Jeremiah 15
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
GOD'S REPLY TO JEREMIAH'S INTERCESSORY PRAYER. (Jer. 15:1-21) Moses . . . Samuel--eminent in intercessions (Exo 32:11-12; Sa1 7:9; Psa 99:6). be toward--could not be favorably inclined toward them. out of my sight--God speaks as if the people were present before Him, along with Jeremiah.
Open source ↗Then said the Lord unto me,.... In answer to his expostulations and entreaties, Jer 14:19, though Moses and Samuel stood before me; to pray before me, as the Targum; to make intercession for the people. Standing is a prayer gesture. The Jews say there is no standing but prayer, or that is meant when it is mentioned; See Gill on Mat 6:5. Moses and Samuel were named, because they were eminent for prayer, and had success in it, for the people of Israel. Of Moses, see Exo 32:11 and of Samuel, see Sa1 7:9 and of both, Psa 99:6. The Arabic version reads "Moses and Aaron", but wrongly. The Palmists make use of this text to prove the intercession of saints in heaven for those on earth; but the words are only a supposition, and not a fact. The meaning is, that supposing that Moses and Samuel were alive, and made intercession for the people, their prayers would not be regarded; and such a supposition, as it suggests that they were not alive, so that they did not stand before him, and make intercession for Judah; wherefore this is against, and not for, the intercession of saints in heaven: yet my mind could not be towards this people; God could have no good will to them, no delight in them; could not be reconciled to them, or agree to it, that the favours asked for should be granted them, or that they should be continued in their own land; and therefore it was in vain for the prophet to solicit on their account; but, on the other hand, it is ordered as follows: cast them out of my sight; or presence; as persons loathsome and abominable, not to be borne; I cannot look upon them, or have anything to say to them, in a favourable way: and let them go forth; from my presence, from the temple, the city, and out of their own land; that is, declare that so it shall be.
Open source ↗"And Jahveh said unto me: If Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet would not my soul incline to this people. Drive them from my face, that they go forth. Jer 15:2. And if they say to thee: Whither shall we go forth? then say to them: Thus hath Jahveh said - Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. Jer 15:3. And I appoint over them four kinds, saith Jahveh: the sword to slay and the dogs to tear, the fowls of the heaven and the cattle of the earth, to devour and destroy. Jer 15:4. And I give them up to be abused to all kingdoms of the earth, for Manasseh's sake, the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem. Jer 15:5. For who shall have pity upon thee, Jerusalem? and who shall bemoan thee? and who shall go aside to ask after thy welfare? Jer 15:6. Thou hast rejected me, saith Jahveh; thou goest backwards, and so I stretch forth mine hand against thee and destroy thee; I am weary of repenting. Jer 15:7. And I fan them with a fain into the gates of the land: bereave, ruin my people; from their ways they turned not. Jer 15:8. More in number are his widows become unto me than the sand of the sea; I bring to them, against the mother of the young man, a spoiler at noon-day; I cause to fall upon her suddenly anguish and terrors. Jer 15:9. She that hath borne seven languisheth, she breatheth out her soul, her sun goeth down while yet it is day, she is put to shame and confounded; and their residue I give to the sword before their enemies, saith Jahveh." The Lord had indeed distinctly refused the favour sought for Judah; yet the command to disclose to the people the sorrow of his own soul at their calamity (Jer 15:17 and Jer 15…
Open source ↗We scarcely find any where more pathetic expressions of divine wrath against a provoking people than we have here in these verses. The prophet had prayed earnestly for them, and found some among them to join with him; and yet not so much as a reprieve was gained, nor the least mitigation of the judgment; but this answer is given to the prophet's prayers, that the decree had gone forth, was irreversible, and would shortly be executed. Observe here, I. What the sin was upon which this severe sentence was grounded. 1. It is in remembrance of a former iniquity; it is because of Manasseh, for that which he did in Jerusalem, Jer 15:4. What that was we are told, and that it was for it that Jerusalem was destroyed, Kg2 24:3, Kg2 24:4. It was for his idolatry, and the innocent blood which he shed, which the Lord would not pardon. He is called the son of Hezekiah because his relation to so good a father was a great aggravation of his sin, so far was it from being an excuse of it. The greatest part of a generation was worn off since Manasseh's time, yet his sin is brought into the account; as in Jerusalem's last ruin God brought upon it all the righteous blood shed on the earth, to show how heavy the guilt of blood will light and lie somewhere, sooner or later, and that reprieves are not pardons. 2. It is in consideration of their present impenitence. See how their sin is described (Jer 15:6): "Thou hast forsaken me, my service and thy duty to me; thou hast gone backward into the ways of contradiction, art become the reverse of what thou shouldst have been and of what God by his law would have led thee forward to." See how the impenitence is described (Jer 15:7): They return not from their ways, the ways of their own hearts, into the ways of God's commandments again. There is merc…
