, by overwhelming thy foes. This fifteenth verse is inserted to amplify what was said at the close of Jer 30:14. When the false ways of peace, suggested by the so-called prophets, had only ended in the people's irremediable ruin, the true prophet comes forward to announce the grace of God as bestowing repentance and healing.
devour thee … be devoured … spoil … be a spoil … prey upon … give for a prey—retribution in kind (see on Jer 2:3; Ex 23:22; Isa 33:1).
17. (Jer 8:22; 33:6).
Outcast—as a wife put away by her husband (Isa 62:4, contrasted with Jer 30:12).
Zion—alluding to its Hebrew meaning, "dryness"; "sought after" by none, as would be the case with an arid region (Isa 62:12). The extremity of the people, so far from being an obstacle to, will be the chosen opportunity of, God's grace.
18. bring again … captivity—(Jer 33:7, 11).
tents—used to intimate that their present dwellings in Chaldea were but temporary as tents.
have mercy on dwelling-places—(Ps 102:13).
own heap—on the same hill, that is, site, a hill being the usual site chosen for a city (compare Jos 11:13, Margin). This better answers the parallel clause, "after the manner thereof" (that is, in the same becoming ways as formerly), than the rendering, "its own heap of ruins," as in Jer 49:2.
palace—the king's, on Mount Zion.
remain—rather, "shall be inhabited" (see on Jer 17:6, Jer 17:25). This confirms English Version, "palace," not as others translate, "the temple" (see 1Ki 16:18; 2Ki 15:25).
19. thanksgiving—The Hebrew word includes confession as well as praise; for, in the case of God, the highest praises we can bestow are only confessing what God really is [Bengel], (Jer 17:26; 31:12, 13; 33:11; Isa 35:10; 51:11).
multiply them—(Zec 10:8).
20. as aforetime—as flourishing as in the time of David.
21. their nobles—rather, "their Glorious One," or "Leader" (compare Ac 3:15; Heb 2:10), answering to "their Governor" in the parallel clause.
of themselves—of their own nation, a Jew, not a foreigner; applicable to Zerubbabel, or J. Hyrcanus (hereditary high priest and governor), only as types of Christ (Ge 49:10; Mic 5:2; Ro 9:5), the antitypical "David" (Jer 30:9).
cause him to draw near—as the great Priest (Ex 19:22; Le 21:17), through whom believers also have access to God (Heb 10:19-22). His priestly and kingly characters are similarly combined (Ps 110:4; Zec 6:13).
who … engaged … heart to approach—literally, "pledged his heart," that is, his life; a thing unique; Messiah alone has made His life responsible as the surety (Heb 7:22; 9:11-15), in order to gain access not only for Himself, but for us to God. Heart is here used for life, to express the courage which it needed to undertake such a tremendous suretyship. The question implies admiration at one being found competent by His twofold nature, as God and man, for the task. Compare the interrogation (Isa 63:1-3).
22. ye shall be my people, &c.—The covenant shall be renewed between God and His people through Messiah's mediation (Jer 30:21; 31:1, 33; 32:38; Eze 11:20; 36:28).
23, 24. (Jer 23:19). Vengeance upon God's foes always accompanies manifestations of His grace to His people.
continuing—literally, "sojourning," abiding constantly; appropriately here in the case of Babylon, which was to be permanently destroyed, substituted for "whirling itself about" ("grievous" in English Version) (see on Jer 23:19,20), where the temporary downfall of Judea is spoken of.