The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 19:1-13
The broken bottle. That was a strange scene—the royal family, the nobles, the chief priests, together with the populace of Jerusalem, gathered, at the summons of a prophet whose power could not be ignored though his teaching was opposed, in the valley of Hinnom, now reeking with the odors of foul crime; and the prophet facing them, alone and fearless, with a common potter's vessel in his hand, while he draws a most awful picture of impending calamity, and sternly charges his audience with... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 19:1-11
The breaking of the potter's vessel. Another symbolic action, but in this case the revelation to the mind of the prophet was not dependent upon its being performed. It is because of the public significance of it he is enjoined to perform it. The "elders of the priests" and the "elders of the people" are invited to the scene. I. THE SYMBOL . This was a "potter's earthen bottle [or ' vessel ']," and thus had to be carefully distinguished from the "clay" spoken of in Jeremiah... read more