Open source ↗15:1-9 The Lord’s reply to Jeremiah’s prayer (14:19-22) was that Judah’s destruction was inevitable. 15:1 Moses and Samuel were noted for their intercessory prayer. Several times, when they prayed for the rebellious Israelites, the Lord withdrew his threatened punishment (see Exod 32:11-14; Num 14:13-20; 1 Sam 7:8-10). But now, even their intervention would have been ineffective.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שְׁמוּאֵל (Shᵉmûwʼêl, H8050) — Shemuel, the name of three Israelites עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… רָעָב (râʻâb, H7458) — hunger (more or less extensive) שְׁבִי (shᵉbîy, H7628) — exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by…
Open source ↗פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent כֶּלֶב (keleb, H3611) — a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute סָחַב (çâchab, H5498) — to trail along עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) זַעֲוָה (zaʻăvâh, H2189) — agitation, maltreatment זְוָעָה (zᵉvâʻâh, H2113) — agitation, fear מַמְלָכָה (mamlâkâh, H4467) — dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) גָּלָל (gâlâl, H1558) — a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יְחִזְקִיָּה (Yᵉchizqîyâh, H3169) — Jechizkijah, the name of five Israelites מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗חָמַל (châmal, H2550) — to commiserate; by implication, to spare יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine נוּד (nûwd, H5110) — to nod, i.e. waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head… סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) שָׁאַל (shâʼal, H7592) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,…
Open source ↗נָטַשׁ (nâṭash, H5203) — properly, to pound, i.e. smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) אָחוֹר (ʼâchôwr, H268) — the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843) — to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) לָאָה (lâʼâh, H3811) — to tire; (figuratively) to be (or make) disgusted נָחַם (nâcham, H5162) — properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a…
Open source ↗זָרָה (zârâh, H2219) — to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow מִזְרֶה (mizreh, H4214) — a winnowing shovel (as scattering the chaff) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) שָׁכֹל (shâkôl, H7921) — properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or… אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
Open source ↗אַלְמָנָה (ʼalmânâh, H490) — a widow; also a desolate place עָצַם (ʻâtsam, H6105) — to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful… חוֹל (chôwl, H2344) — sand (as round or whirling particles) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… בָּחוּר (bâchûwr, H970) — properly, selected, i.e. a youth (often collective) שָׁדַד (shâdad, H7703) — properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by… צֹהַר (tsôhar, H6672) — a light (i.e. window); dual double light, i.e. noon נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… פִּתְאוֹם (pithʼôwm, H6597) — instantly בֶּהָלָה (behâlâh, H928) — panic, destruction עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere…
Open source ↗יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… אָמַל (ʼâmal, H535) — to droop; by implication to be sick, to mourn נָפַח (nâphach, H5301) — to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle,… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יוֹמָם (yôwmâm, H3119) — daily יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בּוּשׁ (bûwsh, H954) — properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be… חָפֵר (châphêr, H2659) — to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach שְׁאֵרִית (shᵉʼêrîyth, H7611) — a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or…
Open source ↗אוֹי (ʼôwy, H188) — lamentation; also interjectionally Oh! אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… רִיב (rîyb, H7379) — a contest (personal or legal) מָדוֹן (mâdôwn, H4066) — a contest or quarrel אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נָשָׁה (nâshâh, H5383) — to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest קָלַל (qâlal, H7043) — to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לֹא (lôʼ, H3808) — not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles אִם (ʼim, H518) — used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if,… טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… שָׁרָה (shârâh, H8281) — to free שֵׁרוּת (shêrûwth, H8293) — freedom אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary פָּגַע (pâgaʻ, H6293) — to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival:
Open source ↗בַּרְזֶל (barzel, H1270) — iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement רָעַע (râʻaʻ, H7489) — properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good… צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) נְחֹשֶׁת (nᵉchôsheth, H5178) — copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as…
Open source ↗חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… אוֹצָר (ʼôwtsâr, H214) — a depository נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) בַּז (baz, H957) — plunder מְחִיר (mᵉchîyr, H4242) — price, payment, wages חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh, H2403) — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or… גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the…
Open source ↗עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) קָדַח (qâdach, H6919) — to inflame אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… יָקַד (yâqad, H3344) — to burn
Open source ↗Cross-references
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then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people.
As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not raise up a cry or a prayer on their behalf, for I will not be listening when they call out to Me in their time of disaster.
So He said He would destroy them— had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.
Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called to the LORD and He answered.
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.
therefore I will surely forget you and will cast you out of My presence, both you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers.