Jeremiah 21

Sent, after Nabuchodonosor had returned from Egypt. (The year of the world 3415.) This consultation should be placed after chap. xxxvii. (Calmet)

Phassur, specified above, and chap. xxxviii. 1., (Calmet) or a different person. (St. Jerome) (Piscator)

Sophonias, the second priest, (chap. xxxvii. 3., and lii. 24.) of the 24th class, (1 Paralipomenon xxiv. 18.) who was slain at Reblatha. (Calmet)

Jeremias threatens the great ones to chap. xxix. and is persecuted. He spoke this when Nabuchodonosor invaded the country. (Worthington)

City. The people shall turn their arms against each other; or rather the Chaldeans shall use their weapons to destroy them. (Calmet)

Pestilence. Septuagint, “death;” the sword, and various diseases. (Haydock)

To them. This was verified, chap. lii., and 4 Kings xxiv.

Death; the former if they submit, the latter if they fight, ver. 9. (Calmet)

God’s grace is ever ready, that sinners may be converted. (Worthington)

Spoil. He shall be happy to escape naked, chap. xxxviii. 3. (Calmet)

Valley. He speaks to Jerusalem, confiding in the strength of her situation, upon rocks, surrounded with a deep valley. (Challoner)

Literally, “valley, solid and in a plain.” (Haydock)

Isaias (xxii. 1.) styles it ironically, “the valley of vision.” (Calmet)

Jerusalem was situated on many rocks. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vi. 6.)

Doings. Hebrew, “studies.” So “Your studious pursuits” occurs, ver. 12, in many Hebrew manuscripts, though the printed copy have, “their;” and “spoiled” for apprised. (Kennicott)

Forest, the temple, which is called Libanus, (Zacharias xi. 21.) and the houses built of cedar-wood, (4 Kings xxv. 9.; Calmet) particularly the royal palace of the forest, 3 Kings vii. (Haydock)