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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J E R E M I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have two messages which God sent by Jeremiah.
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I. One to foretel the fate of Zedekiah king of Judah, that he should
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fall into the hands of the king of Babylon, that he should live a
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captive, but should at last die in peace in his captivity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. Another to read the doom both of prince and people for their
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treacherous dealings with God, in bringing back into bondage their
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servants whom they had released according to the law, and so playing
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fast and loose with God. They had walked at all adventures with God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>),
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and therefore God would walk at all adventures with them, in bringing
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the Chaldean army upon them again when they began to hope that they had
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got clear of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:12-22">ver. 12-22</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jer34_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Captivity of Zedekiah Foretold; The Babylonish Captivity Predicted.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 589.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, when
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Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the
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kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought
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against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying,
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2 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, the God of Israel; Go and speak to
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Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>;
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Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of
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Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:
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3 And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely
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be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall
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behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with
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thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon.
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4 Yet hear the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus
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saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:
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5 <I>But</I> thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy
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fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they
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burn <I>odours</I> for thee; and they will lament thee, <I>saying,</I> Ah
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lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah
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king of Judah in Jerusalem,
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7 When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and
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against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish,
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and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the
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cities of Judah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This prophecy concerning Zedekiah was delivered to Jeremiah, and by him
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to the parties concerned, before he was shut up in the prison, for we
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find this prediction here made the ground of his commitment, as appears
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by the recital of some passages out of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+32:4"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 4</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The time when this message was sent to Zedekiah; it was <I>when the
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king of Babylon,</I> with all his forces, some out of <I>all the
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kingdoms of the earth</I> that were within his jurisdiction, <I>fought
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against Jerusalem and the cities thereof</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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designing to destroy them, having often plundered them. The cities that
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now remained, and yet held out, are named
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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<I>Lachish and Azekah.</I> This intimates that things were now brought
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to the last extremity, and yet Zedekiah obstinately stood it out, his
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heart being hardened to his destruction.</P>
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<P>
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II. The message itself that was sent to him.
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1. Here is a threatening of wrath. He is told that again which he had
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been often told before, that the city shall be taken by the Chaldeans
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<I>and burnt with fire</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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that he shall himself fall into the enemy's hands, shall be made a
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prisoner, shall be brought before that furious prince Nebuchadnezzar,
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and be carried away captive into Babylon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>);
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yet Ezekiel prophesied that he <I>should not see Babylon;</I> nor did
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he, for his eyes were put out,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:13">Ezek. xii. 13</A>.
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This Zedekiah brought upon himself from God by his other sins and from
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Nebuchadnezzar by breaking his faith with him.
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2. Here is a mixture of mercy. He shall die a captive, but he <I>shall
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not die by the sword</I> he shall die a natural death
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
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he shall end his days with some comfort, <I>shall die in peace,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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He never had been one of the worst of the kings, but we are willing to
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hope that what evil he had <I>done in the sight of the Lord</I> he
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repented of in his captivity, as Manasseh had done, and it was forgiven
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to him; and, God being reconciled to him, he might truly be said to
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<I>die in peace,</I> Note, A man may die in a prison and yet <I>die in
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peace.</I> Nay, he shall end his days with some reputation, more than
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one would expect, all things considered. He shall be buried <I>with the
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burnings of his fathers,</I> that is, with the respect usually shown to
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their kings, especially those that had done good in Israel. It seems,
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in his captivity he had conducted himself so well towards his own
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people that they were willing to do him this honour, and towards
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Nebuchadnezzar that he suffered it to be done. If Zedekiah had
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continued in his prosperity, perhaps he would have grown worse and
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would have <I>departed</I> at last <I>without being desired;</I> but
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his afflictions wrought such a change in him that his death was looked
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upon as a great loss. It is better to live and die penitent in a prison
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than to live and die impenitent in a palace. <I>They will lament thee,
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saying, Ah lord!</I> an honour which his brother Jehoiakim had not,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+22:18"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 18</A>.
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The Jews say that they lamented thus over him, <I>Alas! Zedekiah is
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dead, who drank the dregs of all the ages that went before him,</I>
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that is, who suffered for the sins of his ancestors, the measure of
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iniquity being filled up in his days. They shall thus lament him,
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<I>saith the Lord, for I have pronounced the word;</I> and what God
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hath spoken shall without fail be made good.</P>
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<P>
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III. Jeremiah's faithfulness in delivering this message. Though he knew
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it would be ungrateful to the king, and might prove, as indeed it did,
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dangerous to himself (for he was imprisoned for it), yet he <I>spoke
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all these words to Zedekiah,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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It is a mercy to great men to have those about them that will deal
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faithfully with them, and tell them the evil consequences of their evil
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courses, that they may reform and live.</P>
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<A NAME="Jer34_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer34_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Transient Reformation; The Servants Re-enslaved.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 589.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 <I>This is</I> the word that came unto Jeremiah from the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the
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people which <I>were</I> at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;
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9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his
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maidservant, <I>being</I> a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that
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none should serve himself of them, <I>to wit,</I> of a Jew his
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brother.
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10 Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had
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entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his
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manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none
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should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and
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let <I>them</I> go.
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11 But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the
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handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them
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into subjection for servants and for handmaids.
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12 Therefore the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came to Jeremiah from the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, saying,
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13 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, the God of Israel; I made a covenant
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with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the
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land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,
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14 At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an
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Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served
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thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your
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fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.
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15 And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in
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proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a
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covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:
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16 But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his
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servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty
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at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection,
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to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.
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17 Therefore thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; Ye have not hearkened unto
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me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every
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man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and
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I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
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18 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant,
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which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had
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made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed
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between the parts thereof,
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19 The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the
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eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which
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passed between the parts of the calf;
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20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and
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into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies
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shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts
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of the earth.
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21 And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into
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the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek
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their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army,
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which are gone up from you.
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22 Behold, I will command, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and cause them to
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return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take
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it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a
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desolation without an inhabitant.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here another prophecy upon a particular occasion, the history
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of which we must take notice of, as necessary to give light to the
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prophecy.</P>
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<P>
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I. When Jerusalem was closely besieged by the Chaldean army the princes
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and people agreed upon a reformation in one instance, and that was
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concerning their servants.</P>
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<P>
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1. The law of God was very express, that those of their own nation
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should not be held in servitude above seven years, but, after they had
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served one apprenticeship, they should be discharged and have their
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liberty; yea, though they had sold themselves into servitude for the
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payment of their debts, or though they were <I>sold by the judges</I>
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for the punishment of their crimes. This difference was put between
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their brethren and strangers, that those of other nations taken in war,
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or bought with money, might be held in perpetual slavery, they and
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theirs; but their brethren must serve but for seven years at the
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longest. This God calls the covenant that he had made with them when he
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<I>brought them out of the land of Egypt,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>.
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This was the first of the judicial laws which God gave them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+21:2">Exod. xxi. 2</A>),
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and there was good reason for this law.
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(1.) God had put honour upon that nation, and he would have them thus
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to preserve the honour of it themselves and to put a difference between
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it and other nations.
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(2.) God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt, and he would have
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them thus to express their grateful sense of that favour, by letting
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those go to whom their houses were <I>houses of bondage,</I> as Egypt
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had been to their forefathers. That deliverance is therefore mentioned
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here
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>)
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as the ground of that law. Note, God's compassions towards us should
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engage our compassions towards our brethren; we must release as we are
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released, forgive as we are forgiven, and relieve as we are relieved.
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And this is called <I>a covenant;</I> for our performance of the duty
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required is the condition of the continuance of the favours God has
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bestowed.</P>
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<P>
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2. This law they and their fathers had broken. Their worldly profit
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swayed more with them than God's command or covenant. When their
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servants had lived seven years with them they understood their
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business, and how to apply themselves to it, better than they did when
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they first came to them, and therefore they would then by no means part
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with them, though God himself by his law had made them free: <I>Your
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fathers hearkened not to me</I> in this matter
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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so that from the days of their fathers they had been in this trespass;
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and they thought they might do it because their fathers did it, and
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their servants had by disuse lost the benefit of the provision God made
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for them; whereas against an express law, especially against an express
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law of God, no custom, usage, nor prescription, is to be admitted in
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plea. For this sin of theirs, and their fathers, God now brought them
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into servitude, and justly.</P>
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<P>
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3. When they were besieged, and closely shut in, by the army of the
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Chaldeans, they, being told of their fault in this matter, immediately
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reformed, and let go all their servants that were entitled to their
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freedom by the law of God, as Pharaoh, who, when the plague was upon
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him, consented to <I>let the people go,</I> and bound themselves in a
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covenant to do so.
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(1.) The prophets faithfully admonished them concerning their sin. From
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them they heard that they should let their Hebrew servants <I>go
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free,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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They might have read it themselves in the book of the law, but did not,
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or did not heed it, therefore the prophets told them what the law was.
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See what need there is of the preaching of the word; people must hear
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the word preached because they will not make the use they ought to make
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of the word written.
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(2.) All orders and degrees of men concurred in this reformation. The
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<I>king,</I> and the <I>princes,</I> and <I>all the people,</I> agreed
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to <I>let go their servants,</I> whatever loss or damage they might
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|
sustain by so doing. When the king and princes led in this good work
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the people could not for shame but follow. The example and influence of
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|
great men would go very far towards extirpating the most inveterate
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corruptions.
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(3.) They bound themselves by a solemn oath and covenant that they
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would do this, whereby they engaged themselves to God and one another.
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Note, What God has bound us to by his precept, it is good for us to
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bind ourselves to by our promise. This covenant was very solemn: it
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was made in a sacred place, <I>made before me, in the house which is
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called by my name</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
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in the special presence of God, the tokens of which, in the temple,
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|
ought to strike an awe upon them and make them very sincere in their
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|
appeals to him. It was ratified by a significant sign; they <I>cut a
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|
calf in two, and passed between the parts thereof</I>
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>)
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|
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with this dreadful imprecation, "Let us be in like manner cut asunder
|
|
if we do not perform what we now promise." This calf was probably
|
|
offered up in sacrifice to God, who was thereby made a party to the
|
|
covenant. When God covenanted with Abraham, for the ratification of it,
|
|
a <I>smoking furnace</I> and a <I>burning lamp passed between the
|
|
pieces</I> of the sacrifice, in allusion to this federal rite,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+15:17">Gen. xv. 17</A>.
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|
|
|
Note, In order that we may effectually oblige ourselves to our duty, it
|
|
is good to alarm ourselves with the apprehensions of the terror of the
|
|
wrath and curse to which we expose ourselves if we live in the contempt
|
|
of it, that wrath which will <I>cut sinners asunder</I>
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|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:51">Matt. xxiv. 51</A>),
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|
|
|
and sensible signs may be of use to make the impressions of it deep and
|
|
durable, as here.
|
|
|
|
(4.) They conformed themselves herein to the command of God and their
|
|
covenant with him; they did <I>let their servants go,</I> though at
|
|
this time, when the city was besieged, they could very ill spare them.
|
|
Thus they did <I>right in God's sight,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
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Though it was their trouble that drove them to it, yet he was well
|
|
pleased with it; and if they had persevered in this act of <I>mercy to
|
|
the poor,</I> to their poor servants, it might have been a lengthening
|
|
of their tranquillity,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+4:27">Dan. iv. 27</A>.</P>
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<P>
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|
|
|
II. When there was some hope that the siege was raised and the danger
|
|
over they repented of their repentance, undid the good they had done,
|
|
and forced the servants they had released into their respective
|
|
services again.
|
|
|
|
1. The <I>king of Babylon's army</I> had now <I>gone up from them,</I>
|
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Pharaoh was bringing an army of Egyptians to oppose the progress of the
|
|
king of Babylon's victories, upon the tidings of which the Chaldeans
|
|
raised the siege for a time, as we find,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+37:5"><I>ch.</I> xxxvii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>They departed from Jerusalem.</I> See how ready God was to put a
|
|
stop to his judgments, upon the first instance of reformation, so slow
|
|
is he to anger and so swift to show mercy. As soon as ever they let
|
|
their servants go free God let them go free.
|
|
|
|
2. When they began to think themselves safe from the besiegers they
|
|
made their servants come back into subjection to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>,
|
|
|
|
and again
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was a great abuse to their servants, to whom servitude would be
|
|
more irksome, after they had had some taste of the pleasures of
|
|
liberty. It was a great shame to themselves that they could not keep in
|
|
a good mind when they were in it. But it was especially an affront to
|
|
God; in doing this they <I>polluted his name,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was a contempt of the command he had given them, as if that were of
|
|
no force at all, but they might either keep it or break it as they
|
|
thought fit. It was a contempt of the covenant they had made with him,
|
|
and of that wrath which they had imprecated upon themselves in case
|
|
they should break that covenant. It was jesting with God almighty, as
|
|
if he could be imposed upon by fallacious promises, which, when they
|
|
had gained their point, they would look upon themselves no longer
|
|
obliged by. it was <I>lying to God with their mouths</I> and
|
|
<I>flattering him with their tongues.</I> It was likewise a contempt of
|
|
the judgments of God and setting them at defiance; as if, when once the
|
|
course of them was stopped a little and interrupted, they would never
|
|
proceed again and the judgment would never be revived; whereas
|
|
reprieves are so far from being pardons that if they be abused thus,
|
|
and sinners take encouragement from them to return to sin, they are but
|
|
preparatives for heavier strokes of divine vengeance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. For this treacherous dealing with God they are here severely
|
|
threatened. <I>Be not deceived; God is not mocked.</I> Those that think
|
|
to put a cheat upon God by a dissembled repentance, a fallacious
|
|
covenant, and a partial temporary reformation, will prove in the end to
|
|
have put the greatest cheat upon their own souls; for <I>the Lord,
|
|
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.</I> it is here threatened,
|
|
with an observable air of displeasure against them,
|
|
|
|
1. That, since they had not given liberty to their servants to go where
|
|
they pleased, God would give all his judgments liberty to take their
|
|
course against them without control
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>You have not proclaimed liberty to your servants.</I> Though they
|
|
had done it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
yet they might truly be said not to have done it, because they did not
|
|
stand to it, but undid it again; and <I>factum non dicitur quod non
|
|
perseverat--that is not said to be done which does not last.</I> The
|
|
righteousness that is forsaken and turned away from shall be forgotten,
|
|
and <I>not mentioned</I> any more than if it had never been,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+18:24">Ezek. xviii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
"<I>Therefore I will proclaim a liberty for you;</I> I will discharge
|
|
you from my service, and put you out of my protection, which those
|
|
forfeit that withdraw from their allegiance. You shall have liberty to
|
|
choose which of these judgments you will be cut off by, <I>sword,
|
|
famine, or pestilence;</I>" such a liberty as was offered to David,
|
|
which put him into a <I>great strait,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:14">2 Sam. xxiv. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Those that will not be in subjection to the law of God put
|
|
themselves into subjection to the wrath and curse of God. But this
|
|
shows what liberty to <I>sin</I> really--it is but a liberty to the
|
|
sorest judgments.
|
|
|
|
2. That, since they had brought their servants back into confinement
|
|
in their houses, God would <I>make them to be removed into all the
|
|
kingdoms of the earth,</I> where they should live in servitude, and,
|
|
being strangers, could not expect the privileges of free-born subjects.
|
|
|
|
3. That, since they had broken the covenant which they ratified by a
|
|
solemn imprecation, God would bring on them the evil which they
|
|
imprecated upon themselves in case they should break it. Out of their
|
|
own mouth will he judge them, and so shall their doom be; the penalty
|
|
of their bond shall be recovered, because they have not performed the
|
|
condition; for so some read
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>,
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will make the men which have transgressed my covenant as the calf
|
|
which they cut in twain;</I> I will divide them asunder as they divided
|
|
it asunder."
|
|
|
|
4. That, since they would not let go their servants out of the hands,
|
|
God would deliver them into the hands of those that hated them, even
|
|
<I>the princes</I> and nobles both <I>of Judah and Jerusalem</I> (of
|
|
the country and of the city), <I>the eunuchs</I> (chamberlains, or
|
|
great officers of the court), <I>the priests, and all the people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
They had all dealt treacherously with God, and therefore shall all be
|
|
involved in the common ruin without exception. They shall all be
|
|
<I>given unto the hand of their enemies, that seek,</I> not their
|
|
wealth only, or their service, but <I>their life,</I> and they shall
|
|
have what they seek; but neither shall that content them: when they
|
|
have their lives they shall leave <I>their dead bodies</I> unburied, a
|
|
loathsome spectacle to all mankind and an easy prey to <I>the fowls and
|
|
beasts,</I> a lasting mark of ignominy being hereby fastened on them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. That, since they had emboldened themselves in returning to their
|
|
sin, contrary to their covenant, by the retreat of the Chaldean army
|
|
from them, God would therefore bring it upon them again: "They have now
|
|
<I>gone up from you,</I> and your fright is over for the present, but I
|
|
<I>will command them</I> to face about as they were; they shall
|
|
<I>return to this city, and take it and burn it,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) As confidence in God is a hopeful presage of approaching
|
|
deliverance, so security in sin is a sad omen of approaching
|
|
destruction.
|
|
|
|
(2.) When judgments are removed from a people before they have done
|
|
their work, leave them, but leave them unhumbled and unreformed, it is
|
|
<I>cum animo revertendi</I>--<I>with a design to return;</I> they do
|
|
but retreat to come on again with so much the greater force; for when
|
|
God judges he will overcome.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is just with God to disappoint those expectations of mercy
|
|
which his providence had given cause for when we disappoint those
|
|
expectations of duty which our professions, pretensions, and fair
|
|
promises, had given cause for. If we repent of the good we had
|
|
purposed, God will repent of the good he had purposed. <I>With the
|
|
froward thou will show thyself froward.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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