Jeremiah · Chapter 45

Verse 1. The word that Jeremiah—spake unto Baruch] This is another instance of shameless transposition. This discourse was delivered in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, several years before Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans. It is a simple appendage to Jeremiah 36:32, and there it should have been inserted.

Verse 1. The word that Jeremiah spake unto Baruch when he had written, &c. — “This seems to indicate that the exact time of the uttering of this prophecy was between the writing and the publication of the roll. And, perhaps, if Baruch had not received such special assurances of protection, he might not have had resolution enough to have followed the prophet’s further directions, and to have read first before all the people, and afterward before the princes, what he had written.” — Blaney.

THE TIME AND OCCASION, 1.

1. Unto Baruch — As Paul and John wrote letters to individuals concerning their personal relations and experiences, so Jeremiah receives the message for his bosom friend and amanuensis. And yet the message suited to him is fitly recorded as calculated to admonish and help many others of like trials and like faith. Had written — Rather, wrote, or was writing. These words — The messages of Jeremiah which Baruch wrote down. Fourth year of Jehoiakim — This is one of the time limits of these prophecies. There is no reason to doubt that the other is the beginning of Jeremiah’s work as a prophet. The time of writing down these addresses is the same as that of the writing related in chapter 36. Chronologically they both belong to the same period.

THE MESSAGE, 2-5.

V. 3. I find no rest-Upon Baruch’s reading the prophecies both he and Jeremiah were advised to hide themselves. This probably disturbed Baruch, and made him lament his condition.

Verse 3. Thou didst say, Wo is me now!] All that were the enemies of Jeremiah became his enemies too; and he needed these promises of support.

The Lord hath added grief to my sorrow] He had mourned for the desolations that were coming on his country, and now he mourns for the dangers to which he feels his own life exposed; for we find, from Jeremiah 36:26, that the king had given commandment to take both Baruch and Jeremiah, in order that they might be put to death at the instance of his nobles.

Verses 3-5. Thou didst say, Wo is me now, &c. — “The sorrows which I felt for the threatenings denounced against my country and religion are increased by my own troubles, being sought after by the king’s command in order to be put to death:” see Jeremiah 36:26. The Lord saith, That which I have built will I break down, &c. — The land and people which have so long flourished under the peculiar care of my providence I resolve now to give up to utter destruction: see Jeremiah 31:28. And seekest thou great things for thyself? — Dost thou aspire to honour, dignity, and prosperity, or expect to be exempted from adversity and trouble in a time of great and common calamity? Seek them not — Never think of any thing of the kind; for, behold, I bring evil on all flesh — Upon the whole country where thou livest, and upon all orders and degrees of men therein. But thy life will I give unto thee for a prey — Thy life shall be preserved, but under such circumstances that thou shalt have reason to look on thyself as peculiarly indebted to the divine providence for so singular and extraordinary a favour. See note on Jeremiah 21:9, where the same proverbial expression occurs, and is further explained.

3. Grief to my sorrow — Better, sorrow to my pain; pain at the sin and obduracy of the people; sorrow for their calamities. I fainted in my sighing — I am weary with sighing. An expression similar to that of Psalm 6:7. It is one of numerous illustrations in the Old Testament showing how thoroughly interwoven were these psalms with the common thought and experience of the people.

Verse 4. Behold, that which I have built] I most certainly will fulfil all those threatenings contained in the roll thou hast written; for I will destroy this whole land.

Verses 3-5. Thou didst say, Wo is me now, &c. — “The sorrows which I felt for the threatenings denounced against my country and religion are increased by my own troubles, being sought after by the king’s command in order to be put to death:” see Jeremiah 36:26. The Lord saith, That which I have built will I break down, &c. — The land and people which have so long flourished under the peculiar care of my providence I resolve now to give up to utter destruction: see Jeremiah 31:28. And seekest thou great things for thyself? — Dost thou aspire to honour, dignity, and prosperity, or expect to be exempted from adversity and trouble in a time of great and common calamity? Seek them not — Never think of any thing of the kind; for, behold, I bring evil on all flesh — Upon the whole country where thou livest, and upon all orders and degrees of men therein. But thy life will I give unto thee for a prey — Thy life shall be preserved, but under such circumstances that thou shalt have reason to look on thyself as peculiarly indebted to the divine providence for so singular and extraordinary a favour. See note on Jeremiah 21:9, where the same proverbial expression occurs, and is further explained.

4. Built… break down — This announces God’s purpose and his right. His proprietorship is involved in that he is the builder, and out of this comes his right to destroy. Even this whole land — Rather, whole earth. The original word is ambiguous, but the parallel all flesh in the following verse limits its import to that land.

V. 5. Seek them not-Dost thou expect what none is like to meet with who feareth God? Upon all flesh-I am bringing calamities upon the whole nation.

Verse 5. And seekest thou great things for thyself?] Nothing better can be expected of this people: thy hopes in reference to them are vain. Expect no national amendment, till national judgments have taken place. And as for any benefit to thyself, think it sufficient that God has determined to preserve thy life amidst all these dangers.

But thy life will I give unto thee for a prey] This is a proverbial expression. We have met with it before, Jeremiah 21:9; 38:2; 39:18; and it appears to have this meaning. As a prey or spoil is that which is gained from a vanquished enemy, so it is preserved with pleasure as the proof and reward of a man’s own valour. So Baruch’s life should be doubly precious unto him, not only on account of the dangers through which God had caused him to pass safely, but also on account of those services he had been enabled to render, the consolations he had received, and the continual and very evident interposition of God in his behalf. All these would be dearer to him than the spoils of a vanquished foe to the hero who had overcome in battle.

Spoil may signify unlooked-for gain. The preservation of his life, in such circumstances, must be more than he could reasonably expect; but his life should be safe, and he should have it as a spoil, whithersoever he should go. This assurance must have quieted all his fears.

JEREMIAH

Verses 3-5. Thou didst say, Wo is me now, &c. — “The sorrows which I felt for the threatenings denounced against my country and religion are increased by my own troubles, being sought after by the king’s command in order to be put to death:” see Jeremiah 36:26. The Lord saith, That which I have built will I break down, &c. — The land and people which have so long flourished under the peculiar care of my providence I resolve now to give up to utter destruction: see Jeremiah 31:28. And seekest thou great things for thyself? — Dost thou aspire to honour, dignity, and prosperity, or expect to be exempted from adversity and trouble in a time of great and common calamity? Seek them not — Never think of any thing of the kind; for, behold, I bring evil on all flesh — Upon the whole country where thou livest, and upon all orders and degrees of men therein. But thy life will I give unto thee for a prey — Thy life shall be preserved, but under such circumstances that thou shalt have reason to look on thyself as peculiarly indebted to the divine providence for so singular and extraordinary a favour. See note on Jeremiah 21:9, where the same proverbial expression occurs, and is further explained.

5. Great things for thyself — That is, in the way of worldly prosperity. When the whole earth is involved in judgment no individual can reasonably seek for any thing great. If he can make his life his prey he ought not to ask more.